Fuherer, Folk and Fatherland ~ A Soldier's Story

As a Canadian, I never really knew the stories from the "other side" when it comes to World War II, but this personal biography of Albin Gagel is very descriptive.  It outlines the situation in Germany following World War I and the build up to World War II by the Nazis. 

Albin Gagel was born in 1918, so by the time Hitler rose to power he was a young man.  He would go on to serve in the Wehrmacht, which did not require the men to be members of the Nazis.  Gagel served in France and Norway before being sent to the Eastern Front.  He did not revel in the killings, he only wanted to survive, especially more so once he met his future wife Gisela.

War on the Eastern Front was hell, especially during the bitter winters for which the German soldiers were not prepared.  Once the Russians began to push back things got worse.  Gagel was wounded, but once he was recovered he was sent back leading a company of misfits.

When the war was over he was captured, but well treated by the Russians.  Realising that he could be shipped eastward to a labour camp, he made good his escape and returned home.  There he discovered that the Americans were treating the Germans very poorly.  His brother came home nearly starved to death by the Americans who had held him prisoner.  Another brother told him that the Canadians and British who had held him captive treated him fairly and fed him well.

Following the war Western Germany was in dire straits until the Russians blockaded Berlin.  As a result of the Marshall Plan things improved, however Gagel and his wife didn't want to be on the front line should war break out again.  They looked to emigrate; would it be America, land of the free?  Since the Americans continued to conscript soldiers they decided against that country because they didn't want their young son involved in war.  Australia was too far away.  Canada seemed wide open and a land of opportunity, so that is where they finally emigrated to.

This is a well written story that gets the reader right into the war, understanding how the individual soldier felt.  You experience the battles and deaths alongside Gagel.  It is a book that should be read by any student of history, especially those who study World War II.