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Summary: New View of the Horrors of War
Review: Recently i have read mainly World War II books, most by Stephen Ambrose. I decided to have a change and read this book, which is about a young boy who becomes a Refugee near the end of WWII and stays one for 4 more years. The writer, Wolfgang Samuel, does a great job writing this book altogether, you wont be able to put it down. The book follows Wolfgang, his Mutti(Mom), and sister, Ingrid. They narrowly escape the Russians on numerous occasions. This book is often filled with many terrifiying moments, and its hard to imagine being 10 years old and going through this. When you read other books, like Citizen Soldier, you dont feel the pain and suffering that German Civilians went through because of the war. This gives you new light on a shady area. The book made me really think about the war in Iraq, the fact is, Wolfgang's position in life isnt too uncommon. Its a sad fact of war. I suggest this too anyone interested in WWII, History in general, or just great writing. I think that this book can make people more aware of the effects of war. Its hard to feel sorry for someone shooting at you with an gun, but you cant help but feel sorry for a mother so desprate to provide for her children, she sells her body. If youve made it this far into the review, get the book. 5 stars, hands down.
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Summary: Teriffic Account of the the After years
Review: This book does not deserve anything less than the 5 stars that every one seems to give it. Samuel's true life story is really fasinating and very well written. I like reading personal accounts of the war and this is one of the best written in an honest way and from the point of view of a German boy during the war. The book moves along very well and after finishing it, you want to learn more about what happened after the war. That is the mark of a great book, when it opens your interests into other areas of History.The war did not end for Germany after the German surrender, it evolved in other ways. Bringing missery, death, and many, many tears to the Germans on the Soviet and Allied side of Germany. Poverty was known to all Germans after the war and the instict to survive was what drove most people, if not than you just simply died and no one would care because they also had to survive. Samuel brings that point to you. Overall one of the great quotes from this book is "The war did not end when the shots ceased for us Germans". From begining to end Samuel brings into the reader's imagination pictures of how life was back in 1945 and the years after. The sorrow of the many people's no the losing side of the war. People could surely turn there backs on them but not all did. The Americans were very nice to the Germans and Samuels describes that. The Russians brought fear and as he says, because of there drunkeness it was warranted. Let your imagination wonder for a while through the years of 1945 and 1949 and understand a people who were not only defeated in the field of battle but also in the Spirit because of it's aftermath. We are all human beings in the end, we laugh and cry but for them, crying was the norm because laughter what something to hard, even to pretend to do.
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Summary: Life After the Fall of Nazi Germany
Review: This book is an autobiography that covers five years in a young boy�s life immediately after the fall of Nazi Germany. As a 10-year boy living in the small town of Sagan, east of Berlin, Wolfgang Samuel flees the advancing Russian army with his mother and younger sister. The book revolves around their experiences during that flight, their subsequent return to live under Communist rule, and their ultimate escape to West Germany. This is a great book for those interested in the time period of 1945-50. It shows how the Russian army treated the Germans, what life was like under Communist rule, and how the allies in West Germany helped rebuild the country. There is a really good section that covers the Berlin airlift and the impact it had on the country. The reader also gets a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in a war-devastated country. This is the life of a young boy; so don�t expect any grand heroics or tales of battles. Do expect stories of survival during a horrible time in history and the lengths that people would go to, including his mother, to survive and to feed their families. There are many examples of horrible behavior as well as true kindness. Truly a fascinating story. There is a foreword by Stephen Ambrose, who also loved the book.
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Summary: German Boy: A Child in War
Review: This book was a present to me because my youngest brother saw much of Samuel's character in me. Some of the experiences Samuel had between 1945 and 1950, seem to universal to all German refugee children. However, some things he relates must have been researched. An example is that when his mother went back to East Germany, she came back hidden in a railroad car laden with coal. I heard that particular story before I was 5 years old. Despite the memories of his experiences (many which I seem to share), this is an excellent look into the life of German refugee families and is well worth reading. I would recommend that the reader reread it to get the full impact of life for MOST Germans during and immediately after WWII.
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Summary: The final days of WWII through a childs eyes
Review: This is a well-written, true story based on the memories of a war torn childhood. What horror it must have been to have been a German family (in this case a mother and son) and stuck in Germany at the end of WWII and even worse luck to be stuck in the Soviet Zone. The book is an account of one family's determination to survive: Survival that depended on the ability to learn how to quickly adapt to the constant changes of circumstance and the willingness to undergo individual sacrifices. In short, to do what ever was necessary to live one more day, over and over again. A compelling work: hard to put down. Highly recommended!
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Summary: A horrific story of survival
Review: This is an outstanding autobiography of horrific events as experienced by a boy. Au contraire to post World War II commentators and The History Channel, not every German citizen was a member of the Nazi party, especially a young boy, and suffered accordingly as the regime crumbled. Mr. Samuel's account of his experiences surviving the final days of the Third Reich are spellbounding. This book is not just an autobiography, but a tribute to his mother. He chronicles with great detail the horrors of a dying Third Reich (and the efforts of relative strangers to save him and his family) and his mother's efforts to save them from the advancing hordes of Russian soldiers. Mr. Samuel, his sister and mother survived the collapse of the Third Reich only to endure the horrors of the Soviets/East Germany, until their escape. Truly makes one appreciate the very thin line that separated the horrors of the Nazi and Soviet Communist regimes. And it caused this reader to ponder her own chances of survival if in similar circumstances. This book is a tribute to all those innocent victims of authoritarian/totalitarian regimes who somehow survived and succeeded against all odds. A truly inspiring work.
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