Heavily armed youths of the 12th SS Panzer (Hitler Jugend) Division ready themselves for battle. The division, which consisted mainly of teenage volunteers, was created in June of 1943 and had its baptism of fire in Normandy a year later. - "The young S.S. troops were detestable young beasts," a British officer recalled, "but, like good infantry, they stood up and fought it out when overrun." - In the fighting that raged around Caen, nearly 90 per cent of them were killed, wounded or captured.
 


12th SS Panzer

Enjoying some wine and a smoke in Arnhem, Holland, well-equipped Germans seem unconcerned by the British attack (Market-Garden, Sept. 1944).

Waiting for the attack

High ranking German officers wait for the next order from their FFI captors after the liberation of Paris.
