But Not for the Fuehrer

Rating:
Summary: A great new WW2 German soldier's wartime memoir
Review: "But not for the Fuehrer." is a vivid and revealing book by a German veteran called Helmut Jung. I couldnt put this book down at all. He was just 16 when he was drafted in 1943 and fought excluisively against Ivan on the Eastern front. He was a Pioneer trooper in the 3rd Regiment of 7th Panzer Division and fought around Kharkov against, Mongols, Russians etc. He also got trained as a sharpshooter and was employed as a sniper for a short while. Why did he volunteer for this dangerous job? Because he wanted to get out of the frontline for the duration of sniper training.This chapter about being a sniper was very much like "Enemy at the gates." It also gives a good account of how the German sniper was trained. I have read most German memoirs out there, as that is a big part of my interest and this is on par with "The forgotten Soldier" and "To Hell for Hitler."
He was also involved in the destruction of Peenemuende. when he was sent out there on a mission along with a company to destroy it before it fell into enemy hands.
I was really blown away by the vivid descriptions of action which the book is full of. But, it was also a very eye opening revealing book about so many other things that other memoirs never talk about. The little things like, how long the average German soldiers uniform and socks lasted for, what sort of cigarettes the Enlisted man smoked as opposed to what the officers smoked (Overstoltz), why the Sturmgewehr assault rifle was so **** and the troubles they experienced while using sabotaged weapons and munitions that were made by slave labour.
He talks about using teller mines against tanks, about fighting fanatical Russian women soldiers, what they did to them and to the Mongols who had tortured and mutilated their fellow German comrades.
The book is a long read and packed with a lot of vivid hand to hand combat, as well as all the small little details that we never really hear about. These make this tale valid and believable. At first I didn't know how the book would be because the cover of the book was not pretty. Which just shows how we can miss out on a book because we judge it by its cover.
I really recommend it because of the detailed personal account as well as for the story of comradeship and soldier humour it details about his fellow comrades with whom he suffered and died. It is full of humour, sorrow, tragedy as well as vivid combat. I have the deepest respect for this soldier and for his fellow comrades because of what they went through and how he managed to survive!

Its published by 1st books, Ohio. And comes in softcover ($21.95), Hardcover ($32.95 or you can download it off the computer for $5.95 at Ingrams books)
ISBN 1-4140-3445-8 (Paperback)
ISBN 1-4140-3446-6 (Dust jacket)
ISBN 1-4140-3447-4 (e-book)



Rating:
Summary: Awesome military story!
Review: This book is a very easy and fast read. There are no complicated military jargon, so anyone (not just military veterans) can read this. Mr. Jung's story is absolutely amazing and I am surprised at how much he endured and then lived to tell about it. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading autobiographies and/or military stories.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome military story!
Review: This book is a very easy and fast read. There are no complicated military jargon, so anyone (not just military veterans) can read this. Mr. Jung's story is absolutely amazing and I am surprised at how much he endured and then lived to tell about it. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading autobiographies and/or military stories.