Screams of the Drowning - Klaus Willmann

 

I must admit that I have read very little from a German point of view on World War II. We sometimes forget that there are personal human stories from the German side of the war.

Screams of the Drowning in lots of ways is an astonishing book.  This is a first-person account, a story of how a young German soldier, Hans Feckler, aged just 17, was conscripted and experienced some of the worst horrors and bloodshed of the World War II.  The book takes you from Hans Fecklers youth and how it was curtailed, through his training and early experiences, to him being badly wounded and then involved in the little-known sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff where he was one of only 1,252 from over 10000 that survived, to his escape from the Russian occupation zone and an almost 200 mile walk back home.   

This story is a must read for anyone interested in the Eastern Front in World War II.  It is a strikingly honest account; the story isn’t about glorifying war, its about the reality of what happens from a German perspective.  It’s about one man’s war and one mans journey from youth to man hood,  the horrors experienced and the ingenuity to deal with situations in front of you.  This feels like more than one story and more than one man can go through.  The story of the Eastern Front and being badly injured, The story of the Wilhelm Gustloff, the story of escape and returning home.  All episodes in themselves yet experienced by one man.

I really enjoyed this book.  For me, it really opened my eyes and made me think about the war from a German soldier’s perspective.   A highly enjoyable read and well recommended.













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