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The Last Field Marshal. One Man's Struggle Between Duty and Conscience During World War II
This epic story, set between the years 1918 and 1945, follows the life and times of a German officer and his family through both peace and war. Following the ascension of the Nazi Party to power in 1933 he gets caught up in the heady days of Germany's secret rearmament and the development of its panzer forces. When war breaks out he quickly achieves promotion and decoration for his exploits on the battlefield. But his rise in the ranks of the German Army exposes him to the crimes being committed by his country. As the war continues his devotion to duty and personal ambitions conflict more and more with his conscience.
Available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Marshal-Struggl...
Available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Marshal-Struggl...
531 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2013
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52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 6, 2016
Makes Michener looks good. Although the first quarter and the last 10 pages have a storyline, the remainder is recycled, condensed history, largely of Eastern Front tank battles in War II, plus the political maneuvering in the Fuhrerbunker. Oddly for a book of this simplicity, the ending is left hanging, pun intended.
January 24, 2015
A terrific story!
I literally could not put this book down! I was always chomping at the bit to see what was coming next! You realize pretty quickly if you are a student of history that the book is actually a novel based on true historical events. The hero is easy to like and root for, and the bad guys ( Hitler, the bestial Russians, the Einzstantgruppen ) are easy to hate. The battle stories are gripping! The backstory of the lead character's family makes you feel real compassion for them. There are some overly drawn out sex scenes where I thought I had dropped this book on accident and picked up a romance novel..... and one particular sex scene toward the end that I could have done completely without.
My biggest problem with the book, and the only reason it didn't get 5 stars was the ending wasn't an ending. The book just stops with EVERY question unanswered. But still, I enjoyed the book too much not to recommend it.
I literally could not put this book down! I was always chomping at the bit to see what was coming next! You realize pretty quickly if you are a student of history that the book is actually a novel based on true historical events. The hero is easy to like and root for, and the bad guys ( Hitler, the bestial Russians, the Einzstantgruppen ) are easy to hate. The battle stories are gripping! The backstory of the lead character's family makes you feel real compassion for them. There are some overly drawn out sex scenes where I thought I had dropped this book on accident and picked up a romance novel..... and one particular sex scene toward the end that I could have done completely without.
My biggest problem with the book, and the only reason it didn't get 5 stars was the ending wasn't an ending. The book just stops with EVERY question unanswered. But still, I enjoyed the book too much not to recommend it.
February 22, 2019
A Little Simplistic
I did enjoy this fictional jaunt through recent German history. What let things down were the poor editing, spelling errors and historical errors - the Victory Column was moved from the Unter den Linden for Hitler's 50th birtbday; Wolfe could not have met a train full of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto a year after it was liquidated.
The habit of historical exposition also slowed down and interrupted the story.
I did enjoy this fictional jaunt through recent German history. What let things down were the poor editing, spelling errors and historical errors - the Victory Column was moved from the Unter den Linden for Hitler's 50th birtbday; Wolfe could not have met a train full of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto a year after it was liquidated.
The habit of historical exposition also slowed down and interrupted the story.
March 9, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It seems like the author took much care to relay the story with what seem to be a lot of facts, mixed in with what I believe are fictional liberties taken as the story progressed. There aren't a lot of books that I know written like this. The point of view of the character as he progresses through one of the most tumultuous times in our history was very detailed and really helped to show what it might have been like for those forced into following a leader like Hitler.
Overall, I thought the book was very well written. Though I would have liked to have heard a little more about the repercussions and fallout from the end of the war. I think it would be very interesting to see how the mainline soldiers who weren't involved in the cleansing would have felt and reacted after learning of the horrendous atrocities committed by the Nazi machine. But maybe that was one of the points of the book...to illustrate how little they really did know.
Overall, I thought the book was very well written. Though I would have liked to have heard a little more about the repercussions and fallout from the end of the war. I think it would be very interesting to see how the mainline soldiers who weren't involved in the cleansing would have felt and reacted after learning of the horrendous atrocities committed by the Nazi machine. But maybe that was one of the points of the book...to illustrate how little they really did know.
October 22, 2014
A really surprising read that forgets it is mostly based on fiction. Well written with an eye for facts that keeps one not wanting to put this down but afraid of what's on the next page. War and a surplus of facts, not all well known, keeps this book on my shelf. You will not be disappointed by it, that is my promise.
November 10, 2013
This book is a detailed account of what it must have been like to be caught between doing what a good soldier must do, and having to deal with the appalling policies and behavior of others on your side. Definitely worth a read.
February 1, 2019
Tragic tale of what had occurred
Fantastic read, one of the best ones I've read in awhile. Covered some very big incidents as well the often glosses over reprisal by the Russian soldiers.
Fantastic read, one of the best ones I've read in awhile. Covered some very big incidents as well the often glosses over reprisal by the Russian soldiers.
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January 30, 2014Great book
this is an excellent read. weaves the fighting history of germany in the story. recommend reading this book to learn about pander warfare.
this is an excellent read. weaves the fighting history of germany in the story. recommend reading this book to learn about pander warfare.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews