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Blood Red Snow

The Memoirs of a German Soldier on the Eastern Front

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Blood Red Snow

Written 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 Biographies & Memoirs Wars & Conflicts Military War German Memoirs
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What listeners say about Blood Red Snow

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More than just ‘entertainment’

As a military veteran and military historian, I found this to be very accurate in historical terms but more meaningfully, it is a tour de force into the experiences of the average soldier and its psychological effects on the mind and spirit of the frontline warrior.

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hero

This is a Great memoir from a frontline German soldier on the eastern front struggling in ww2

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Fascinating insight into the realities WW2

Well read, clear and excellent pronunciation. Found it more interesting than expected to follow this young soldier through his experience. he seems to have been involved in many of the major events of the eastern front. Also insightful was his shifting attitude and the organization of the German military.

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Great listen highly recommended

Great book, highly recommended for any WW2 or history buff. Time line was easy to follow and was well detailed.

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another great memoir

to all of the men and women who fought bravely and with honour, we salute you

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Decent story, bad narration

Though Blood Red Snow is a good story, it falls short of greatness like other great titles (The Forgotten Soldier). This is made worse by the narrators nearly comical tone, which dilutes the seriousness of the situation. The author also hints at a self serving narrative, distancing himself at every opportunity from the atrocities of his side. All in all, not bad

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voice actors needed

I didn't mind the reader but I would have preferred someone with a German accent. other than that a very good story.

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Worth reading.

One of the best german eastern first hand accounts I’ve yet found. I would quite put it up there with E.B Sledges edge of your seat read “with the old breed” but it does have something that Sledge didn’t. This book has one of the best first hand accounts of amazing leadership, and very poor leadership and how each can raise the troops up or make them completely fail.

“Two recruits went missing from our barracks in Poland, upon questions their comrades it became apparent they did not desert they were simply gone... this was not an uncommon event in Poland” little tid bits such as these really help put you into the shoes of the individuals and the horrors faced by all sides

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Stunning account

Amazing. I really loved every part, it has so much excitement and suspense in it.

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Well written

A good description of an elite BMG operator on the Eastern front in WW2. Lots of grim detail accurately depicted…you can imagine all the scenes of carnage as they’re described. Very interesting from the perspective of a German soldier experiencing at the hands of ‘Ivan’ what he himself dolled out to others while advancing either Wehrmacht: overwhelming might, cruelty and constant terror

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