Another interesting review on Amazon by, oddly, also an Aussie (NOT me):
I bought this book out of curiosity. After having read the book I decided to review it in two parts. If I have missed something in the book that has sent me off in the wrong direction please forgive me but I have looked over the story line in the book twice and I am sure of my findings.
Firstly the book didn't disappoint me, it was an interesting read and a fascinating recounting of the life of a German sniper on the Eastern Front in 1943-44 and the entering into Romania/Hungary during 1945. The book is not for those who don't like reading about torture, death and the descriptions of same. They are graphic. It is written in the same style as that of the 1970's published books author 'Sven Hassel'. Actually I thought that I was reading another Sven Hassel story, it was that close, except differing characters. Anyway an interesting read. I won't say entertaining in these types of books in that the descriptions of the death of soldiers and civilians can never be entertaining.
Secondly and the most controversial part of my review:
It wasn't until I finished the book, which I read in faster than usual time, and went over it a second time that I found some interesting points. The author is an Albrecht Wacker, an arms dealer and photographer who allegedly got the story from an ex-sniper who was on the Eastern Front and wrote this book based on his accounts. Okay so far, but what got me thinking was what was written in the prologue. The author protects himself by explaining that the subject of the book 'Josef Sepp Allerberger' is ficticious as are most of the identities named throughout the book. Although he does say that this has been done to protect the true identity of the sniper from repercussions, from whom is not explained. The writer Albrecht Wacker further explains, in the prologue, that he had to and I quote "fill the gaps in his story, through thorough research to complement and complete it" unquote, where 'Sepp' failed to remember details, which apparently occurred quite a lot. This is somewhat worrying as to the authenticity of the facts given in the book.
The varying tortures and atrocities committed by both sides, and the harrowing descriptions of how soldiers died, both German and Russian, have been well documented in text books and biographies for years now. I began wondering...is this story a true account or one using varing information available and placing it in a written version, similar to the movie version of 'Enemy at the Gates' (which outlines the activities of a Russian sniper at Stalingrad in 1942-43).
Is this book ficticious? To assist, I looked to the photographs, said to be that of the male described as 'Sepp Allerberger'. These could be of anyone. Still, why keep the identity of the real sniper, if there is one, secret and then publish his photo, even though taken years ago, would still be a resemblance to the subject in later life. If the fears of retribution are real, why take the chance. The only photos that I recognised to be authentic was that of Field Marshal Schorner. The one of General Paul Klatt and Major Kloss could be factual and Sniper Hetzenauer I do not know but given the statement that most of the identities are false and not authentic, all these photos could be of anyone. If they are real then poor Hetzenauer has his real name and picture published as a sniper of skill. Will retribution now follow Hetzenauer, as was feared by the subject of this book towards himself, if his identity was revealed, as is outlined by the prologue.
Further in the book it describes an attack by Russians in 1943, where only the front line of the attackers are armed, with the rear lines picking up the weapons of their fallen comrades and charging on. Again visions of 'Enemy at the Gates' movie. In 1943 the Russians were well on their way to fully equipping each and every soldier on the front line and the tactic of pushing one line of soldiers armed with weapons and the rear following lines unarmed, was long gone. Further the author explains that snipers (described as marksmen in the book) including our 'Sepp Allerberger', were responsible for single handedly breaking up entire Russian attack formations, stalling those attacks and forcing whole areas along the Russian line to stay under cover for days at a time.
Again, there is plenty of factual evidence that the Russian Hierachy, while equipping those soldiers pretty well, had no qualms about loss of life to obtain an objective. In fact I would be very surprised if a single marksman would have kept a whole line of soldiers in attack formation to take cover by his/her sniping tactics. What were the Russian senior officers thoughts of this? There is well documented evidence of Russian troops being forced out of their lines to attack German lines, by the Political Commissars. It is most likely the entire Russian line would have attacked whether the sniper was there or not regardless of their losses.
Again as I went through the book a second time, I was struck by the similarities in writing style to the books of 'Sven Hassel', as I have mentioned above. Anyway, I hadn't gone past the first two chapters when I picked up mistakes in the time line, which obviously wasn't found by the sub-editor (pretty poor proofing). Chapter One had 'Sepp' finishing his apprenticeship with his father in February 1943 and being called up for military service,for 6 months of basic training. He was then aged 18. The story has 'Sepp' being declared 'fit for duty' in autumn of 1942. Then the story has young 'Sepp' being sent to the front to join his allotted unit in September 1942! finally arriving in July 1943!
Further, the sniper, 'Sepp' describes hellish conditions with shells bursting around him, bullets, shrapnel etc etc, list goes on. Everyone gets hit, either dead or injured. Sepp comes away from the war with nothing more than a slight head wound. A very lucky person given the conditions described in the book. Again this gave me cause to wonder about the truth of this story.
Some might say that I am being pedantic in the time line and perhaps I am, but the factual accounts and the true identity of this sniper, if there ever was one, is questionable. However it is a good read as a novel of fiction. Three stars for this alone. PS who is this Geoffrey Brooks character, who is also the supposed author, didn't find his name mentioned anywhere in the book.
on this Book
