A Soldier of the Reich

An Autobiography

Gunter Beetz

$57.99

Hardback

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English

FONTHILL
03 September 2019

Autobiography: historical, political & military; History; Second World War; Military life & institutions; Prisoners of war

Gunter Horst Beetz was born in Berlin in 1926. Growing up as part of a typical family-his father was a banker, his mother a housewife-he joined the Hitler Youth-somewhat against his wishes-and after a short period manning anti-aircraft guns in Berlin he ultimately found himself in Normandy, fighting the Allies, where he was captured in July 1944.

`A Soldier of the Reich: An Autobiography' documents one man's life in Nazi Germany. It examines what it was like to grow up alongside the rise of fascism, exploring the consequences it had on Beetz's life, including what this meant for his relationship with his Jewish girlfriend, Ruth. Beetz also relates his time as an unenthusiastic soldier fighting in Normandy, commenting on the ethics of war, his first sexual encounter with a French prostitute, and life in the sapper battalion with his and his comrades' bungling attempts at front-line soldiery. He was captured in July 1944 and then describes in illuminating detail the life of an ordinary prisoner of war in America. After two years in Pennsylvania he was transferred first for a short period in Belgium, and then to a PoW camp in Ely, England where remained until 1948.

Including previously unpublished images from the author's personal collection, this first-hand account explores a perspective rarely acknowledged in discussions of the Second World War: that of an ordinary Wehrmacht soldier, detailing the beliefs and motivations that shaped him as a person.

By: Gunter Beetz
Imprint: FONTHILL
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 352g
ISBN: 9781781556849
ISBN 10: 1781556849
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 03 September 2019
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1 Growing Up in Berlin; 2 Hitler becomes Chancellor; 3 Germany Expands, the Olympics, and the Hitler Youth; 4 War is Declared; 5 Attack on Russia; 6 Gunter's Club; 7 Filming; 8 Luftwaffen Helper; 9 Post Office; 10 Reichs Labour Service; 11 Call Up into Infantry; 12 Journey to France; 13 Training in France; 14 Transfer to Pioneers; 15 At Pont Croix; 16 Cycling to Normandy; 17 Night Stops-Morning Cycle; 18 First Training: Tank Destroying; 19 Patrols and Such; 20 Battlegroup Krauskopf; 21 Captured by the Enemy: A Prisoner of War; 22 Steel Town; 23 Lumberjacking; 24 Return to Europe: A Prisoner of Gendarmes; 25 Work as a POW in England.

GUENTER BEETZ remained in England after 1948 concluding that guaranteed employment was better than the uncertainty of his native bombed-out Berlin, and has remained there ever since. He enjoyed a varied career-including one period of working with Robert Maxwell. He married and enjoyed much European travel. He is still alive, a widower, and lives in Orpington, Kent where despite his years he still manages to keep house for himself and undertakes all of his own catering.

PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY

A Soldier of the Reich

An Autobiography

Gunter Beetz

$57.99

Hardback

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