Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND, by Wolf T. Zoepf
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Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND, by Wolf T. Zoepf
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Wolf Zoepf has produced an extremely detailed account, part-memoir, part-combat narrative, covering the actions of 6th SS Mountain Division 'Nord' during the battles fought in Operation Nordwind, Alsace, 1945. Against the background of his division's three (plus) years of combat against the Soviets in northern Karelia, this book provides a detailed description of 6th SS Division's actions against elements of the US Seventh Army in the Low Vosges Mountains during the first seven days of 1945. Beyond a simple account of the course of the infiltration, raid, defense and exfiltration by his two-battalion task force, Herr Zoepf's book thoroughly recounts the action in adjacent sectors within the Low Vosges, on the German and the American sides of the battle as well. Particular attention is given to the battle for Wingen-sur-Moder, involving both seasoned and green American forces, and German units ranging from hastily-trained Volksgrenadiers to previously undefeated SS-Gebirgsjager. The course of the battle includes a masterfully-conducted infiltration through snow-covered mountains, the capture - and subsequent release, unharmed - of over 250 Americans, considerable close combat, jointly conducted Waffen-SS and American medical care for their wounded, and, ultimately, the wounding and capture of the author. Ringing with authenticity and full of fresh insights and factual data about this practically-unknown battle and oft-overlooked elite unit, Seven Days in January will make an important and unique contribution to the body of literature of World War II in Europe.
Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND, by Wolf T. Zoepf- Amazon Sales Rank: #881890 in eBooks
- Published on: 2015-05-18
- Released on: 2015-05-18
- Format: Kindle eBook
Review "...an excellent documentary that treats successes and failures of both sides equally objectively...presented fairly and interestingly." -- Army magazine, July 2001"An engaging first person account...a fine book that provides an exciting story...with expert analysis about small unit tactics." -- The Journal of Military History, January 2002A fine story by someone who tells all the nitty-gritty of this desperate action. -- Stone and Stone World War II BooksAberjona Press continues to publish the best in military accounts...Seven Days in January is a literary masterpiece. -- Military Heritage magazine, August 2001Zoepf tells a great story...anyone with any interest in the European campaign will find this a compelling, valuable read. -- World War II Magazine, November 2002
About the Author Wolf T. Zoepf was a Latvian expatriate of German ethnicity who joined the Waffen-SS on his 18th birthday in 1940. A veteran of three years of combat against the Soviet Army on the Arctic Front, he earned his commission in 1943 and returned to his unit, the 6th SS-Mountain Division in time for its final year of combat against the Soviets and the long march across Finland and Norway in late 1944. Second in command of his mountain infantry battalion, he fought in his unit's the infiltration through American lines and subsequent attack on the key crossroads town of Wingen-sur-Moder in January, 1945, and was wounded and captured while leading the exfiltration four days later. Released from American captivity in early 1946, he and his boyhood sweetheart raised a family in the Federal German Republic after the war. A civil engineer with wide construction experience in Africa and Asia, he was also president of the German-Latvian Cultural League and an active member of the German War Graves Council. A prominent member of his wartime unit's veterans' group, he played an instrumental role in arranging what became a series of highly controversial joint reunions between the veterans of his unit and American veterans of the 70th Infantry Division Association, the Germans' main adversary at the battle of Wingen. Ultimately, Wolf was made an honorary member of the 70th "Trailblazer" Division veterans' association, and was widely liked and respected by his men and former enemies alike. He unexpectedly passed away on 8 January 1999, just days after finishing this book, and exactly 54 years and a day after he led his men out of the American encirclement at Wingen.
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Most helpful customer reviews
73 of 75 people found the following review helpful. Uniquely Informative and Interesting By Kai-Feng I must politely disagree with Mannie below about this book. He notes a third of the book deals with the 6th's experiences in Finland. In fact it is less than 20%. Moreover, the Finland material is valuable for two reasons. First, there is very little writing on the German Army's experiences in Finland, and this firsthand account is fascinating. Second, understanding the strong arctic training of the 6th gives a valuable context for understanding their role and performance in NORDWIND.In fact, unlike the Ardennes Offensive, wherein badly mauled, hastily rejuvenated panzer divisions were committed into terrain completely unsuited for armor, in NORDWIND, a properly equipped, full-strength mountain infantry unit comprised of long-service veterans of years of fighting in arctic conditions was committed to a mission perfectly suited for it. This sure didn't happen very often in the 1944-1945 period! Yet despite this they were ultimately unsuccessful. This record of their history is, I would argue, valuable for understanding the performance of the men of the 6th in this battle. Besides, it is fgascinating reading! There is almost no other source for accounts of this battle, since SS veterans were reluctant to write memoirs.Let me also correct a misinterpretation which might arise from Mannie's comments, though he doesn't make this assertion himself. Contrary to myth and persistent misunderstanding, this was NOT part of the Ardennes Offensive, nor was it launched after the Ardennes Offensive was over. NORDWIND was intended to provide a synergistic complement to Army Group B's efforts in the Ardennes, by distracting the Americans' focus away from the Ardennes, and by physically and politically splitting the Franco-American allied efforts in Alsace. Zoepf is very clear about all of this, and provides an entire separate section about the intent and planning for NORDWIND. Soime mnight find this dull, but I found it absolutely illuminating.The introductory portions are imperative to understand the context of the offensive and its participants. Plus they have greast stories. Even the introduction is necessary because it shows a general from the American side confirming the most controversial assertions in this book, that SS soldiers and medical personnel treated US POWs with professional compassion. This was no group of thugs at Malmedy!For a campaign history, this is unusually fun to read, due to the writers's personnel involvement, his broad range of experience, the unexpected behavior of both American and German participants, and the awesome maps. I've seldom read a book with so many maps which are so clear, so informative, and so well-placed. Many look to me to be computer generated with actual topographic data (not approximations or artist's conceptions), with the military graphics very clear and easy to follow.So I found every part of Seven Days informative, interesting, and relevant to its theme of documenting the experiences of the 6th in NORDWIND. Anyone with any interest in the European Theater of Operations should find this book a nearly completely new story.
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful. Resurrection of a Mountain Division By Lars Gyllenhaal Although the 6th SS-Mountain Division "Nord" may chiefly interest American readers because of its action during Op NORDWIND against the US Army in the Low Vosges, it mostly saw combat on the Soviet-Finnish front. As the book sums this up "Nord" was in combat against the Red Army for 1 214 days and against the US Army for 92 days. Thus it is only logical that the fighting in the Arctic and Subarctic is covered in a prelude (47 of the book's 304 pages). The book's author "Nord"-veteran Wolf T. Zoepf makes it crystal clear just how great an embarrasment his division's first action was. In the author's words: "(...)a first-class debâcle that stigmatized the entire division within the German Armed Forces for about a year". But then, the chaotic conduct of "Nord" in the summer or '41 was to be expected as the author provides numerous examples of how unprepared in the extreme his unit was for any type of action, let alone fighting in the roadless taiga. In Zoepf's words: "The division's artillery had fired just once and never in coordination with the infantry. Similarly, infantry leaders had never worked in concert with artillery. The antitank gunners had never fired their weapons, nor had the antiaircraft gunners." It seems almost miraculous how "Nord" in spite of its disastrous baptism of fire could evolve into the superb fighting machine it became in 1943. But, as the author points out, the US "Big Red One" Ist Infantry Division went through a similarly sorry start in North Africa. Zoepf explains how the effectively dissolved "Nord" started anew (the personnel turnover was almost 100% in some units the fall of 1941) with the help of Finnish expertise. The book's description of how the division was reorganized and equipped will keep even the combat-focused readers interested as Zoepf is an intriguing teacher in most aspects of land warfare. The book is at its best in the main section dealing with Operation NORDWIND against US forces as the author has been able to benefit of the records and also veterans of the opposing side. One could wish that he had been able to do the same kind of research on the Soviet, now Russian, side but this would of course have demanded special language skills and was until very recently simply not feasible. This reader does not share the author's conviction regarding the truth behind the destruction of the Finnish city of Rovaniemi (I'd say the truth has not yet been established). I would also have liked to have learnt more about Zoepf himself from his writing but this does not bring down the total value of the book. Anyone interested of the Eastern Front, the final battles in the west or the Waffen-SS will be richly rewarded by reading this book. The superb maps and many insights into wilderness adaptation are of use in the training of today's and, I venture to say, even tomorrow's soldiers.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful. Battle for Wingen By Don McCleary Seven Days in January, by Wolfe T. Zoepf is a spectacular book written by the German point of view of the battle in the Lower Vosges during late 1944/early 1945. This is a battle few people know, or none the less hear about, but was important nonetheless.Tragically, Mr. Zoepf died shortly after the book was completed, but his story is excellent to say the least. As the book mostly covered the preparations and battle for Wingen-sur-Molders in January 1945, a small portion of the book is covered dealing with the evolution of the 6th SS Mountain Division "NORD" during the years of 1941-1944 where it was heavily engaged on the eastern front. However, the background info covers the transformation of NORD from a division heavily mauled in 1941, into a battle hardened formation, and one of the best in the German order of battle by 1944.The majority of the book covers the battle for Wingen-sur-Molders. Zoepf goes about telling his story in an excellent manner. He describes the tactics, shortcomings, strengths, and differences in command structure of both German and American forces during the battle.As each day progresses during the course of the book, he describes the preparations for each day's fighting followed by the actual story of the day's events. Once the day's fighting is complete, he delves into the intelligence flaws of each side (i.e. the Americans believing they were facing merely 50 german soldiers and the Germans losing their radio car and fighting with virtually no contact with the outside world to know the progress of the rest of the battle in the Lower Vosges) and the plans for the next day, etc.Another intersting point of this book is the respect both German and American soldiers pay their opponents while telling their story. There are numerous examples in the book where Germans and Americans have nothing but admiration for the spirit, courage, and determination of their opponents.Readers will also be intrigued by the various stories of the joint first aid station set up and staffed by soldiers from both sides (although the American doctors and medics were prisoners of war by this time, they still cared for all wounded equally) who cared for soldiers from both sides equally and fairly.Zoepf also tells the story of the declining quality of the German units by this point of the war and the drastic effect the loss of experienced officers and NCOs has on military units, well-equipped or not. He also points out the flaws in the American concept of placing Task Groups as "plugs" in their line, especially when an integral part of their formation (artillery in this case) was still back in the US training while the Task Force in the story had to rely on artillery from another US Division.The stories of soldiers from both sides during this battle is what tells the story so well. It is they, and their courage Mr. Zoepf pays tribute to in his book. The respect amongst veterans of the units who participated in the battle is so strong, the one time enemies are now friends and have celebrated together several times."Seven Days in January" is an excellent read for anyone interested in learning more about the Battle for the LowerVosges, the 6th SS Mountain Divison "NORD", or the US 70th Infantry Division "Thunderbirds".
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