For students of history, Herrmann’s memoir offers little new insight into the Wehrmacht’s operations on the Eastern Front, though it does note, for instance, that ordinary soldiers increasingly blamed their generals for Germany’s military collapse by July 1944. Its real value lies in Herrmann’s postwar experience as a Soviet prisoner of war—a perspective that remains poorly understood. As Roger Moorhouse notes in his foreword, such captives “were scarcely commemorated, let alone written about,” often dismissed as painful reminders of defeat. Herrmann’s account joins those of Gottlob Bidermann and Oskar Scheja in documenting the brutal conditions endured by German POWs under Soviet custody. Raised in Bavaria and shaped by the Reich Labour Service, Herrmann joined a Gebirgsdivision in 1940, fought through southern Ukraine, and was captured in Romania in 1944. Transferred to Soviet labor camps, he survived where two-thirds of his comrades perished, returning home only in 1949. Presented through extensive interviews by Klaus Willmann, this rare memoir offers a vivid, deeply personal perspective on the staggering human cost endured by the three million German soldiers held by the Red Army.

About the Author

Lothar Herrmann was born in Silesia in 1920 in Silesia. He was enlisted for war at the age of 20. His company had been advancing on Russia when he was diagnosed with asthma and sent back to Germany, where he was able to spend the next two years in recovery in his hometown Garmisch-Partenkirchen. His luck ended abruptly though when he was declared healthy enough to return to the Eastern Front. On the day before his 24th birthday, Herrmann was taken into Russian war captivity in which he stayed long after the war had ended. It was not until 1950 that Herrmann was free to return home where he came down with hepatitis. Roger Moorhouse is a historian of the Third Reich. He is the author of the acclaimed Berlin at War, The Third Reich in 100 Objectsand has been published in more than 20 languages. He is also a tour guide, a book reviewer and a visiting professor at the College of Europe in Warsaw. You can follow him on Twitter at @RogerMoorhouse. Klaus Willmann is a forester and customs officer by profession. He discovered writing as a new vocation and has since published a number of books, including The 188 U-Boat. Willmann lives in Grafing, near Munich.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

A small online bookstore tucked away in the Uncompahgre valley.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Black Canyon Books Inc.
6134 5300 Road, Olathe, CO, 81425, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Right of withdrawal

If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

Information regarding the right of withdrawal

Statutory right to withdraw

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.

Effects of withdrawal

If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Black Canyon Books, Olathe, Colorado, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of withdrawal

The right of withdrawal does not apply to:

The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.

Shipping Terms

Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or over-sized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. Overseas postage at cost.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	5 to 14 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	� 4.06	� 15.51

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.