The original of this book was published in 2008 with the English version coming in 2019. This is volume 1, volume 2 is also available. I purchased this book in The Works at £7 a few weeks ago. On looking at Amazon for volume 2, I found both volumes available at over £20 each. Today on Amazon, volume 1 is now only £7 but volume 2 is still £18 !!!!!!!
This is the war memoir of a German mortar gunner who served with Grossdeutschland from his enlistment at 18 in 1941 through to the end of the war. His survival is almost a miracle given the bitter fighting and numerous ordeals he went through during those years. After the war he became a veterinarian and lived till 2017.
The book is well illustrated with many of the authors own photographs not previously published and offers a very good insight to life as a German soldier both in combat but also out of the line. In fact there is just a bit more about that side of things than the fighting which probably speaks to his strongest memories. There is much to interest everyone from details of the Opel Blitz truck, the weapons, rations etc as well as a soldiers view of the battles he endured. For example it is hard to grasp from this book that Operation Citadel was a defeat for the Germans. Of course this is due to the very limited view the author, or indeed any ordinary soldier, would have of a large battle.
I will certainly buy volume 2 although I may just wait to see if The Works get it in later in the year before using Amazon !!!! Overall a very good book and well recommended.
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