In the hell that was World War II; the Eastern Front was its heart of fire and ice. Gottlob Herbert Bidermann served in that lethal theater from 1941 to 1945; and his memoir of those years recaptures the sights; sounds; and smells of the war as it vividly portrays an army marching on the road to ruin.A riveting and reflective account by one of the millions of anonymous soldiers who fought and died in that cruel terrain; In Deadly Combat conveys the brutality and horrors of the Eastern Front in detail never before available in English. It offers a ground soldier's perspective on life and death on the front lines; providing revealing new information concerning day-to-day operations and German army life. Wounded five times and awarded numerous decorations for valor; Bidermann saw action in the Crimea and siege of Sebastopol; participated in the vicious battles in the forests south of Leningrad; and ended the war in the Courland Pocket. He shares his impressions of countless Russian POWs seen at the outset of his service; of peasants struggling to survive the hostilities while caught between two ruthless antagonists; and of corpses littering the landscape. He recalls a Christmas gift of gingerbread from home that overcame the stench of battle; an Easter celebrated with a basket of Russian hand grenades for eggs; and his miraculous survival of machine gun fire at close range. In closing he relives the humiliation of surrender to an enemy whom the Germans had once derided and offers a sobering glimpse into life in the Soviet gulags. Bidermann's account debunks the myth of a highly mechanized German army that rolled over weaker opponents with impunity. Despite the vast expanses of territory captured by the Germans during the early months of Operation Barbarossa; the war with Russia remained tenuous and unforgiving. His story commits that living hell to the annals of World War II and broadens our understanding of its most deadly combat zone.Translator Derek Zumbro has rendered Bidermann's memoir into a compelling narrative that retains the author's powerful style. This English-language edition of Bidermann's dynamic story is based upon a privately published memoir entitled Krim-Kurland Mit Der 132 Infanterie Division. The translator has added important events derived from numerous interviews with Bidermann to provide additional context for American readers.
#618918 in Books Brandais Jack 2016-10-27Original language:English 8.00 x .26 x 5.00l; #File Name: 0692790500112 pagesJoyrides Around San Diego From the Sea to the Mountains to the Desert Your Guide to Finding New Journeys
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Joyride ZoneBy KnC Books"You're traveling through another dimension; a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop ..."... only Jack Brandais knows!For the majority of people; San Diego can be defined by the "high points": Balboa Park; the San Diego Zoo; the waterfront; the beaches. The farthest afield most people get is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the northern part of the county. I'm not just talking about tourists - many San Diego residents probably don't go much beyond the perimeter defined by their home; their work; and their favorite activity; and the network of freeways that connect them.Author Jack Brandais is a native San Diegan; and he has made it his particular mission to find; and to chronicle; those spaces in between the high points. The counties of Southern California are among the largest in the United States; and San Diego County is no exception; there are lots of places in-between. For those of us who were born and raised there; those places; and the narrow roads that take you there; are an indelible part of San Diego history."Joyrides Around San Diego" is a compilation of Jack's Kindle driving guides covering San Diego County from the Pacific Ocean to the Borrego desert. Now; I don't have a GPS in my car; and I still use paper maps; but the Kindle version has certain advantages. There are live links to take you to websites with background information; color pictures ... it's interactive.On the other hand; the new "hard copy" version has all 10 San Diego Joyrides in one convenient package. You can browse it at your leisure and pick out a destination for the day; or plan a weekend getaway. You can leave it in your glove box and it never needs batteries. And if you want to see that background info; Jack has put the links on his Joyride Guru website for your convenience.Either way; you get driving directions; handy maps; a list of sights to see; and a bit of history to boot. If you're new to San Diego and really want to see San Diego County; this is the place to start. If you're an old-timer like me; this is a great opportunity for a trip down memory lane; literally.[As of this writing; one of the drives; "Spectacular Sunrise"; has not yet been released on the Kindle; so you get a sneak peek with the print version. It is coming soon to a Kindle near you.]1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Bringing the joy back into joy rides!By E. WilliamsAre you one of those people who grew up in the days when your parents would take the family for a Sunday drive? I remember many Sunday afternoons; coming home from church; eating lunch; then all of us hopping in the car for a drive to someplace interesting. This book brings back many of those memories; and takes you to some out-of-the-way places in San Diego County. There are drives for every occasion. A quick jaunt to Julian or a longer trip out to Anza Borrego. From the coast to the desert - and lots of places in between. Detailed directions and many "back stories" about the places you'll be visiting. You won't be disappointed.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Three StarsBy CustomerIt's pretty pricey for such a tiny book. Also; it's best suited for someone who has NEVER been to San Diego.....all the places are pretty much the standard that most San Diegans know about.
