Of Another Time and Place

by Brad Schaeffer

While on a brief leave home from the deadly skies of World War II, a decorated German flying ace must decide between conscience and country when his courageous fiancé reveals her potentially deadly secret she's been keeping right under the nose of the SS.

She wondered if he was the man she was searching for. How many men after all could have that name, and be both a retired musician and a former Luftwaffe ace? She had so many unanswered questions. How would he explain the violence, the many deaths by his own hand? How had he survived when so many of his comrades perished under the guns of the Allied air armadas? And most important, had this man somehow found redemption? Or was he just another grizzled old Nazi living out his last days in undeserved anonymity, still unrepentant for the horrors his people inflicted upon the world, and her people in particular.

Rachael Azerod, a New York reporter, flies to London to interview Harmon Becker, the former German WW II hero whom Hitler himself awarded the highest honors—but she has her own reasons for meeting. Was he just a soldier? Or did he do something so astounding that not even he was willing to remember it…until now.

Of Another Time and Place is a novel about love, redemption, and two young lovers separated by war and desperate to survive the unparalleled violence consuming their war-torn nation. It is the story of a country gone astray, mesmerized by their mad Fuehrer , and the artist-turned-warrior and his courageous bride who vow to break his spell and make a difference, even it if means dangling at end of a Nazi rope.

A worthy addition to the pantheon of beloved war novels from A Farewell to Arms to All Quiet on the Western Front , Brad Schaeffer’s gripping story draws the reader into the very heart of the conflagration that was the Second World War. He takes the reader deep into the conflicts that raged not only in the skies over Germany, but within the hearts of combatants and non-combatants alike who found themselves trying to maintain their humanity when all decency seemed to have abandoned the happy lives they once knew.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, War, 20th Century

384 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2018

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and moving story of a WW2 Luftwaffe pilot. Beautifully written.

"....the terrible swastika that serves as a reminder of the viscous depths into which we are all capable of sinking, if the stars align and evil is offered the reins of power.

But it also tells me that it takes just one person with courage and moral clarity to break the spell and lead generations into a better world."

[Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional and eye opening, more than a few times in this book had I told myself "just one more chapter"

Emotional and eye opening, more than a few times in this book had I told myself "just one more chapter"

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of those that will stay with me for a long time. I listened to it on audiobook and it was definitely one of the best books I have “read” recently.

[GSMC Book Review Podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is told from two different time periods. As Rachel interviews Harmon in the modern area he tells her the story of his experience. I liked that the relationship between Rachel and Harmon evolved as the WWII story unfolded. I also really liked how Amelia, Harmon's girlfriend and eventual wife, while a secondary character in many ways, is really the driving force behind much of what happens in the story in terms of Harmon's choices and decisions. She was my favorite character. Most of the WWII novels I've read have been from the perspective of the allies, and while this isn't the first or only story told from a German perspective, I really appreciated how Brad showed a realistic picture of a German citizen during this time. Harmon is a product of his environment, not completely brain-washed by Nazi propaganda, but not completely against the Nazis as a political party, either. It's not black or white and Harmon is a human character who has to examine his life, his choices, and what is happening to his beloved country. This is a well-written, multi-faceted, and enjoyable historical fiction book.

[Laura Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

"....the terrible swastika that serves as a reminder of the viscous depths into which we are all capable of sinking, if the stars align and evil is offered the reins of power."

This quote from the book is a great summary of what it was really all about.

I am a fan of WWII historical fiction - when well done. This book hit the mark for me. It is the first book of its kind that I have read in that its told from the perspective of a German Ace pilot. All the other WWII historical fiction I've read have been the stories of Allies. This new perspective revealed to me, as any good war novel should, the internal struggle war causes within individuals. It is often easy to view war as a collective effort, because it is, but that collective is made up of individuals. Not all soldiers are the same, just as not all people are the same. Embracing that truth gave space for me to relate to a character that was a Nazi officer in the Luftwaffe at the peak of WWII. This book was also a sobering reminder of the cost of Nationalism when improperly prioritized. Nationalism should never outweigh Truth. It can become all too easy to let national pride and political alignment speak louder than anything else. I love my country, but I don't ever want to love my country more than I love God or the people God created to live in my country, or any other.

In all, this is a beautiful and poignant story that captured my heart and caused me to consider what it means to have conviction, true conviction for what is right.

[Bobbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story told from the perspective of a Nazi Captain. I enjoyed hearing it from this perspective. I recommend this entertaining and emotional story.

[Linda E. Tobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story. Different perspective than usual.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys WWII, historical fiction.
Even the view of the German Army men, are portrayed as honorable human beings.

[Ellie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!?

I loved this book it was so well written and the characters so real you felt like you were there with them!!!

[Julie D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable!!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. While I rated it 4 stars, it’s definitely 4.5-5 stars. As a historical fiction reader I had long needed a break from WWII stories. I love WWII novels, but the HF genre is 80% WWII based. Due to the sheer number of the books I read in this specific category, it takes a really exceptional WWII book to garner top marks from me because the bar has become so high. This book has wonderful characters that you really connect with, and is well written and well paced. It’s also emotionally gripping. The POV of a proud young German man who is torn between his love/pride in his country, his honorable duty as an officer, and his affection for his old Jewish music is a wonderful plot line-and one that is connected by the love of his young life, an idealistic, beautiful, headstrong German girl. It is one of the more unique POV’s in the genre currently and makes the book a very engaging read. To watch the main character go through a plethora of personal metamorphosis to understand himself and the war is not only interesting, but done to perfection. There is no moment of truth, per se, but a series of moments and events that start the lead character, Captain Harmon Becker, to come to understand the war and himself. His story is not a straight line, but a jagged one-like real life. Every emotion feels authentic, every move feels genuine to each character. This story has great characters, twists and turns, nail biting moments, and has heart. It’s a story of love, honor, conscience, redemption, and the choices we make at the hardest moments of our life that make us who we are for better or worse. I listened to this book on Audible and I have to say that the narrator was exceptional. It really added to the story. I like to read most of my books, but I enjoy Audible in the car or when I’m cooking. Sometimes they have good narrators, sometimes awful ones, but once in awhile I’ll listen to an Audible book that has a narrator that hits it out of the park-and this was one for sure. I highly recommend this book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A German ace fighter pilot in WWII, Harmon Becker, becomes a hero and winner of the Knights Cross. Flying is his passion and his mission. As the war grinds on, he has to take care of his junior pilots who are untrained and lacking enough seat time due to fuel shortages. Prior to the war, Harmon learned to play piano from a neighborhood music master ... and Jew. When he learns that his fiance has been hiding the Jewish family, Harmon is shocked. When he is shot down over France and rescued by a SS patrol, he witnesses first hand the evil of the Nazi regime, something he had not seen from his cockpit. After he loses his brother to an American patrol of fighters, Harmon leaves and decides to get his remaining family, his fiance, and his Jewish piano master out of the country.

This was an excellent story!

[Edmond Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story beautifully told!

Superb story about a WWII German ace who comes to recognize the horrors of Nazism in the middle of the war. A love story, a tale of desperate escape from the heart of evil. Lyrically written. Finally it’s a page turning inspirational story of good conquering man’s darker side.

This could be made into a terrific movie but it hasn’t been optioned to the best of my knowledge. I guess it isn’t the kind of story Hollywood wants to tell anymore.

[DianeR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a German fighter pilot's story, devoted to his country, decorated by Hitler himself, but struggling with his conscience once he sees the horrors of war on the ground instead of in the air. I stayed up most of a night listening to this gripping story. I kept checking the clock saying to myself, "Okay, I'll stop listening at 1:00." At 1:00, I said, "Okay, I'll for sure stop listening at 2:00." And on it went. I recommend this to all of you who love these WWII novels. Believe me, even though we've all "read" so much dual timeline historical fiction, this one's different.

[Regan Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly thought provoking and eye opening book written from an insiders perspective of Nazi Germany. So many have written on the mass psychosis that overtook Germany during the rise and fall of the Third Reich. This book depicts one man’s revelation and redemption before the end. The book raises deep questions regarding youth indoctrination and the abuse of science, reason, and religion to justify mass atrocities.

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was bought for me as a present, and I really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed reading a story about WW II from a German's point of view, and the emotions they had to wrestle with. It was an easy read, and full of action from start to finish.

The only misgiving I had about the story was that there seemed to be too many contrived coincidences ... but a good read indeed.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. Heart breaking at times. Interesting perspective to view the inner struggle of a German solider during WWII. Wrestling with duty to be a solider and what he had been taught versus doing the ultimate right thing and what that might mean to him and others.

[Richard Bayless]

Excellent Story!

[Connie A Anzalone · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful story

I love this time period and to read it through yet another lens.. a German pilot’s view.. is remarkable. Such heroic times

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I struggled with this book, from the moment I read the author's note thanking those who helped him to write & publish his book. A couple of the names made me very uncomfortable. The opening chapters then deal with the successes of Harmon's squad in shooting down the American bombers with their 10 crew members. My mother's youngest brother, age 19, was a navigator on a B-17 when they were shot out of the sky just like one of Harmon's 100 kills in the same year as portrayed in this book.

In addition to those personal issues for me, I don't support the "good Nazi" portrayal we see in some historical fiction, especially of those in uniform. The "good" Germans in this book were Amelia & her mother Hannah. They were incredibly brave with the strength of character to act on their convictions. They never fell under the spell of Hitler or the wave of nationalism that swept over Germany. As for Harmon, I doubt he would have ever changed at all if not for Amelia. And yes, he undoubtedly saved the Jewish family but that cannot erase what he did in the war. It just can't and it shouldn't.