Recently, I had to reread The Commissar for a translation project we are currently working on, and found so many direct quotes from the novel that still read so true with an unfortunate relevance and timeliness directed at the current Easter European Ukrainian-Russian Crisis. For your (the readers out there) perusal: War is a Disease....Continue reading
Last year alone, the Sven Hassel series sold 90.000 copies world-wide. These numbers include Print, Audio, and e-Book sales. That amounts to one title sold every 6th minute. This adds to the 53 million copies sold since the release of Sven Hassel’s first novel in 1953. As such, the Sven Hassel series, comprised of a...
This month marks a decade since Sven Hassel's passing on September 21, 2012 at the age of 95. The Independent wrote an article on his work and life: The Independent Sven Hassel: Soldier who won the Iron Cross and wrote best-sellers By David Childs Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Hassel in 1962: he had taken part...
“The dead metallic crackle of machine-guns Echoed in the cold silence. The tramp of boots, sounding like shots, The yelp of a dog, Human screams. Crying children, murdered women In the last sunlight of a dying day. Never forget it, the blood of the murdered, It was war -“
"North, South, East, West, soldiers die like heroes, and their German mothers dressed in mourning full of proud, if you trust the newspaper Völkischer Beobachter. History is repeating: The German youth keeps on dying while shouting: Long live the Kaiser! Long live the fatherland! Heil Hitler! The men fall to the roll of drums and...Continue reading
In light of recent international developments, we haven’t been able to stop thinking about Sven Hassel’s message of anti-war sentiments embedded in his life’s work. Despite what a government’s leadership and actions chooses, it still may not represent the views of its citizens. War should not ever have to be a choice. Instead, protecting human...Continue reading
Our friends at Offensive Miniatures have just released a set of 8 miniature models of the key characters in the Sven Hassel adventure series, including Tiny, the Old Man, Sven, the Legionnaire, Barcelona Blom, Gregor Martin, Julias Heide and Joseph Porta. All the figures are 28mm scale, made of metal and come ready for painting....Continue reading
"Death! What is that? It comes like lightning. We were always expecting it and it had become a companion, a habit. None of us was religious. We had never had time. Sometimes, in a shell hole, we might discuss death, but none of us knew if there was any hereafter. How could we?" Excerpt from...Continue reading
The Sven Hassel Series, a compilation of 14 novels, has been in continuous sale for nearly 70 years. The novels have sold an impressive number of copies all over the world and translated into 25 different languages. The total sales figures since the first release are far above 50 million copies sold. We are proud...
In the 1970's Hassel's UK leading Publisher, Corgi, created a poster for marketing purposes that showcased a dramatic, thrilling and enticing set-up for the novels. The author was one of their top-selling writers. Even though the years have passed this is still one of the more loved posters created of the books. Today, Hassel’s novels...Continue reading
