A novel to make you think twice about WWII

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑  We Germans is a thought provoking novel written in the style of a letter from a German grandfather to his Scottish grandson. He is answering questions about his experiences in WWII both as a combatant on the Eastern front and as a captive of the Russians at the end of the war. This novel is important on a number of levels. It analyses decisions taken at the top, from the people in control at a safe remove down to the poor university student fighting because it is expected of him (the grandfather). It illustrates the futility and brutality of war. The darkest parts of ourselves, as humans, is given free reign to unleash horrific cruelty during war. The grandfather witnesses a number of terrible acts during the course of this novel and feels a sense of wider guilt and shame though he is a low ranking soldier and has no power over events. He reflects on the feeling of German responsibility and who might shoulder the blame.

The view from the German perspective is thoughtful and incisive. All of us know the second world war through the lens of the country we hail from. I am American by birth, now British, and I feel proud of the efforts of both countries but it is not as simple as that. General Sherman was right when he said war is hell. We German brings the desperation for survival to the fore. During the course of the novel the grandfather and his fellow soldiers are starving and foraging for food as the troops' equipment and provisions ran out long ago. They have sunk to the level of thieves wearing pilfered clothing and weapons. The war is on the turn with the end, seemingly, in sight. These German soldiers would rather encounter the Americans than the Russians so they might surrender to a nation they feel might treat them better. These are desperate times not knowing what force you may encounter around the next bend and the depths you may need to sink to to live on another day. Stressful, yes, but there are moments of humour, too, which makes this very human story one worth reading.