I Somehow Survived: Eyewitness Accounts from World War II is a new collection of German accounts of the experience of war. First published in Germany in 2019 it is based on interviews with veterans in Bavaria. These memories, recorded later in life, lack the precision of dates and locations that might be found in contemporary diaries and memoirs. On the other hand the distance in time has allowed some men the perspective, and perhaps honesty, that they might not have permitted themselves had they given these accounts just after the war,

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WW2 Today

The book by Klaus G. Forg with the experiences of the 4 veterans plus Mrs. Morild is a volume that will certainly interest fans and that will contribute to enriching the knowledge of the Second World War seen from another point of view.

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On The Old Barbed Wire

...a unique and extraordinary contribution to the growing library of World War II histories and biographies and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections.

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Midwest Book Review

I have read a lot of books about WWII written from various points of view, but never one from the German side.

Very interesting accounts of soldiers in the German army and a story about a Norwegian woman who fell in love with a German soldier.

The author of this book had clearly done his research and I marvelled time and again that these men survived the war at all. There was a lot of luck involved - right place, right time kind of thing and timing is everything, it seems. I wasn't familiar with a lot of the places that were mentioned but it didn't detract from the story or lessen my interest in it in any way.

Eye-opening. It really brought home to me the futility of war; those young fellas had no idea what they were signing up for.

4 stars from me.

NetGalley, Monica Mac

This is a very original presentation, as those who were there remember how they survived. This is how a selection of Germans remember their war – Highly Recommended

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Firetrench

I thought that the 4.5 hours I spent reading this 192-page wartime history were interesting. Most accounts I have read of WWII are written from the Allied perspective. This book gives a different point of view... I give this book a 4 out of 5.

NetGalley, John Purvis

Nothing is more profound than hearing a person recount the horrors of war they themselves witnessed and experienced. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit down with the numerous individuals that recount their stories in this book. Second best to sitting down directly with them. Lest we forget.

NetGalley, Kamila Bouvier

I enjoyed all the stories and there was a nice balanced variety to them. I am happy to have read this book, as previously I had declined a couple of book before that looked at the war from the German perspective and regretted it. This is an excellent book and one I would recommend to others as I believe we all need to read books from the other side.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


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UK Historian

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

True stories from those who were there, those who fought, those who were part of it. There is no better way to learn history. And there is no better gut wrenching way to feel a part of it.

NetGalley, Jennifer DiCenzo

Everyone's experiences differ - and that is why a book like this is important - to provide another perspective. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to find out more about the German experience of the war, and I look forward to the rest of the series.

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Recollections of WWII

It is always refreshing to hear the German side of the story. The recollections seem pretty open and candid, and the supporting photos help reassure one... fascinating stuff.

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A Question of Scale

Not the happiest of books and these people went through hell as the Germans gradually lost the war, but they survived and as old men and woman have the chance to tell their story. It is good to read the ‘other side’ now and again and it is worth it to read about life in the German armed forces, initially fighting to conquer, latterly to survive as they are forced to withdraw back into Germany.

Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)

An interesting collection of stories from actual survivors of the war. These are the stories of little known people and their struggles. I found their stories compelling and interesting.

NetGalley, Ron Baumer

The compelling thing about this book is the range of perspectives brought to bear. So often readers are offered a single perspective and books like this demonstrate why diversity of view adds such value when looking back on key periods in history. I found it especially interesting to hear from members of the Luftwaffe. I have read a lot of about WWII but generally from the perspective of the allied forces so this was a real eye opener.

NetGalley, Louise Gray