Another fine book in the Pen and Sword Images of War series is:
SS PANZER DIVISIONS ON THE EASTERN FRONT by Bob Carruthers.
This book is chock full of striking photographs taken throughout the war, from the invasion of Poland, to the last battles in Hungary. Most are candid shots, often in the heat of battle, and they clearly show the daily life of the SS soldiers. While I can never condone the ideology of the SS soldiers, this book plainly shows that they often fought bravely against overwhelming odds, and that they gave their lives in overwhelming numbers compared to their brothers serving in the army.
Another striking aspect of the pictures in this book is the sheer volume of photos to browse. Page after page of photos carried me through the war, from the farms of Poland, to the steppes of the USSR, and back to Germany. The pictures also show how the SS enjoyed far better equipment and weapons than their brothers in the army. Indeed, any study of World War Two German equipment that did not include the SS panzer divisions, would miss all the best stuff. For modelers and history buffs alike, this book is a treasure.