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Blood Red Snow

The Memoirs of a German Soldier on the Eastern Front

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Blood Red Snow

By: Günter K. Koschorrek
Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
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About this listen

Gunter Koschorrek wrote his illicit diary on any scraps of paper he could lay his hands on. As keeping a diary was strictly forbidden, he sewed the pages into the lining of his thick winter coat and deposited them with his mother on infrequent trips home on leave. The diary went missing, and it was when he was reunited with his daughter in America some 40 years later that it came to light and became Blood Red Snow.

The author was a keen recruit at initial training, and his excitement at the first encounter with the enemy in the Russian Steppe is obvious. The horror and confusion of fighting in the streets of Stalingrad are brought to life by his descriptions of the others in his unit; their differing manners and techniques for dealing with the squalor and death. He is also posted to Romania and Italy, assignments he remembers fondly compared to his time on the Eastern Front.

This book stands as a memorial to the huge numbers on both sides who did not survive and is, over five decades later, the fulfillment of a responsibility he feels to honor the memory of those who perished. Gunter K. Koschorrek was a machine-gunner on the Russian front in WWII. He lives in Germany, having retired from his job as managing director of a sales company.

©2002 Greenhill Books (P)2018 Tantor
19th Century Military Modern Memoir War Russia German Memoirs
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Sad what the German soldiers had to go through! History is written by the victors.

well enjoyed

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Contains a lot of battle detail. Well narrated. Sensitive observation from a German doing his duty.

Soldiers story

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Great, storytelling of an ordinary man in extraordinary times. Pity we don't get to learn about the rest of his life.

Ordinary man in extraordinary times.

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An amazing account of life and hardships in the Wehrmacht on the eastern front. Heartbreaking and told in such a way you feel the chill in the air... 5 stars

Gripping story

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It is a great recount of a ordinary Soldat. It shows that the average mans beliefs were not that of the socialist party and atrocities but of a man who’s morals are tested in the bitter fighting of the Easter Front.
A great story.

Brilliant Book

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A great read, I would have liked the author to give some greater insight into his post-war life but his reflections on the Easter front are vivid. It's a statistical anomaly that he managed to survive.

Fascinating

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Found myself many times shaking my head in amazement at what the author continuously managed to overcome in order survive. Loved it.

And Nigel Patterson, as excellent as always.

Both thumbs up.

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I was really glad to read this book which helped me understand a German soldier perspective of WW2 and in particular about the Russian Eastern Front conflict. The blow by blow account of the life of Gunter Koschorrek and his explicit account from a new recruit at the start of the war to the suicide of Adolf Hitler and the final surrender of Germany had me mesmerized. It brought the words "Less we forget" once again to the forefront for me and a deeper realisation of the sacrifice ordinary people - soldiers and civilians made on all sides and the terrible things people do to people.

This is truly a worthwhile read!

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Well worth a read . Hardships friendship and defeat. Eye opening and hard to put down

A good read

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This was new information for me, The World War II German soldier at the time of defeat.

Clear narration

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