SS Englander: The Amazing True Story of Hitler's British Nazis Paperback – April 30, 2010

As I started, and with each passing chapter I began to wonder what I was doing. Then suddenly the feeling gripped me with the passing of every page. I know Fictionalized History can be entertaining, I went to Public Schools. But I decided, for the first time in my life, I would go to the last Chapter (***Spoiler Alert***) read it and then see if I felt the need to find out how these events came to be, and the end of the story as it was narrated. Even part way into that effort, I just decided it best to set it aside. Whomever met with the Author, and shared his family's secret, upon which this is supposedly based, should of simply let it go. I wonder what was responsible for the lapse in their judgement to share this story with anyone. Was it in actuality some self styled Author hoping to pass off a manuscript that had been rejected or passed on. Perhaps a move to attract attention from Hollywood for a Motion Picture Deal, think Quentin Tarantino. Inglourious Bastard(s) meets Love Story, sprinkled with the Longest Day and Battle of the Bulge. From the beginning you get the feeling that each chapter starts with, builds to, and ends up in much the same fashion. But in fairness, it was only one war, so the killing and mayhem is repetitive and familiar. Hero, with a past that haunts him, Heroine Love interest, Psychotic Murderer ( I kept thinking of Peter Lorre) as Right Hand Man to keep it righteous. If you want to read about the Eastern Front, with Non German Volunteers try "Campaign in Russia - The Waffen SS on the Eastern Front " written by Leon Degrelle. If you want to balance it there have been numerous books involving the Russian side as well, but due to my Fifties and Sixties upbringing I just cannot see the Soviet Russians and Communist Commissars as Heroes or allies. But they were our Allies weren't they? Then again, I don't ever recall sitting under my desk, at school, worrying about German Nuclear Bombs, but whose to say. The greater fear, having to ever try to convince myself to read this book, for any means of entertainment. Time is precious.

Not much to bite on here. The members of the Britische Freikorps in real life had none of the excitement of murdering Russians portrayed in this fictional account. Actually they just lounged around for over two years, a few seeing limited action only on the eastern front towards the end of the conflict. The real problem with this short novel is that there are just too many mistakes, for example the accompanying drawings show the Brits in a black SS uniform which was decidedly not combat dress. There is room for a fictionalized account of the Brits in the SS, but this volume is not the answer. There are some useful ideas in the TV episode of Foyle's War which deals with a Britische Freikorps member accused of treason.

This book was quite disappointing. It purports to be a "true story, written as fiction." However, it was quickly apparent that the book is a work of total fiction.While is does contain several correct historic facts, these are ones that anyone with access to the internet could find out for themselves with a minimal search.Mostly the book is riddled with factual errors, of which only three are cited here. Tiger Tanks, for instance, are mentioned several times in action at Stalingrad - despite the fact that no Tiger battalions were involved in the fighting there (afterwards, yes, but not during the battles in Stalingrad itself). Another scene references a German officer wearing TWO silver wound badges, which would not have been the case (the Wound Badge was a cumulative award). And several time the author speaks of the black SS dress tunic, which had been withdrawn from use at the start of the war. If this were an eyewitness account, by someone who supposedly was in the German armed forces at the time, these errors would not have reproduced.The writing is also juvenile and disjointed, concentrating on the "blood, guts and gore" aspect of combat. None of the scenes have any feeling of reality, but more of a fantastic made-up sensationalism. Take it from a combat veteran, the purported author never saw action.All in all, it's an entertaining read if you like sensationalized war fiction. But even though it supposedly deals with a real subject (the British Freikorps), precious little time is spent on the actual BFC; the action is concerned almost solely with Stalingrad.Go ahead and read it, but understand it's completely fabricated, not "truth written as fiction." SS Englander: The Amazing True Story of Hitler's British Nazis

This book is a completly fictional account.If read as a work of fiction, it's an OK read.If Historical accuracy or nonfiction is expected, you won't find it here. The author to this story had little knowledge of actual WWII german or russian uniforms or field gear. SS men wearing black Allgemine SS uniforms in battle??? wouldn't happen. 2 silver wound badges-- NAHHHH don't think so. The pictures were comical and VERY unrealistic. Wearing an army eagle over the breast, AND a SS eagle on the sleeve--NOPE. Police belt buckles were shown to be worn-- Again-- NOPE. Tunic with button up pockets on the tail flap?? UMMMMM Nope.No awards worn on the uniform?? Nope. Being in the BFC and no arm shield?? Doubt it. Author regularly mixed up MP38's and MP 40's--a chapter would start out using a MP38 which a few lines later became an MP40.Sloppy editing. It was a good read for a novel, and I enjoyed the read, but it became harder to take it any more serious than a comic book with all the glaring errors. I would recommend it if the reader wanted something to while away some time and didn't know much about WWII. Otherwise it kind of insultes the intelligence of a knowledgeable reader.

If you are a WWII history buff you will enjoy this book!

I enjoyed it for what it was and didn't take it to seriously. I had heard of the British Freikorp prior and had read another book on the subject. Just don't take it as "true life happenings". Not a bad read over a few nights before sleeping.

this is a book you really want to enjoy - there's moments where that truly happens and then it all fades to get bogged down by the authors descriptions of military vehicles and regiments and units. not that we don't require that information, it's just tedious that every weapon or every bullet has to be name checked and inserted into the plot. there's too much detracting from the story with almost wikipeadia like details of any given device etc.perhaps with better placement these little details would flow into the story but this author seems quite content to deliver a book that comes over all to amateurish. and the less said about the finality of an ending the better.worth your time? yes?a quick read and an even quicker write.

Where do I start?!I bought this book on the pretext that it was a 'True Story', as advertised on the front cover. When you get to read the introduction, he plainly states that he hasn't got the facts at all, nor was he allowed to have a look at any evidence beyond a 'quick dinner and glance at the records'. He says that he writes this book as 'a novel' and has openly made things up where he wants to.Along with clearly ridiculous errors, such as General Paulus' HQ being right next to the very front line early on in the battle for Stalingrad, Meyer appears to be inventing everything to concoct a pro-Nazi fantasy.Don't waste your money, unless of course you have a strange sense of humour or a fetish for Nazi fairy tales.Rubbish.

Didn't like it

Absolute rubbish...should never of wasted my money. All he has done is written a fantasy based on fact and he expects you to believe he actually has oral history from one of the former members......garbage!!!!! It reads like a Sven Hassel story.....and that's all it is.

Ignore the "amazing true story" blurb on the front,this is a work of fiction.As i don't read fiction I feel totally ripped off.Shame on Amazon for selling this misleading garbage