VOLUME 11: RUSSIA, HUNGARY, LITHUANIA AND THE BATTLE FOR EAST PRUSSIA.
Readers may recall my review of Volume 1 of this autobiography some months ago. That was purchased cheaply in The Works. This second volume was available from Amazon but at full price. Recently I noticed it had been reduced so I used a gift card I received at Christmas to make the purchase.
Once again a good read. Another account of the desperate fighting on the Eastern Front against a far more numerous and more lavishly equipped enemy which always makes me wonder how any German soldier ever survived the vicious fighting against Russia. The author managed, with a few others, in the final chaotic days of the war to disengage from the Russians, and travel west until he was able to surrender to US troops. As a member of the infamous Grossdeutschland division he was under no illusions as to his fate if captured by the Russians. After a brief period of captivity he was able to return home in July 1945, one of the few members of his division to survive the war.
One of the most interesting features of this book is the large number of photos, never before published , from the authors private records. These include lots of illustrations of maps, orders, award documents, propaganda leaflets and suchlike which are fascinating in their own right, together with many general photos of the author and his comrades and their vehicles and equipment usually at rest or on the road.
Another well written book on the titanic struggle between Germany and Russia.
Thanks for another review Peter. You do wonder when reading about the Eastern Front that anyone ever survived to tell the tales of what it was like.
ReplyDeleteOoops! Of course I meant Tony, not Peter.
DeleteHi Steve..Yes that is a reoccuring theme with all books by German soldiers on the Eastern Front..and of course the majority did not survive. Regards.
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