The SS Dirlewanger Brigade: The History of the Black Hunters

by Christian Ingrao, Phoebe Green (Translator)

Overview

The Dirlewanger Brigade was an anti-partisan unit of the Nazi army, reporting directly to Heinrich Himmler. The first members of the brigade were mostly poachers who were released from prisons and concentration camps and who were believed to have the skills necessary for hunting down and capturing partisan fighters in their camps in the forests of the Eastern Front. Their numbers were soon increased by others who were eager for a way out of imprisonment—including men who had been convicted of burglary, assault, murder, and rape.

Under the leadership of Oskar Dirlewanger, a convicted rapist and alcoholic, they could do as they pleased: there were no repercussions for even their worst behavior. This was the group used for its special “talents” to help put down the Jewish uprising of the Warsaw Ghetto, killing an estimated 35,000 men, women, and children in a single day. Even by Nazi standards, the brigade was considered unduly violent and an investigation of its activities was opened. The Nazi hierarchy was eager to distance itself from the behavior of the brigade and eventually exiled many of the members to Belarus. Based on the archives from Germany, Poland, and Russia, The SS Dirlewanger Brigade offers an unprecedented look at one of the darkest chapters of World War II.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620876312
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	07/01/2013
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	368,353
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Christian Ingrao is director of research at the Institute of History of Present Times. He teaches at the École Plytechnique and at END-Cachan.

Phoebe Green is a writer and translator living in Paris, France.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Dirlewanger "Moment" 1

1 The History of a Brigade 10

From Berlin to Lublin 10

Belarus, February 1942-July 1944 15

From Warsaw to Cottbus, August 1944-May 1945 36

2 The Dirlewanger Case 49

War as Horizon 49

Militancy as Substitution 59

3 Consent and Constraint 74

A Charismatic "Bandit Leader"? 74

Between Orgy and Brutality 79

4 Poachers in the Polis 98

Between Function and Symbol 98

Wild Men in the Polis? 104

Wild Men and Warriors 111

5 A Hunters' War? 125

Quarry and Spoils 132

The Origins of Violence 141

6 A New War? 153

Warsaw: An "Urban Jungle" for the Black Hunters? 154

Slovakia: Between Anti-Partisan Action and Frontline Combat 161

From Budapest to Cottbus: When Hunters Became Prey 166

7 Post-War 174

The Death of Oskar Dirlewanger 174

The Black Hunters in the German Courts: Gone to Ground 182

In the Margins of Memory 194

Conclusion 201

Notes 209

Thanks 261

Editorial Reviews

"Invites an original and stimulating take on the violence perpetrated by the Nazis."

Liberation

"A terrifying and passionate book that is infinitely disturbing."

Thomas Wieder - Le Monde des Livres

"A terrifying and passionate book that is infinitely disturbing."— Thomas Wieder

Le Monde des Livres

A terrifying and passionate book that is infinitely disturbing.

Thomas Wieder - Le Monde des livres

A terrifying and passionate book that is infinitely disturbing.— Thomas Wieder

Le Monde des livres

An important look at the singularity of Nazi barbarism.

L'Humanite