Review: The hell and romance of war
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 31, 2013
This book is a wonderfully detailed, dramatised account of the Blitzkrieg in France. It is written from the perspective of a German artillery observer, and apparently based on real notes kept by the author's grandfather. Whatever the ratio of fact to elaboration, von Bleichert's book is both educational and entertaining.The tale begins in May of 1940, when the Germans invaded the low countries, and covers the victorious sweep of their forces across France. Rather than dwell on philosophical or political questions, the narrator relates his immediate experiences on the front line, such as his interactions with comrades, daily jobs and, of course, battles. In that sense the book reminds me of a good "Biggles" story, except that it is targeted at adults and has a lot more authentic detail, including diagrams and black and white pictures taken by the German infantry.Because the narrative is realistic, the author doesn't gloss over the brutality of modern warfare. However, this portrayal doesn't detract from the story's entertainment value or readability. I enjoyed every page, and would recommend "Storming the Maginot Line" to history buffs in search of good fiction.