Günther, Helmut Combat History of the 17. SS-Panzer-Grenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen. Volume 3

This third and final volume of a three-volume set (this volume was written by Helmut Günther) documents the final combats of the 17th SS Panzergrenadierdivision "Götz von Berlichingen" from mid-March to beginning of May 1945. Decimated and exhausted, outnumbered and outgunned, and always under Allied air attacks, its soldiers fought and retreated repeatedly to the next defensive position. The desolate trail led through the Saar into the Westwall, which was penetrated easily. They defended at the Gemersheim Bridgehead, in the Oden Forest, and in the "Crailsheim Pocket", and finally resisted bitterly in the streetsof Nürnberg. The remnants retreated southeast to Tyrol, where they surrendered to U.S. troops at Lake Achen. This very detailed history excels on three levels: Stöber and Günther provide a continuous account of the overall situation on the Northwestern Front, daily and hourly reports on the actions of the Divisions units, and humanizes the fighting with many personal accounts from its soldiers. The numerous maps and appendices provide a detailed picture of the Division, its sub-units, and decisions undertaken by the higher command. With publication of the three volumes, any serious historian has available an impressive divisional history that provides new information regarding combat in Normandy and later fighting until Germanys surrender.

The route of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division led through the Saar region to the Siegfried Line, which was easily penetrated by the enemy. The division defended the Gemersheim bridgehead, fought in the Odenwald and in the Krailsheim pocket and put up fierce resistance to the Americans in the streets of Nuremberg. The last remnants of the unit eventually retreated to Tyrol, where they surrendered to U.S. troops at Lake Achensee. This highly detailed divisional history is characterised on three levels: the authors provide a continuous account of the overall situation on the Northwest Front, daily, sometimes hourly reports on the actions of the division's subunits, and personal accounts of its soldiers. The numerous maps and appendices provide a detailed picture of the division, its sub-units and the decisions taken by the high command. With the publication of the three volumes, any reader interested in military history now has a detailed divisional history that provides new information about the fighting in Normandy and later battles up to the surrender of Germany.