Wolfram: The Boy Who Went To War by Giles Milton. I had read a review of this recently published book by the author in the Guardian Books section (I get a load of recommendations from there and from the Daily Show).
Wolfram Aichele is Giles' grandfather-in-law, the grandfather of this wife. And in writing this biography of his in-law Germanic roots, he brings a humanity and perspective to the "other side" of the war. It's not a book of excuses or mistakes. It is in the authors words the story of many people like Wolfram who got caught in a nightmare not of their own making.
There's no major fighting or heroics, just people who see their country and their friends being pulled apart by one of the worst regimes in our world history, and then like a maze in the darkness, trying to find a way out.
I really enjoyed the narrative, and the characters, all real and sourced from letters and biographies of others as well as the over 60 hours of interview with Wolfram himself.
War is hell no matter which side you are on. But this is how people feel when they discover they are on the wrong side. History might be largely written by the winners and up to much interpretation, but there is not a doubt that we all know it and the Germans did too.
Next Week: No plans, will see what catches my eye. I have started a couple of books that I may just pick a couple of those and finish one.
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