Formed in 1942, the 8th SS Cavalry Division "Florian Geyer" was one of the most controversial units in the Waffen-SS. Created with the intention of making it an elite unit within the Waffen-SS, it instead saw its main employment from the beginning of the war in Russia as a rear area security force against partisans. The SS cavalrymen carried out these duties with terrible effectiveness, demonstrating the full capabilities of horse-mounted units in securing terrain that was militarily difficult. Late in the war, ""Florian Geyer"" was employed on the front lines against regular units of the Red Army. The unit was wiped out during final battle of Budapest in February 1945. Detailed operational history, rare combat images, maps, and personality profiles make this book the definitive history of "Florian Geyer." AUTHOR: Massimiliano Afiero was born in Afragola (Naples Province) in 1964. An information technology teacher and programmer, he has been interested in military history since his youth, specializing in the history of Axis units during the Second World War and particularly in the Waffen-SS. He has published numerous articles in the principal Italian-language history magazines and has contributed to many military history web sites. He is one of the few Italian historical researchers to have personally interviewed many veterans of the Waffen-SS, publishing their previously unpublished stories. He has published numerous books dealing with foreign volunteers in the German armed forces during the Second World War. From November 2004 to December 2008 he was the historical consultant and Technical Director of the magazine Volontari (Marvia Edizioni). Since May 2008 he has been Editor-in-Chief of the bimonthly magazine SGM (Seconda Guerra Mondiale) published by Editoriale Lupo. In January 2009, he began publication of a new magazine, Ritterkreuz, dedicated to the military history of Axis units during the Second World war. Since 2013, he has also managed the publication of the Fronti di Guerra series, also dedicated to the Second World War. 385 b/w photos