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The Forgotten Soldier

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The Forgotten Soldier

Written by: Guy Sajer
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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About this listen

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
Europe Germany Military Military & War Wars & Conflicts World War II Scary German Memoirs

What listeners say about The Forgotten Soldier

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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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This book will stick with me forever

An absolutely harrowing tale, the depictions that Sajer paints of the eastern front are impossible to forget. Even after months of reading this book I still find myself thinking of it quite often.

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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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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 read

An incredibly captivating book, the narrator does a fantastic job of capturing the emotion the author was trying to portray. A story that will keep you thinking

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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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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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great book

the start was a bit slow, but it ended up being a great book In the end. very detailed of the horrors of war.

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Riveting

An amazing “other” perspective of the Eastern front . I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand a bit better the suffering of both sides in such a terrible war.

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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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