Re: We Were Soldiers

Guy Sajer
	      ^
That wishlist is growing faster than my bank account, which at least 
promises to start an upward turn.

Noel Weer wrote:

>I am surprised no one has mentioned Guy Sajet's "The Forgotten
Soldier".
>Talk about a bleak image of the Eastern Front from the German point of
>view...
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
>[mailto:owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of Michael
Llaneza
>Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 2:35 PM
>To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
>Subject: Re: We Were Soldiers
>
>
>I have a copy of that old Stalingrad book in paperback:
>
>"Stalingrad", Theodor Plievier, Berkeley press, 1948. No ISBN.
>
>The book is bleak, depressing throughout, but ends on what by
comparison
>to the rest of the book can be considered a hopeful note. It's also
very
>well written and rings true from what I have read elsewhere. It was a
>cathartic read and I can only hope that the author laid some of his
>personal demons to rest by writing the book.
>
>A search at Barnes & Noble shows used copies available, as well as
>another novel entitled "Moscow". The prices are fairly reasonable,
>roughly $15 for paperback copies.
>
>
>
>DAWGFACE47@webtv.net wrote:
>
>>TALKING WITH OLD LANDSERS IN THE 60S (brothers, uncles, cousins,
fathers
>>of girlfriends, as well as drinking buddies) was  an education.
>>
>>their war with the RUSSIANS was every bit as	horrible as the ALLIES
war
>>against the JAPANESE.
>>
>>also the  guerilla war in GREECE and the BALKANS was apparently waged
>>with the same  blood thirstyness by all
>>combatants.
>>
>>WILLI (?) SCMIDT (?)s CROSS OF IRON TRILOGY  followed very much what i
>>heard  from these vets. also avery old  book called STALINGRAD written
>>in the late 40s or early 50s	by a German vet).
>>
>>SVEN HASSO's	stories  sounded right at first, then started  off into
>>the realms of weirdness.
>>
>>(some of this  could be to faulty memory or bad soldier info during
the
>>war-like his being  convinced he  fought  US MARINEs in Italy)
>>
>>BUT. . .
>>
>>since i have been to MY WAR , saw and  experienced things that most
>>folks who are non-combatants would not believe or f could not believe,
>>i look at any soldier's  account of his  war with an open mind .
>>
>>a combat soldier's view of events is not the same as an author or that
>>of a general or staff officer with all of the info at hand.
>>
>>many times, a soldier never knows  WHY, is never  certain as to WHERE,
>>or even WHEN, or WHAT THE RESULTs of a battle are outside of his own
>>combat space and time.
>>
>>and this  space is limited; tunnel vision, my and my buds versus THEM,
>>in  a  warped time frame.
>>
>>i met a few  unreformed NAZIs when i was in GERMANY, but most of the
>>folks were -just folks! nothing more or less.
>>
>>some of the old  soldiers  wanted nothing to do with Americans ,
>>probably based on war experiences just like some old American soldiers
>>want nothing to do with Germans  long ater the  war.
>>
>>ditto for Japanese , Noeth Korens  and Chinese.
>>
>>and this is  how i feel toward NVA/VC and their government.
>>
>>LOL (grimly) i was not much in love  with the South Viet policians,
>>civilian police, some of the	civies, and most of their  armed forces
>>either.
>>
>>As well as some of my own!
>>
>>STILL!
>>
>>DAWGIE
>>
>>
>>
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