The Wehrwolf

by Alma Katsu

They will assume every young man fought in the war, regardless of what we tell them, and take them away.”

Huh? Who are they going to take away? Their children?

It might be time to take the last of their animals deep in the forest as Johann had suggested. It would be risky, however. A hungry neighbor foraging in the woods might stumble across them.

Which is why that idea lost me from the start! Why send your own food and livelihood into the woods only for someone else to find? And be guarded by children? That didn’t make a lick of sense. And Uwe says he’s wise…

She had been delivering food to her grandparents in Freienlach, an hour to the east, when it happened.

She was delivering food, on foot, to somewhere about an hour away? No carriage or horse, pony or anything? Knowing someone was just killed and the murdered not found AND that the Allied army is near? And this guy is the people appointed mayor? I have seen no redeeming qualities in him thus far.

Katya had gone home to be sure that their daughter was safe,

So, we leaving 5 year olds at home alone where someone was killed right outside? O-kayyyy…

Uwe went up to Hans. “I want to go with you tonight. I can go home for my rifle and—”

Why would he not come with his rifle knowing what he was coming there to do?

Who was he?

Why don’t you ask him since you can tell he’s awake?🙄

“You’re Jurgen Jäger.”

Isn’t he blind?

Swallowing hard, he turned to see what had become of Jurgen. He was still more man than creature at this point.

How can he see him if the room was pitch black dark and he doesn’t have the lantern…? Oh! He left the lantern down there beside him! Ok. Got it. Lol

That couldn’t possibly have happened, however, because he was alive. He ran his hands over his neck and then down his body, but found no scars.

So being born and raised in the town that supports originated the werewolves, and after having just said the town ran Jurgen into the woods for fear of his werewolf blood and after what Hans said to him before leaving him in that room, he’s clueless as to what has happened to him? Even the name of the group he’s joining is called Werwolf! And he just saw a real life one…!

“We know who the Nazis are in our midst,” some had been emboldened to say. “We will turn these individuals over to the Allies when they arrive.” “We will only hunt undesirables,” Hans decided. “The ones who are not pulling their weight in the village or who have given up on the fatherland. We must eliminate the traitors.”

So wait… who said the first part? I thought it was one of the people from the village, but then it went on to Hans. That person was saying to turn them over to the Allies, but aren’t they hunting the Allies? So who are the traitors? The people that support the Nazis or the people that want to turn over people to the Allies? Then Hans talking about hunting village people? This whole thing is confusing.

“I don’t know about you, but I have no intention of letting these cowards give my name to the Allies,”

Ah, okay. Still confusing though since Uwe doesn’t support the Nazi’s ways and just wants to protect his family. Does Hans support the Nazis?

You’ve made a mess, and of course now it’s up to me to clean it up. Just remember that whatever happens, you’re to blame.”

Hans is going to kill his family!

He put on his clothes hurriedly and started home.

He opened the door BEFORE he pt his clothes on?

He had to find Liesl. It would be a miracle if they’d let her live, but Uwe clung to that hope.

What if she was upstairs in the loft?

They would be able to move silently through the woods, to surround the village before Hans and his men could get away. The rest of the unit could follow. They pushed through the forest mostly on foot, accompanied by a couple of jeeps, which were maneuverable in the dense woods.

Whoa… so they are already following him without any proof? He hasn’t put the belt on yet?

He gave both men a wan smile as he lifted the sergeant’s pistol, still in his hand, to the side of his head.

He doesn’t even have confirmation that his daughter is dead! He didn’t even question the other wolves and he now has the chance. I know what he said about them saying children were tender, but why didn’t they kill her there like they killed the other kids in their home?