Gunter K Koschorrek

From the Wehrmacht's retreat from Stalingrad, westward in the face of the enemy, to Germany's ignominious defeat, and the author's internment as a POW, Blood Red Snow is an engaging, personal memoir of a German enlisted man's experiences during World War II. Although wounded several times, author, Gunter Koschorrek, managed to survive spent almost the entire war as a heavy machine gun crewman engaged against the Russians on the imploding Eastern front. Similar to The Forgotten Soldier and Soldat – well worth your time.

The translation, however, as well as the narration has issues – first, the translation. I don't know if it's the translation from German to English or what, but several times the author refers to someone as a "bloke" or some other figure of speech one would completely associate with the British. Miriam Webster agrees, calling bloke an informal, "chiefly British," term for a man; akin to what we in Southern California might call a "dude!" Along the same lines, my second issue is the narratorTantor Audio chose. Not that Nigel Patterson is a bad narrator, for he is not. But what sense does it make, Tantor, to have an Englishman play the voice of a German soldier in in World War II?… (mere)

It is very easy to read as it has no fancy author trying to show you his education, except for the constant use of German terms for people's positions and rank. It is a very different view on war and all its horror, with down to earth front-line explanations, only slightly tempered from the vulgar.

It starts with entry into battle and continues with his adjustment to it. and ends with the war and his realization he is the looser.

Any WWII or war enthusiast should read it, as it is material they are likely lacking.… (mere)