Hans Hellmut Kirst (1914–1989)

This thriller has an epic feel to it, as Kirst jumps back and forth between the viewpoints of the titular generals and their subordinates and also jumps forward in time from WWII to post-war Germany. I loved it for marrying the genre plot to a grand sweeping narrative. The novel deserves criticism for having a psycho killer embody the horrendous crimes of Nazi Germany, but I can overlook Kirst's flawed grappling with his country's past.

Original reviews calling this "the German Catch-22" do a bit of a disservice to the book, as they mislead readers into thinking this is a surreal comic extravaganza like Joseph Heller's monumental work. This book deals indeed with the absurdity ever present in military life, but it does so in a much more realistic and less antic way. Like Heller's Yossarian, Gunner Asch of the German army is acutely aware of the paralyzing stupidity inherent in military bureacracy and sets out to do show more something individual and self-affirming in opposition. But the adventures of the hero of Hans Hellmut Kirst's novel are mellow and low key by comparison. There is little that is laugh-out-loud funny in this book. Rather it is a gently amusing story, with a compelling, quiet drive that ends in a subtle but very satisfying punchline. I look forward to reading the follow-up books about Asch's further adventures. show less

This is the fourth, last and weakest of the Gunner Asch novels; but when read in sequence it provides a sharp counterpoint to the first novel and a satisfying answer to the question, of well.. 'What became of Gunner Asch'. The novel remains in the German garrison town of previous novels, moved forward to the 1960's. The action is set on an army and an air force base, and essentially follows the trials of reasonable people trapped in the absurdities and stupidity of military existence. It show more also raises questions of identity in post war Germany - remembering that this was pre-unification Germany. The raw energy and bitter humor present in earlier novels is muted, as if Kirst like Asch has semi-retired and is observing rather than participating in events. Nevertheless there are flashes of the old Asch, and Kirst, sufficient to make this a worthwhile read. Just don't read it before reading the others in the series. show less

Kirst´s second book in the four volume Gunner Asch series is distinctly darker and richer, and much better than his first. The events it describes on the Russian front perhaps make for a faster moving and more dramatic plot, but there is also license to develop strong characterisations, of men and women in extreme circumstances. At points it approaches Catch 22 in its absurdity, but you know this one isn´t going to end so well. Kirst´s theme here is honor, patriotism and human virtue in show more battle, and behind the lines. I am no fan of Kirst´s later work, but these early novels have energy and honesty, and seem to be a genuine attempt by Kirst to recover some sense of national pride and morality out of the morass into which Germany had sunk. show less