The 5th SS Division "Wiking" was the first "international" (western European freiwilligen) Waffen-SS division and the only German armed forces panzer division comprised of foreign troops. Not only did it earn an esteemed combat reputation but also served as an SS "finishing school," spinning off a host of additional divisions. Wiking operated exclusively on the eastern front. On the offense, it served as a spearhead for operations Barbarossa and Citadel. As a defensive "fire brigade," it served in the Cherkassy pocket and in 1944 Hungary. Despite at least one allegation of war crimes, in the main Wiking earned a reputation for fighting tough but fighting fair. This book is fully illustrated with rare eastern front photographs, many of which have never been published before. It also includes numerous maps and biographies of the key personnel.