The Boy Who Went to War
The Story of a Reluctant German Soldier in WWII
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4.5 • 15 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A powerful and true story of warfare and human survival that exposes a side of World War II that is unknown by many— this is the story of Wolfram Aïchele, a boy whose childhood was stolen by a war in which he had no choice but to fight.
Giles Milton has been a writer and historian for many years, writing about people and places that history has forgotten. But it took his young daughter's depiction of a swastika on an imaginary family shield - the swastika representing Germany - for Giles to uncover the incredible, dark story of his own family and his father-in-law's life under Hitler's regime.
As German citizens during World War II, Wolfram and his Bohemian, artist parents survived one of the most brutal eras of history. Wolfram, who was only nine years old when Hitler came to power, lived through the rise and fall of the Third Reich, from the earliest street marches to the final defeat of the Nazi regime. Conscripted into Hitler's army, he witnessed the brutality of war - first on the Russian front and then on the Normandy beaches.
Seen through German eyes and written with remarkable sensitivity, The Boy Who Went to War is a powerful story of warfare and human survival and a reminder to us all that civilians on both sides suffered the consequences of Hitler's war.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British journalist Milton's biography about his father-in-law Wolfram A chele serves dual purposes: to give his daughters a better understanding of their German grandfather; and to share A chele's unique experiences with Hitler's army during World War II. In countless interviews, A chele, born in 1924, recalls his childhood, when his "most impressionable years spent in the shadow of the Third Reich, with its marching, drilling, and obligatory attendance at gatherings of the Hitler Youth." When A chele turned 18, he was drafted. Milton (The Riddle and the Knight) cites the tremendous impact the Nazis had on ordinary Germans: "Wolfram's parents became aware that Hitler had introduced an element of fear into every aspect of daily life within weeks of his becoming chancellor." He also notes his father-in-law's unusual situation. Not until the end of combat, for example, did A chele learn of the mass murder of Jews, partisans, and Soviet prisoners of war. With this book, Milton provides an unusual perspective on an undeniably tragic period in history.
Customer Reviews
The boy who went to war
A wonderfully written book. Very informative. Interesting to read of the effects of nazi Germany on common families.
Review for 'A Boy Who Went to War'
Societies, and their history, tend to be ethno- and egocentric. I have read literally hundreds of books about World War II; the majority of which were written by members associated with the victorious allies.
Reading a book how the other side -- 'enemy' -- lived; felt; experienced World War II was quite enlightening. It made me consider how I would feel if my family was put in immediate danger from their oen government; how I would feel if the fleet of bombers that flew over Germany and Japan were flying over my homeland; how I would feel watching my loved ones shiver for lack of fuel during the winter; and how I would feel watching them slowly starve to death.
I thank Giles Milton for his revealing book about how ordinary Germans reacted to Nazism and to National Socialism in their country. It is a story of survival. I highly recommend this book.