Volume 1 chronicles the formation and growth of Leibstandarte from 1933, ending with its victory parade in Athens and rest at Larissa, April 1941. Accounts of the Polish Campaign, the Battle of France (including the battle of Dunkirk) and the Balkans Campaign are meticulously detailed.

Strangely, I can find no images of Volume 1, which is the simplest of all the covers consisting of the usual red binding and white lettering but with the image of the key alone, not enclosed in a shield and no oak leaves.