New "Wiking" Book 1942-43 by Charles Trang

[John P. Moore]

I received my copy of Charles Trangs new “Wiking” book several days ago. This is the second volume in his series about the “Wiking” Division and covers the period May 1942 – April 1943. This well-researched and profusely illustrated 464-page book has some very good original photos. I was particularly impressed by his 15 pages of very detailed Führestellenbesetzung lists for July 1942 and January 1943 where he identified commanding officers down to the company and battery level along with staff officers. This table of offers was so complete that he was only missing 16 officers from staff and line positions.

John

[krichter33]

It is in French, correct? Also does it have maps, and how detailed is the combat history?

[John P. Moore]

The book is in the French language only. The coverage of battles and organizational matters is extensive. 24 black and white maps are included at the end of the book.

[krichter33]

I've been hoping for a very detailed combat history of Wiking since European Volunteers isn't that extensive...So maybe I should learn French, along with German, or hope it's translating into English...

[Charles Trang]

I do not want to look too proud and arrogant but I think this series is the most detailed history of the division which has ever been written. This peculiar volume has about 170 pages of text in A4 size and police Nr.10 for just one year of campaign (May 1942 to April 1943). I have used every single document relative to the Wiking division which can be found in the VHA in Prague, the US NARA in College Park and the Bundesarchiv in Freiburg. Mark Yerger's series is more focused on the men of the division, mine is more focused on the divisional history. Though it is written in French, it is very easy to understand. Names of places are given with the German spelling and with the current denomination in brackets. Numbers of available tanks and tank destroyers are given for nearly each day and, as John pointed out in his comment, there are two big command structures, one for 1 July 1942 and one for 1 January 1943. These could not have been made without John's "Führerliste der Waffen-SS" which is the reference work on the SS-Officers. It was completed thanks to the various available KTB, articles from "Der Freiwillige" and "Unser Wiking Ruf", memoirs from ex members of the division such as Fritz Kauerauf, Herbert Schmeisser and Hans-Günter Bernau, plus books like "Pioniereinheiten der 5.SS-Panzerdivision Wiking" and "Mit dem Panzerregiment 5 im Osten". Expertise of some well known specialists also allowed me to make corrections and adds. If you want a copy, do not wait too long because the books are not printed in big numbers (2,000 only) so they are very quickly out of print.

[krichter33]

It sounds wonderful! I love detailed unit histories like the Leibstandarte, and Das Reich series, the 12th SS History and any army unit history of similar style, like the 116th pz division history. European Volunteers was a major disappointment. I'm glad that FINALLY someone is putting out a detailed multi-volumed combat history with good maps of this excellent division. I know due to the current market for books, that the question if it will ever be translated to English is most likely no, so I guess French is next for me after German...

[Massimiliano Afiero]

An exceptional book, now we are waiting for the third volume.

Waffen