Alternative Titles/Edition History:
Also sold in 2016 with slightly different packaging as 9. SS Hohenstaufen / 10. SS Frundsberg (Waffen SS)
Publisher/Date:
Battleschool (2015, 2016)
Product Type:
Accessory
Country of Origin:
Canada
Contents:
2 x 5/8" (16mm) custom precision dice.
A new offering in Battleschool’s series of Operation Market-Garden-themed custom precision dice for ASL is the 2-dice set featuring the 9th SS “Hohenstaufen” Panzer Division and the 10th SS “Frundsberg” Panzer Division, two units that played an infamous role in spoiling Monty’s hopes for a quick victory.
These dice, like others in the series, are 5/8″ (16mm) ball-cornered custom precision dice with an emblem where the 1-facing would normally be, an emblem associated with a unit or type of unit that fought during the Market-Garden operation.
The 9th SS die is black, with white pips, and a silver foil division symbol replacing the 1-facing. The 10th SS die is identical, with its own respective divisional symbol. Both dice have silver foil ROF symbols on the 2- and 3-facings, to help players remember ROF.
Desperation Morale does not condone the using of Waffen SS divisional insignia as ASL-related imagery, as such insignia is often used by white supremacists as hate symbols.
2016 Update: In 2016, these dice were also offered in an unfortunate new series of custom dice featuring Waffen SS divisional insignia, Battleschool seemingly doubling down on this pernicious practice.
Unlike many other Waffen SS — and Heer! —Divisions, as far as I can tell, the Hohenstaufen has never been accused of any war crimes committed at the divisional level, and only a handful at the individual level (one individual each convicted of: firing from an ambulance, murdering three POWs, and beating one POW). And unlike most SS Divisions, a large fraction of the Hohenstaufen’s personnel were conscripts transferred from the Reichsarbeitsdienst. So unless your position is that *all* use of Axis divisional insignia (even on accessories meant to be used by Axis players in a wargame) is “pernicious,” this moralizing seems to be to be misplaced.