"The SS: Alibi of a Nation" by Gerald Reitlinger is a comprehensive history of the SS in the years leading up to and during World War II. The book, published in 1988, is illustrated and written in English, providing detailed insights into the operations and influence of the Nazi regime's paramilitary organization. With a focus on the period from 1922 to 1945, this book offers a compelling exploration of the role and trajectory of the SS within the larger context of the Nazi regime.