An Honorable German A novel of World War II Author: Charles McCain

[Clark Isaacs]

An Honorable German
A novel of World War II
Author: Charles McCain
ISBN: 978-0-446-53898-5, Pages: 384, $24.99, Publication Date: May 2009, Hardcover, Fiction, Published by Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group, New York, NY

A German hero of gigantic proportions is depicted by Charles McCain in his debut novel An Honorable German. Throughout World War II images of the Nazi war machine were used to denigrate truly patriotic and honorable men who made up traditional military forces who fought alongside those who pledged their allegiance to the Third Reich.

Those who do not understand the call to duty and honor to country will not comprehend the viewpoint expressed by this book. Following orders is a necessity in wartime. Those who take it upon themselves to disobey put themselves at risk with those in power to be dealt with severely. Here, it is the Nazi war machine which runs the country. It has spies placed in the military to tattle on those who do not follow the orders strictly given by the cruel and thoughtless SS.

One of the most famous of all warships, Graf Spree, is described playing an important part in the main character’s career. Max Brekendorf, a proud young German naval officer, serves his country with honor and courage. Max emerges to show he is different than the Third Reich which is bent on conquering the world. Max cares for his men, ship, and country. He is recognized for his bravery by being awarded several medals of the highest order including the Iron Cross 1st Class. His personal life is interspersed within his career. This book does it justice by bringing two facets together for an intriguing tale of courage, defiance, and romance.

As the war progresses and the failure of the Nazi war machine becomes evident, hardship in the homeland takes its toll. The Gestapo is taking out its frustrations on the citizenry and even our hero runs into situations which put him at risk. Only through his friends and future in-laws does he find a way to evade the clutches of punishment. Infractions which he committed unknowingly are overlooked, because all he knew was the life of the sea.

A well-devised and orchestrated story by McCain which will at times keep you so absorbed you will not realize you have been reading many Germanic phrases with translations subtly inserted. This is a very good book historically and depicts another side of German military life.

[Mari]

This sounds like a captivating book even though it's difficult to rationalize anyone's acceptance of the killing of many thousand innocent people in the camps, something that even the most dedicated of soldiers had to have heard about. When the war in VietNam became wrong, we had a lot of potential good soldiers who left the country to hide in Canada. I'n not saying this was right, but it was an answer to avoiding participation in something that was wrong. It would be interesting to read how this good man rationalized all this, and how he could continue to fulfill his duty in the midst of the overwhelming and increasing evidence that his country was practicing genocide.

Feeling very serious today.
:-) Mari

[Clark Isaacs]

The take that I had on the book is the sailors did not keep in step with what was going on in the homeland. When and if you read the book, he will show that even his father was arrested by the Gestapo for a minor infraction and jailed for 3 months. What the main character did not know was that those who were opposed to the 3rd Reich were sent to the camps as well. There were over 12 million people killed in the war by them in the camps. Christians, mentally ill, non-Aryan,and anyone else they identified as being against the state.

It was a terrible time. However, this was a man who never really knew what all the things which went on would be involving the extermination of people. He did not know that the least infraction would cause him and others extreme harm.

When he got to a prisoner of war camp in the US he at first was segregated from the general German population because of fear he would be harmed. Then he was sent to another camp and was put into harms way. He survived and those in the camp who were SS or Gestapo followers tried to get him. It was then he realized how bad they were.

Great insightful read.

Clark