Legion of the damned

"Legion of the Damned" was the first of 14 novels written by Sven Hassel, a Danish volunteer who served in the German army throughout World War II.

Never before had violence been described in such hideously graphic detail: it was a far cry from British or American war novels.

Based on Sven Hassel's own horrific experiences fighting on the Russian Front, "Legion of the Damned" won critical acclaim across Europe and America and was translated into 15 languages.

It has now been optioned for a film.