Established after the defeat at Stalingrad the division was a product of Germany`stransition to a total war effort, which sought to harness all human and material resources for theReich's struggle for existence. This books tells us about the origins, recruitmentand training of the 12 th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth". They faced the invasionon D-Day, June 6 th, 1944 and the following days.Their assigment was:"to throw the enemy into the sea and destroy him".The Hitler Youth fought against vast superior forces in men and material.Nevertheless, they stopped the Anglo- americans at the town of Caen and its surroundingsfor more than a month. This is the history of their fight to the last bullet,the story of their ultimate sacrifice in Caen.I enjoyed very much the training part as the book describes their physical training,their education on tactics and skills, everything they needed to survive in combat.Also, here we learned about their ideals and motivation to join the Hitler Youth and fightfor Germany. Their motivation and discipline was exemplary:"Thousands of aircraft, rolling barrages of the batteries, massed tank attackshammered them with bombs and shells. The earth heaved thunderously. An infernowas unleashed. But faith was the strongest support of courage.Smeared with blood, covered with dust, gasping and fighting, doggedly dug intothe earth, these youths brought the Anglo-Americans to a halt".As for their determination and ideals, I think it is easy to judge themnow by the parameters and accepted views of our curent society. But it is a verydifferent thing to be in their shoes, live in a very different worldfrom that of today and think back then about their families, friends,society, country, values and ask what do they expect from them, andmost important, being there and ask what do they expect from themselves in that situation.The book not says very much about their last battles after Caen and thatis missing in this book. I also find some prejudices and bias in thelast conclusion paragraphs but I think the author wrote that so he wouldnot be seen as a nazi. I would have rated this book 4 stars but Iput five stars because it is a great story that makes you feel thosedays, back then, when they had to fight for their world.It has very good pictures too and I am sure anyone who read thisbook will enjoy doing so.