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The Boy Who Went to War

The Story of a Reluctant German Soldier in WW II
by Giles Milton
The Boy Who Went to War: The Story of a Reluctant German Soldier in WW II. Thomas Dunne: St. Martin's. Oct. 2011. c.320p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780312590796. $25.99. HIST
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One of the millions of ordinary people whose lives were warped and stolen by the war, Wolfram Aïchele served Germany's National Labor Force in the Ukraine then was assigned to a unit in Normandy, where he surrendered to Americans and was sent to a POW camp in Oklahoma. British author Milton (Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or the True and Incredible Adventure of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History), who is married to Wolfram's daughter, tells three main stories here: of Wolfram, who became an artist in Paris after the war, of Wolfram's friend Rodi's wartime experiences, and of Wolfram's family struggling through life under Allied bombing in 1945.
VERDICT The narratives of everyday wartime survival by ordinary German families are what make this a distinctive book for those interested in history told through personal experiences. (Photos not seen.)
Reviewed by Daniel K. Blewett , Oct 01, 2011
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