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  • The Forgotten Soldier

  • Written by: Guy Sajer
  • Narrated by: Derek Perkins
  • Length: 21 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (207 ratings)

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The Forgotten Soldier

Written by: Guy Sajer
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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Publisher's Summary

When Guy Sajer joins the infantry full of ideals in the summer of 1942, the German army is enjoying unparalleled success in Russia. However, he quickly finds that for the foot soldier the glory of military success hides a much harsher reality of hunger, fatigue, and constant deprivation. Posted to the elite Grosse Deutschland division, with its sadistic instructors who shoot down those who fail to make the grade, he enters a violent and remorseless world where all youthful hope is gradually ground down, and all that matters is the brute will to survive. As the biting cold of the Russian winter sets in and the tide begins to turn against the Germans, life becomes an endless round of pounding artillery attacks and vicious combat against a relentless and merciless Red Army.

Sajer's perspective as a German foot soldier makes The Forgotten Soldier a unique war memoir, the book that the Christian Science Monitor said "may well be the book about World War II which has been so long awaited". A work of stunning force, this is an unforgettable reminder of the horrors of war.

©1967 Editions Robert Laffont; translation copyright 1971 by Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. (P)2017 Tantor

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What listeners say about The Forgotten Soldier

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I have PTSD after reading this

I've read a few "war books" and memoirs, but this is the first one that truely portrays the horror.

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5 people found this helpful

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amazing book

This was a great book and would highly recommend it to anyone. A great account of the war on the Eastern Front

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4 people found this helpful

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Fantastic

An interesting glimpse into the human experience of what being the loser in one of the greatest conflicts of human history is like.

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4 people found this helpful

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Breathtaking

Beautifully heart wrenching, horrifying, miserable, honest. I can’t believe he lived to tell his story.

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3 people found this helpful

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A must listen

Before I review the book I'd like to say the narrator Derek Perkins did a fantastic job narrating this book. He added realistic accent to the dialogue, and his voice is one you could listen to for hours on end. The audiobook is a must listen. It gives you a first hand account of what it was like being a Wehrmacht soldier in WW2 in the eastern front. A book that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you listen.

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Absolutely amazing!

I loved this book. I have read so many books from the Allies point of view so it's neat to read about what the "enemy" experienced and how nobody was spared from the horrors of war.

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Vanquished View

This was a heart rending story from a side of WW2 we hear little about. it was an excellent story and well narrated.

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The last three hours is gripping

It is long. The ending is remarkable. Such a tragedy. It will help you gain perspective. A perspective that I still don’t fully understand.

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Rare Insights into the horrors of Eastern Front

Guy Sajer is one of the rare infantrymen to survive several years on the Eastern Front engaged in active combat. As such, his narratives and insights into the daily life of an infantryman during the bloodiest battles in history are incredibly rare. If you want to learn what life on the Eastern Front was like for the average soldier, this book is a must read. It is very well written and a captivating listen.

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Outstanding Story !!!

A Great Read/Listen Of What I Imagine It Was Like For Many During WW2, Especially On The Eastern Front & Upon Returning Vanquished...

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