Reviews for Twilight of the Gods: A Swedish Waffen-SS Volunteer's Experiences with the 11th SS-Panzergrenadier Division 'Nordland', Eastern Front 1944-45

The average rating for Twilight of the Gods: A Swedish Waffen-SS Volunteer's Experiences with the 11th SS-Panzergrenadier Division 'Nordland', Eastern Front 1944-45 based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-12-26 00:00:00 Mike Willis Overall I liked this first-person account. Erik Wallin was a Swedish volunteer in the 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division 'Nordland' unit comprised of volunteers from the Nordic countries. He was an Unterscharführer (the equivalent of a corporal) in a mortar platoon. This story is the last six months of the war when he was assigned to a SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung unit. That is the equivalent of a reconnaissance detachment that relied on quick movement with halftracks, anti-tank guns, and operated as traditional Panzergrenadier (mechanized Infantry). Most of this was in the book's appendix and I looked up the rest. The story follows constantly being pushed back through Eastern Europe back to Berlin. Some parts were descriptive, tragic, and brutal as the Red Army pushed the German forces back. Once the war ended he recounts his efforts to get back to Sweden while hiding from the Soviets. My only complaint was I wish Erik Wallin went more into his reasons in volunteering for the SS, cultural dynamics of being Swedish in the German war machine, and the distressing psychological impact of combat. The tone seemed a hopeful one as he and his unit fought until the very end. I would recommend this to anyone interested in personal accounts on the Eastern Front. Thanks!

Review # 2 was written on 2019-09-06 00:00:00 Josh Josh At times I enjoyed reading this book, but most times I just wanted it to finish already. There is too much propaganda and dialogue full of bravado that makes this book seem more like a novel, which outweighs the few good parts in the book where front-line conditions and battles are described. The photo section in the end seems a bit generic as well.