Here is the extraordinary story of one man’s war. This book portrays the gradual awakening in the mind of a young Hitler Youth ‘educated’ soldier of a Panzer Division, bogged down in the bitterest fighting on the Eastern Front, to the truth of the criminal character of what he is involved in.
Having in mind that about 9 out of 10 German soldiers who died in WWII were killed in Russia, the book throws light on the largely unreported heroic sacrifices of Soviet soldiers and civilians often against seemingly hopeless odds, without which Europe might well have fallen to fascism. It deals less with grand strategies, tactics and military technicalities than with the human involvement of ordinary people, from both sides, who were caught up in that enormity of a tragedy, that epic struggle in Russia.
It throws light on the chasm which existed between officers and men in the sharply class-divided Wehrmacht with most of the top rank officers having been drawn from the old imperial aristocracy.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Henry Metelmann was born into a working class family in Altona, near Hamburg, on Christmas Day, 1922. A member of the Hitler Youth, he was called up into the Wehrmacht in 1940, becoming a panzerjager, or rank driver. After service in France, his unit went via the Southern Russian Front to Stalingrad. After the Battle of Kursk, his unit moved to Polan and then Austria. Surrendering in 1945, he was a POW in America and then Britain. After a short time in Germany, he returned to Britain and worked on the railways until his retirement and now lives in Surrey.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Seller: Reliant Bookstore, El Dorado, KS, U.S.A.
Condition: acceptable. This book is a well used but readable copy. Integrity of the book is still intact with no missing pages. May have notes or highlighting. Cover image on the book may vary from photo. Ships out quickly in a secure plastic mailer. Seller Inventory # RDV.0971170916.A
Seller: ZBK Books, Carlstadt, NJ, U.S.A.
Condition: very_good. Fast & Free Shipping â" Very Good condition book with a firm cover and clean pages. Shows normal use and some light wear or limited notes markings. A solid, nice copy to enjoy. Seller Inventory # ZWV.0971170916.VG
Seller: Half Price Books Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_468075695
Seller: HPB-Diamond, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_467563093
Seller: NorthStar Books, Spokane, WA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. BOOK DESCRIPTION: 8vo, 208 pgs, index, illustrations. Black cloth with gilt, titled spine. Dust jacket as issued. CONDITION DESCRIPTION: Fine; interior is clean and tight. Unclipped DJ is near fine in mylar sleeve. CONTENTS DESCRIPTION: "Here is the extraordinary story of one man's war. This book portrays the gradual awakening in the mind of a young Hitler Youth 'educated' soldier of a Panzer Division, bogged down in the bitterest fighting on the Eastern Front, to the truth of the criminal character of what he is involved in. It throws light on the chasm which existed between officers and men in the sharply class-divided Wehrmacht with most of the top rank officers having been drawn from the old imperial aristocracy." (PUBLISHER). Seller Inventory # 0525028
Seller: Book Bear, West Brookfield, MA, U.S.A.
Cloth. Condition: Good. 208 pp. Tightly bound. Corners not bumped. Text is free of markings. No ownership markings. This copy is a Book Club Edition. Price clipped dust jacket. NOTE: From a smoker's library. Seller Inventory # 023627
Seller: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: Good. Torn/worn dj. Good hardcover with some shelfwear; may have previous owner's name inside. Standard-sized. Seller Inventory # mon0000248923
Seller: Hellertown Books, Hellertown, PA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Seller Inventory # 49165H0372
Seller: Chris Fessler, Bookseller, Howell, MI, U.S.A.
black hardcover 8vo. (octavo). dustwrapper in protective plastic book jacket cover. fine cond. binding square & tight. covers clean. edges clean. contents free of markings. dustwrapper in fine cond. bit of rubbing at spine (top & bottom) & corners. not torn or price clipped (no price listed). nice clean copy. no library markings, store stamps, stickers, bookplates, no names, inking, underlining, remainder markings etc~. book club edition. 208p. glossy b&w photo illustrations. index. autobiography. memoirs. world war ii. nazi germany. third reich. soviet union. military history. ~ Eighteen~year~old Henry Metelmann joined a German Panzer division in 1941, a committed National Socialist and former member of the Hitler Youth, ready for the great onslaught against Russia. The first euphoric stages of that campaign saw the Wehrmacht sweeping all before it, but as the German forces struck deep into the Russian heartland, Metelmann began to question the justness of this savage war. Then came the turning point. Victory became terrible and total defeat. From the Russian white hell, the remains of the German forces fled in an epic retreat. Having escaped from the Russians, Metelmann survived to become a prisoner of war and was sent to America, and then to Britain, where he had time to reflect on the part he had played in one of mankind's most horrible conflicts. Resident in Britain since 1948, he has now written of his beliefs and experiences as a tribute to those who fell victim in that awful conflict, and a ghastly warning for those who might consider such action in the future. Seller Inventory # 3072301
Seller: KULTURAs books, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. Hardcover in dustjacket. Black boards, pristine. As New. Protected dustjacket bright & clean, chip to lower corner. Book is firm in binding, 208 pages include Index, b&w photographs. Free of any other markings, not ex-library.; B&W Phototographs; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; 208 pages. Seller Inventory # 99642