How do you rate Patrick Agte's books?

[JonS]

houstonca30 wrote:did he know about the Einsatzgruppen squads that followed the Panzer units

What difference would it make if Wittmann knew about Einsatzgruppen operating in his area? Should he have been expected to run them down with his Panzer?

Yes. Soldiers - and especially commanders - are expected to display moral courage, and to protect civilians and non-combatants.

Furthermore, his knowledge and attitude is germane to any assessment of the man. Was he supportive, neutral, horrified? Swanning about in a Tiger and taking his men to be killed in an obvious ambush is only one aspect of the man, otherwise the book isn't a biography. It's just war-porn.

[Silas]

I am currently reading Agte's book(s) on Michael Wittman and the LSSAH, and my impression is not that the author is some raging Nazi apologist. Rather, the texts seem like personal accounts from LSSAH members, supplemented by objective analysis of battles, troop movements, etc. The photos are outstanding, and many are unavailable outside the text(s).

Where did Agte say he was a NS sympathizer?

Who claimed he stole manuscripts from LSSAH members, and was this information checked for accuracy?

[James S]

I bought the Wittmann book a number of years ago and beyond the photographic content and the insight into how he was put forward in the German home press and reported on I really did not find the book really interesting to read , all rather sterile , I agree with another member who in this thread said that the book tells you nothing about the man himself.
I have his book on JP but to be honest I find it very much the same as the MW book good photographically but bland in every other way.(Much preferred Michael Reynolds book on JP and his writing on Normandy .)
As far as PA goes I only know what I have heard here but I can't say i rate him as an objective serious historian , there are IMO better authors around.

[Harro]

Where did Agte say he was a NS sympathizer?

Who claimed he stole manuscripts from LSSAH members, and was this information checked for accuracy?

You did read the whole topic?

[Silas]

I did, but I was wondering if there was anything to back up these accusations made against Agte. Perhaps some of this is true, but with no way to confirm, it looks like Internet rumor and innuendo.

[Harro]

I knew Wendt and he confirmed it for a start, as did other LAH veterans I know or knew. Same with the veterans who ended their subscription to the Freiwillige because they were uncomfortable with the politicalization of the magazine. The La Gleize story about Agte and Reynolds was also confirmed to me by several witnesses. For me personally that's enough confirmation but that's just me. What you will or won't believe is not up to me. Wendt died eight years ago and most of the other veterans who told me about this are also long gone.

[jan willem stokkers]

Well i only can confirm what Harro already explained! I have talked with many veterans of the 12. SS-Pz.Div. "HJ" and some of the LSSAH and they al told me the same stories about Herr Agte and what Harro wrote done about this. I even have spoken with an employe (one of the former owners of Munin Verlag) that after a few years they were very sorry they sold everything to Agte because what he did with Manuskripts etc.! Calling widows after the dead or there husbands, acting like a nazi at meetings in Hungary and talking about polotics during these meeting and not about the soldiers!

Gr.JW