Men of steel - Michael Frank Reynolds

This authoritative account completes the history of the only Panzer Divisions to bear Hitler's name - 1st and 12th SS - as they lead the last German offensives of the war - through the Ardennes in December 1944 and in Hungary two months later and it concludes with their capitulation and captivity in Austria in May 1945. The origins, formation and early history of the SS Panzer Corps; The retreat from Normandy to the West Wall; The Leibstandarte & Hitlerjugend Panzer Divisions' crucial part in the 'Battle of the Bulge'; Jochen Peiper's dash for the Meuse, the 'Malmedy Massacre', the 'Battle of the Twin Villages', Bastogne; The elimination of the Gran Bridgehead in Hungary, February 1945; Hitler's last gamble on the Eastern Front - the 'Lake Balaton' offensive; The attempt to stem the Soviet 'Tide from the East'; The last desperate battles to defend the Greater German Reich and the capitulation to the Americans; Captivity and War Crimes; Illustrated with rare photographs, many high quality maps and appendices.