Twilight of the Gods

A Swedish Waffen-SS Volunteer's Experiences with the 11th SS-Panzergrenadier Division Nordland, Eastern Front 1944-45

De: Thorolf Hillblad - editor

Narrado por: Bruce Mann

Twilight of the Gods was originally written in Swedish, and published in Buenos Aires shortly after the end of WWII. Erik Wallin, a Swedish soldier who volunteered for service with the Waffen-SS, participated in the climactic battles on the Eastern Front during late 1944 and 1945, later telling his story to this book's editor, Thorolf Hillblad.

Wallin served with the Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, 11th SS-Panzergrenadier Division Nordland, a unit composed mainly of non-German volunteers, including Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes. The division enjoyed a high reputation for its combat capability, and was always at the focal points of the fighting on the Eastern Front in the last year of the war. During this period it saw combat in the Baltic, in Pomerania, on the Oder, and finally in defense of Berlin, where it was destroyed.

Erik Wallin served with his unit in all of these locations, and provides the listener with a fascinating glimpse into these final battles. The book is written with a "no holds barred" approach which will captivate, excite, and maybe even shock the listener - his recollections do not evade the brutality of fighting against the advancing Red Army. Twilight of the Gods is destined to become a classic memoir of the Second World War.

©2002 Thorolf Hillblad (P)2019 Tantor

Post-war Nazi propaganda in part but also history

This is a first-hand report of the last days of Berlin. and in part post war Nazi propaganda. after the war in 1953 he moves to Argentina with the rest of the Nazis and makes the life there.

Propaganda piece

This book provides good history if you can look past the Nazi propaganda it contains.

Intriguing Account of the Battle of Berlin

The story of an anti-Soviet fighter who first fought the Soviets in Finland, and then joined the Waffen Schutzstaffel so he could fight the Soviets in the wider war against communism. As a non-German fighting for Germany his point of view is an almost unique perspective among war memoirs, far more ideological than the average German account as well as far less afraid of postwar backlash by occupation or collaborationist governments. Hillblad's account of the Battle of Berlin alone makes this book a valuable read for anyone who wishes to study what is perhaps the most symbolic battle of the last century.

Great Story Average Narration

Nice to listen to a viewpoint from the “other” side. Good book. The narrator is ok as it is a biography, still kind of dry. I’m also gonna assume all the “nazi propaganda” comments are Russians.

A rare glimpse from the other side

It was a gripping story that I finished from soup to nuts in a day.