Franz, Rüdiger W. A. Die Ritterkreuzträger der SS-Division "Wiking" und ihre Einsätze. Band 1

This book is intended to bring the reader closer to the men and their deeds in a different way than other books on this subject. Pictures, better than any description, can authentically illustrate the joys, sufferings, hardships, successes and defeats of the soldiers. Faces, facial expressions and gestures should speak. Not only beautiful photos of radiant decorated heroes are shown, but also the misery and horror of war, the daily struggle for survival. The book does not claim to be complete, nor does it claim to be a scientific work. It is intended to be an easy-to-read information tool about the Knight's Cross bearers of the SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Wiking" in the years 1942/43. Further volumes covering the period 1943 to 1945 will be published soon in chronological order

Since the books are not unwieldy in their size, only a limited number of Knight's Cross bearers can be described in each volume. Otherwise, the abundance of material would go beyond the set scope. The SS Division "Wiking", with its volunteers from many European countries, united in the fight against Bolshevism, embodied the first European force under German command. The reader should form his own picture of the general military situation as well as of the men and their struggle on the basis of the reports and photos.