Feldgrau Author: Charles Trang

[Marc Rikmenspoel]

I saw those photos in the book, and they were the most striking ones of the entire contents, in my brief examining thus far. what a great find, I'm glad you were able to include them!

[Charles Trang]

I must tell that George Lepre was very helpful for the chapter relative to the Handschar Division. In the next volume, the chapter concerning the 14th SS Division is illustrated with pictures coming from Mike Melnyk's collection. Current means of communications present many drawbacks but it could not have been possible to get such kind of cooperations fifteen years ago when authors were working on their own. Internet makes the swaps and mutual exchanges of informations very easy. So it eases the making of the books but it will certainly kill the book production in a near (?) future. This is not the least of its paradox !

[John P. Moore]

I enjoyed looking thru my copy of Waffen-SS Dictionnaire volume 2. Most of the photos are previously unpublished and Heimdal did an excellent job of reproducing most photos. My only suggestion would be to change the title of the book so that prospective readers could better understand the content of the book. Even though the text is in French, non-French speakers will see "Dictionnaire" in the title and think this book is some kind of dictionary and pass on it. I believe that a title something like "Waffen-SS in Photos, Divisions 7 thru 13" would have greater appeal.
John

[Charles Trang]

Yes John, you are probably right. The title is inadequate but it is now too late to change it for the last volumes of the series.

[Charles Trang]

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I received a letter from Eberhard Heder this morning. Here is a copy of it. One of his remarks concerns the 5.SS-Panzerdivision "Wiking" command structure I published in "Dictionnaire de la Waffen-SS" (volume 1). He writes that he succeeded SS-Stubaf. Braune as commander of SS-Pz.Pi.Btl.5 in September 1944 and that SS-Ostuf. Weck never led the battalion. This was an information that I got thanks to Wolfgang Vopersal. Does anybody knows something about Julius Weck which is not included in his personal file ?
Thanks a lot !

[Charles Trang]

You may notice that Herr Heder still has a vivid memory of his commitment during the WWII. However, I am bothered by the fact that he wants to send me 58 Euros for my book ! Of course, this book was a gift.

[Michael Miller / ABR]

Congratulations on that letter, Charles. That's quite an honor.

Sincerely,
~ Mike

[Charles Trang]

Thank you Mike. There are very few SS Ritterkreuzträger still alive and Eberhard Heder is one of them. I am still in contact with Rudolf von Ribbentrop. Last year, Heinrich Sonne sent a dedicated portrait to me. Unfortunately, I got no more news since.

[John P. Moore]

Charles - That is a very nice letter from Eberhard Heder, who I have had the pleasure of meeting with in person several times. He is a real gentleman.

Unfortunately, information from Wolfgang Vopersal is not always accurate despite what I am sure was his best efforts. (just like some of my own information) One of the key information sources for my Führerliste publication entries for "Wiking" Pionier officers was the excellent Pioniereinheiten der 5.SS-Panzer Division „Wiking“, privately published by Kurt Imhof in the 1980s. Ostuf. Julius Weck is not listed there as a battalion commander nor is he listed in my Führerliste as a battalion commander. On page 230 of Imhof's publication Weck is listed as wounded in February 1945 as commander of the 3rd Company.

John

[Charles Trang]

Thank you John ! Your informations are more reliable than Wolfgang Vopersal's, that's for sure. In this peculiar case, he had written that Julius Weck has assumed command of the battalion after Braun's departure for one day or so, Eberhard Heder not being able to take his post immediately. But your Führerliste is very clear about it and Eberhard Heder's assessment is affirmative enough for me so I will change this document in my future book on the Wiking Division.

[Charles Trang]

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My last book (Dictionnaire de la Waffen-SS, volume 3) is out since a few days. Unfortunately, it was not delivered soon enough for Christmas.

[pimberg]

Well done Charles. Where/how is the best way to obtain your latest? NB: I live in Australia

[Charles Trang]

Thanks a lot Pimberg ! You can order it directly via Heimdal's internet site or via Amazon, Abebooks ... It is a big book (400 pages in A4 size written in small letters) so it is rather expensive (58 Euros + the shipment charges). It is full of never before published photos and I got the help of a few specialists : Michael Melnyk for the 14th SS Division, Sergio Corbatti for the 29th SS Division and Eric Lefèvre for the 33rd SS Division. In the previous volume, George Lepre had helped me for the 13th SS Division.

[Charles Trang]

I forgot to mention that this volume covers divisions 14 to 38 plus Divisionskampfgruppe "Böhmen & Mähren". There is also a small chapter on the 38.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS. I suppose most of the readers have never heard of this one though it is mentioned in two official documents written by the Oderkorps in April 1945.

[Max 2004]

Hello Charles, I have your previous two volumes and they ar excelIent and packed with lots of very interesting info. I have been looking in Heimdal's web page and the book it's still not in their lists, same in Amazon