https://youtu.be/kp7BJHbMXnA
This book is one that now exists purely thanks to you. I created a one-off version of this, for me to bring to shows to help with conversations about my various published books. At various fairs and shows, a frequently asked question was always, “Have you met many veterans / Who have you met”; the one-off version was created to help answer that question.
Since then, I have had countless requests to put the book into print and make it available to buy. Whilst I still struggle with the concept of why people would be interested in a book that shows me with veterans, that is what you have asked for. So here it is, a slightly revised version that shows the German armed forces veterans from the Second World War that I have encountered since 1994 onwards, at various events and visits to multiple countries. I focused predominantly on those soldiers that served within the Waffen-SS, but along the way, I encountered others from the Heer, Luftwaffe and others arms of service. For this version, instead of just the photos of them during the war, then post-war with myself, I have added a biography to help you the reader, get to know these former soldiers better.
I have been an avid student of military history, firstly growing up in Northern Ireland during ‘The Troubles’ and watching urban warfare unfold in front of my eyes, but my interest from a very young age, was always on the Second World War. Back then, I never envisaged that I would meet any German veterans, never mind the quantity of veterans that I crossed paths with.
To learn history, first hand, from those that created it, has been fascinating and I enjoyed every single chance to talk to any of the veterans (I did encounter some Allied veterans too). It was an honour to have met them, get to know them, then be able to count some of them as close friends. My passion was pursued without political or ideological agendas, but instead with a hunger for knowledge within my chosen hobby. That knowledge, obtained from a long list of former soldiers I was lucky enough to spend time with, greatly increased my understanding of that conflict, but more importantly, brought to life for me exactly what it meant to endure the many iconic campaigns from 1938 through to 1945 (and beyond).
I now present these many former soldiers to you with an image of them during that conflict, one of me with them in the post-war years, together with a little insight into their individual stories; I trust it is what you all asked me for.
The book format and contents are:
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A4 Landscape format
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Hardback
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155 gloss pages
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3 documents, 247 photos
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English Language
