The day before sunrise

by Thomas Wiseman

Reich Special Investigator Ernst Schöller contrives his escape from embattled Berlin with his unparalleled knowledge of the highest in the land. There is nothing, and no-one, of importance in the dritte Reich he doesn’t know about. Using his position and knowledge, he begins to bargain for his life with the Allies in the person of Allen Welsh Dulles, chief of the O.S.S. in Switzerland. Realising that a delayed surrender by Germany will mean deeper penetration into Europe by the Communists, both men agree that Schöller should be supervised in his intelligence gathering, but the only agent available is a young American clerk, Elliott, who has no field training. A strange relationship forms between the two men in the environment of mutual self-interest; as horrors unimaginable blunt the sensitivities of the young American he begins to learn the trade-crafts of deception and survival in the shadowy world of espionage. Thomas Wiseman has written a novel-of-fact, an accurate reconstruction of actual events;

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

335 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Thomas Wiseman was the film critic of the Sunday Express. Before that he wrote the entertainment personalities page in the Evening Standard for eight years, during which he made many trips to Hollywood and European Studios to interview stars, producers and directors in the cinematograph industry (the feature was syndicated internationally from the Sunday Morning Herald to the Nairobi Sunday Post.) He was also a playright.

Reviews

[Ebenmaessiger]

Effective, relatively unsentimental (save the inexplicable romantic subplot) telling of some mopping-up collusion between the OSS and SS in the waning days of the war.

[Alan Carlson]

An interesting look at the end of WW2, centered on but not focused on the negotiations between SS General Wolff and Allen Dulles, OSS in Bern Switzerland. Sauve que peut! Historical fiction that appears to get the facts right, with heavy doses of atmosphere.
Down one star for a lack of compelling, sympathetic characters.

[Mark Reynolds]

Exciting spy story about the crazy last days of WWII. I don't know how believable it is, but it sure is fun. Certainly the big picture - Operation Sunrise, and the other historical events - are true.

[Hilary]

This is probably a 3.5 star book - there was intrigue and action, some great characters with many layers - it wasn't always clear who you should cheer for. I didn't love the very end, but really enjoyed the book overall.

[Brian]

A page turner

[Agkothet]

Really good one ! Well worth reading although the ages of world war II is gone ! The best thing in this book is spectating and evacuation!