Through Hell for Hitler

Spike · March 21, 2006

I got this the other day. It's the story of a German Panzer driver's experiences in the assault on and susbequent withdrawal from Russia during WWII. The author was later sent to England as where he became a signalman on the railways.

I have to say that I have never read a book that has been as moving as this.

It begins during his childhood, the poverty, starvation of the late 20's and early 30's and then moves onto Hitler's rise to power and a new found pride amongst his generation. How they were indoctrined into the Hitler youth and albeit briefly (but often referred to in the book) how it sat with his cynical father (who hated the nationalist movement having seen the natural demarcation that power creates on his own march to war in WWI when he fought in the trenches whilst the Kaiser's leaders ate fattening suppers) and also the thoughts of his Christian mother.

To start with Henry (or Genry) is full of swollen pride, almost mocking the state and comparitively pathetic quality of living as he makes his way towards the front. He simply cannot understand how men can have no pride and would let themselves be conquered.

On the one hand the tale is full of pomp and propaganda as seen through the eyes of the Hitler youth - when battles are won they are great and swift, and it justifies why they have risen to conquer, whilst on the other there are several personal stories where witnessing first hand individual deaths he begins to realise his part in the machine and it challenges his understanding - his own, and God's role in the whole event, as well as the Fuhrers.

Two situations amongst many so far stand out (I'm only halfway through):

As he drives his tank and crushes the defeated, injured and dead Russian soldiers, under his tracks he notes the difference between his own machine and that of nature insofar that 'even elephants or horses would think to step around them'.

Secondly is a scenario when, themselves starved, they watched their seniors command the best position in the park (where the soldiers were already resting, setting up camp, swimming etc) to set up their own dining table. They commanders are served Champagne, and the very best available food whilst Henry (Who had been sentenced by such superiors to a fornight's 'jail in a 2ft high chicken wire cage for stealing bread) and his fellow soldiers looked on.

This situation comes to a head when a column of surrendering Russian soldiers approach the table of senior staff to surrender. One drunk German, a Major, starts to cajole and mock the beliefs of the Russian colonel that was offering terms of surrender.

After putting up with a lot of condescending comments the Russian colonel simply says 'I may be a communist and you a fascist but I am a colonel and you are but a Major'. Enfuriated the Major shoots him in the heart.

Touched by the nobility of the Russian's surrender and embarrassed by the action of their own superiors, Henry and all of the German troops run over to the Russians and stand in front of them as protection from any further slaughter from their own heirachy. Some hugging and calling each other comrade.

The Russian soldiers then give the colonel a burial.

It's a fantastic book and looks into the eye of the human, their belief system in war, showing that ideals are often those of leaders than the men that fight to continue or strengthen their leaders' position and their own at the same time. Whilst at the same time showing that human values can be lost in such a situation.

Henry, for example begins to show more empathy, on a personal level, with the Russians who are hard, tenacious and stick together, but from an economic point of view and having come from poverty, find similar appeal in the security and prosperous nature of the Nazi movement.

He often asks how can we be doing this for God and Hitler?

A fantastic book.

Edited March 21, 2006 by Spike Starski

Romario · March 21, 2006