Storm of Steel puts the reader into the front lines of the Great War through the eyes of a motivated young German soldier, who ironically, had illegally enlisted and trained with the French Foreign Legion before the outbreak of the Great War. The book is extremely informative as to life on the front line, in the reserve line (rear of the main defensive trench) and off the line, for unit rest and recovery, in small French villages that were forced to host the German soldiers. The author excels in providing specific details which educate about the methods, tactics, equipment, philosophy and theory of the war on his level of participation. His overwhelming will to remain positive and committed to duty in the midst of horrendous hardship, and to refrain from de-humanizing, hating , or allowing mistreatment of the enemy, extracts more and more admiration from the reader with each and every page. The author’s attitude probably explains to some extent how he managed to survive the war, and to live productively to the age of 103. Through the course of his years of service, the author was wounded so many times, that he relays at one point in the book that he would only report the instances when he was seriously wounded at least twice in the same day. He records 11 such instances of single day, multiple-wound events, culminating with the final pair of wounds which removed him permanently from the war shortly before its end. Expect no apologies or regrets from the author for doing his duty. He went on 20 years later to serve Germany in World War II, and remained a dedicated advocate for his county for the remainder of his life. What you can expect from Storm of Steel is an immersive, informative, and engaging first-hand look into the life, relationships, and survival of a dedicated front line German soldier in World War I. Based upon this book, I have decided to read as many of this author’s other books as I can find. Furthermore, Storm of Steel has sparked my interest in this fascinating era of history to the extent that I will be reading more first-hand World War One autobiographies. I believe these accounts provide vital context and perspective necessary to give life and understanding to the broad strokes of major battles, diplomatic developments, and national conquest all too often addressed at the expense of the millions and millions of lives actually lost or shattered during that war. This book is well written, and well worth your time to read. I give this book as many stars as are available, and suggest the only negative is that it took me so long to discover and read it.Read full review
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An excellent telling of World War One. Ernst Jünger, astutely captures the elements of war on the front. The fireworks display of a shelling, the humor between friends, the melancholy of a familiar house being annihilated, the blood rush of smashing through enemy lines, the somber feeling of a enemy soldier calmly dying, and the horror of digging up skulls of previously doomed soldiers. This book is a excellent investment of your time.
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