Sven Hassel

Sven Hassel was the pen name of Danish-born author Børge Willy Redsted Pedersen (1917–2012), best known for his series of novels depicting the experiences of soldiers in a German penal battalion during World War II. While Hassel claimed his books were based on his own experiences as a soldier in the Wehrmacht, investigations have shown these claims to be largely fabricated, revealing him to have been a Danish criminal who collaborated with German occupation forces. Despite the controversy surrounding his life and the historical accuracy of his work, his novels achieved massive international popularity.