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 websites, as well as serving as a historical consultant, technical director and editor-in-chief of several Italian magazines. He currently publishes two magazines dedicated to the history of Axis units and forces during the Second World War. 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historical researchers to have personally interviewed many veterans of the Waffen-SS, publishing their previously unpublished stories.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 is a prolific writer and has published an impressive number of books in Italian, Spanish and English dealing with foreign volunteers in the German armed forces during the Second World War.