Blood and honor

by Reinhold Kerstan

Vintage paperback

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Biography Memoir, World War II

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Rose Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood and Honor is an inside view of the Hitler youth and Nazi Germany from the perspective of someone who lived it. Like most youth of his era in Germany, Kerstan was drawn in by the brainwashing of his teachers and peer pressure to conform to Nazi ideals, in spite of his Christian upbringing. Disturbing, but not overly graphic, Kerstan spares nothing of his own personal journey in this memoir of his childhood. It is easy to identify with Kerstan as he wrestles with the clash of values he is faced with, even when focused on his own survival. Well written and informative.

[Corrine Duan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With "Brownshirts" (Sturmabteilung), Swastika flags, Anti-Semitism propaganda, and "Heil Hitler", I was brought to that special period of Germany in history to witness a growth of a German Christian boy to become a man by firming his faith in God through the brain-washing education and peer pressure. Certainly, the youngster was misled to abandon God in his heart and hate Jews by the forced rules in the process, but at last all the resentment were gone and turned to forgiveness and rejoice which further built a strengthen and strong soul. This is really how "parents should train up a child in the way he should go" by planting God's World and nurturing it with godly care and prayer.

Herr Grothe, a character in the book really made me introspect my view of human being. At first, he acted a role as a "bad guy" because of his tight, sadistic, and even perverted control on those Hitler Youths. For example, he often slapped Reinheld just because of "disrespect to the Fuhrer " (actually Reinheld just complained and joked about the toothpaste which were sent from their"greatest Fuhrer"), but I was touched somehow by his loyalty to both the "greatest Fuhrer" and his fatherland when he said that "we are one folk and one nation". Later on, I saw his other side when he tried to protect those boys when the Austrian mob wanted to kill them in St. Johann. Then, he even had "forgiven" Juergen's stolen behavior after understanding his hunger, and this was very different than he used to be. So, I really had to deny my previous judgement that Herr Grothe was a "bad guy" in the book. He shows that humanity is so complicated that we could not simply tell if a person is "good or bad". This also rejects the idea that "everything has two sides which is either white or black", because sometimes there are also "gray" which is between white and black.

In total, this is a good book what is worth to read when you need to strengthen your faith.

[Rachel N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blood and Honor is the story of a young boy’s (appx. age 8-14) experience under the reign of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. Reinhold Kerstan gives an honest portrayal of the mind battles he endured as a result of the intense propaganda of the Nazi regime. Kerstan, as an impressionable youngster, was convinced that he was a part of the elite race of men, looked forward to his 13th Birthday when he could officially be a part of the “Hitler Youth” and viewed Adolf Hitler as worthy of his allegiance. At the same time however, Kerstan shares of the confusion he experienced due to his Christian upbringing (his father was a pastor and his mother, a devout follower of Christ), memories of Jewish friendships and being himself a recipient of cruelty at the hands of his “teacher” in a German school. Although not superbly written, this book was worth picking up at a thrift store, and worth the time to read (only 190 pages). It would be a good addition to an adolescent’s study of WWII, giving an “inside” view of the effects of the propaganda war on Germany’s young citizens.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. The English was simple to understood. There was some confusion with flashbacks during a given scene but still an insightful read. A young boy is found conflicted by his earthly heritage and his heavenly heritage. Specifically being a Hitler Youth during World War II and a devout Christian.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's interesting to read a book about ww2 from the side of a German.

[Linda Bechtel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives you a haunting view of the pressures put on “Hitler Youth.” For German youth, of faith, the dictates of the Third Reich created internal turmoil. The Bible promises parents that if they “train up their children in the way of the Lord: when they are old they will not depart from it.” Being raised in a Baptist Christian home, Reinhold Kerstan was forced to walk this out at age 12 at a Hitler youth training camp, and endure persecution for his faith. How The Lord uses the situation to strengthen his faith and do miraculous things thru him at his young age is something to see.

[Elisa Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoir of a boy who grew up loving Jesus but who also found himself conscripted into the Hitler Youth when WWII began. It was a heartbreaking look at an impossible situation — a child who had no choice but to do as he was told, and who struggled to understand truth while being fed propaganda. The bulk of the book takes place during his Hitler Youth years, but some time is spent at the end on the ways he discovered God’s redemptive work in his life and the lives of others once the war was over. I read this aloud to my older two boys (aged 11 and 14 at the time), and we all enjoyed it.

[Reinhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few interesting anecdotes about the experience of a 13 year old boy who was sent away to Hitler Youth education in 1944-1945 and a bit of 1946. Relays his experience going there, what it was like living there, the struggles on the journey back home and the disillusionment when it all fell apart. Talks about how his faith was instrumental in getting him through it.

[Hannah Alane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of redemption.

[Seth Lars · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful.

[Flora Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

A facinating account on what it was like to be the son of a baptist pastor and in the Hitler Youth as well as the aftermath of WWII in occupied Germany

[Yibbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even a youth can understand the Bible. It will guide him, if he applies himself to it's principles. Drawn with all the lures Hitler offered the 'master race' Kerstan 'Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.' It is an excellent encouragement for Christians of all ages.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and very fascinating story of a young boy trying to remain a Christian and also try to win the respect of his peers in the Hitler youth. A very interesting tale and a interesting perspective of WWII from an unusual source. Worth a read.

[Micah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated this book, for the historical, spiritual, and mental stimulation that it provided me. I felt like I was able to be transported to the author's life in Hitler's Germany. A good read, and a good look at training up a child in the way he should go.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

EPIC!!! I love this book!!! I like this book because it was a story of what a real person my age went through, and how he got through it. There is some gory parts that I did not like, but the end of the book was REALLY GOOD!!! Definitely gonna read this again!!!

Loveeeeee it so muchh

[Karissa Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book! It is like a mix between The Hiding Place and Ender's Game.

[Emma Juday · Rating 5 out of 5]

A neat read. It was fascinating to read a first hand account of being in Hitlers Youth from a Christian perspective.

[Tom James · Rating 3 out of 5]

An autobiographical account of a German boy who grows up in Germany as part of the Hitler youth just before and during the Second World War. Kerstan tells of God’s protection and throughout.

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A riveting account of a Hitler Youth and his war-time experiences.