Georg Rauch (1924–2006)

I received a copy of this E-book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

This memoir covers the experiences of an Austrian man with ¼ Jewish blood as he served on the Russian front, and later as a prisoner of war. The book is more a day to day retelling of his experiences in the army working as a telegraphist. The book is very detailed and engrossing as he describes hunkering down during bombardment and watching floods of Russian soldiers approach. The book show more contains many letters written to his mother and father, which are very touching. The last portions of the book dedicated to his time in a Russian prisoner of war camp. This part of the book I found to be chilling and very reminiscent of stories from concentration camp survivors. It is extraordinary that he survived this. The final portion of the book deals with his release and attempts to find his family. This part of the book was exquisitely written and really hit me with an emotional punch. I would certainly recommend this for patrons interested in the Russian front during the WWII. I may consider recommending this to patrons interested in the Jewish experience during the war, but it wouldn’t be my first pick. The author’s heritage really doesn’t come up that much in the book. show less

Astounded to be drafted into the Nazi army, Georg makes no secret of his Jewish heritage. His book outlines his time at the Eastern front, as he struggled to survive amidst the cold and hunger. Using his intelligence and cunning, he is able to survive a Soviet labor camp and return home to his family.

I haven't read any other WWII books from this perspective. It was fascinating to read about his ironic stint in the German army. Georg was a very clever individual and I found myself rooting for show more his survival. Overall, well worth reading. show less

UNLIKELY WARRIOR: A JEWISH SOLDIER IN HITLER’S ARMY by George Rauch is a fascinating memoir tracing a teen’s experience as a soldier and prisoner-of-war during World War II.

As a young adult in Nazi-occupied Austria, Georg was forced to serve in the German army. Hitler needed able-bodied soldiers to fight his war, so Georg was drafted despite his Jewish ancestry and opposition to the war. As a radio operator in the infantry, Georg was determined to stay alive while facing gunfire, show more starvation, illness, and often brutal weather conditions.

Organized into three sections, the book explores his life in the trenches, as a prisoner-of-war, and as a refugee heading home. The compelling story moves quickly containing enough action to keep young adults at the edge of their seats. Without getting deep into the social and political aspects of the war, the memoir does a masterful job helping young readers understand the fear and frustrations Georg experienced while being caught between countries and cultures.

The story is told through a combination of the author’s recollections along with the many carefully archived letters he sent to his mother. This use of primary source documents will be particularly appeal to history teachers. Personal photographs, a map and timeline also provide useful information to readers.

Intended for youth ages 12 and up, this first-person account will be popular with students interested in learning more about war from a non-traditional perspective.

Librarians will find this young adult memoir to be an excellent addition to the library collection. Consider working with English and History teachers to build the book into literature circles related to World War II.

Published by Farrar, Stauss & Giroux on February 24, 2015. A publisher ARC was used for the review. show less

This is the true story of a 19-year-old kid who finds himself on the front lines in Russia, despite being “tainted” by Jewish blood. This is a fascinating account of WW II from one who was there, made even more remarkable by the letters included that he sent home to his mother while fighting. My favorite part was when he and his friend looked at a map, seeing the size of the French empire, the British empire, the US and Russia as compared to the size of Germany, and the friend asked, show more “Has Hitler seen this map?” I love history through real life stories. show less