Forgotten Soldier - Guy Sajer
Discussion
Just heard Guy Mouminoux (aka Guy Sajer) the author of 'Forgotten Soldier' has passed away. If you have never read it, 'Forgotten Soldier' is the true (..ish 
) story of a Frenchman who joins the GrossDeutschland division of the Wehrmacht and fights through a large part of the war on the Eastern front in WW2.
Whilst the story is reputedly more in the 'faction' bracket than 100% authentic, it is just about the best depiction of men at war I have ever read and I cannot recommend it enough if you haven't tried it. Having a Grandfather who also fought on the Eastern Front brought it home to me just what the men/women on both sides suffered in that most appalling and brutal of campaigns.
) story of a Frenchman who joins the GrossDeutschland division of the Wehrmacht and fights through a large part of the war on the Eastern front in WW2.Whilst the story is reputedly more in the 'faction' bracket than 100% authentic, it is just about the best depiction of men at war I have ever read and I cannot recommend it enough if you haven't tried it. Having a Grandfather who also fought on the Eastern Front brought it home to me just what the men/women on both sides suffered in that most appalling and brutal of campaigns.
Very good read. I didnt realise that it was supposedly less than factual in places as it was never seemingly over egged - he seemed to spend most of it having a thoroughly miserable time - in lorries being shot at from the air, digging fox holes in the snow, being shelled and having dyssentry which is probably what I imagine was exactly the experience most of those who were infantry had.
I don't think we'll ever know how true it is - there's very little evidence he was even in the military let alone the Grossdeutschland. A German friend of mine who is a fulltime military researcher said he investigated him years ago and found literally no evidence he had been in the military. However there have been various other accusations over the years, some of which were retracted and furthermore some Grossdeutschland veterans agreed he was the real deal.
I can only imagine what state you would be in after being involved in years of horrific/traumatic frontline combat like Sajer reputedly was and trying to remember exact facts must be a very difficult thing to do, especially years later.
Regarding the lack of records, so much was lost that it will never be anything like 100% accurate. I have pictures of my own Grandfather on the Eastern Front, have a small diary he wrote, his ID cards and some of his medals, yet having tried to research him many times there is literally nothing official other than one reference to a reserve officers course before the war. So I give Mr Sajer the benefit of the doubt, for me it is the greatest autobiography/historical novel (delete as appropriate) on men at war.
I can only imagine what state you would be in after being involved in years of horrific/traumatic frontline combat like Sajer reputedly was and trying to remember exact facts must be a very difficult thing to do, especially years later.
Regarding the lack of records, so much was lost that it will never be anything like 100% accurate. I have pictures of my own Grandfather on the Eastern Front, have a small diary he wrote, his ID cards and some of his medals, yet having tried to research him many times there is literally nothing official other than one reference to a reserve officers course before the war. So I give Mr Sajer the benefit of the doubt, for me it is the greatest autobiography/historical novel (delete as appropriate) on men at war.
I read a few accusations about how accurate or not his information was after reading the book. While some would take delight in trying to prove he was a fake, with so many incomplete or missing records (as said above) any investigation could only ever hope to be partial. 1 case against him seemed to hinge on his sleeve detail being described wrongly for the part of the army he was in, which could surely be put down to memory over a long period, and that detail not being checked for accuracy before publishing.
A stunning read, in any event. I had no idea he was actually still alive. I still have my copy on the shelf; might just be time to revisit it.
A stunning read, in any event. I had no idea he was actually still alive. I still have my copy on the shelf; might just be time to revisit it.
That’s a great shout. I’m between books at the moment and my copy is an arm’s length away. Haven’t read it for years but I was blown away when I first did so. Two others that I’d put in the same league for descriptions of men at war are Ernst Junger’s ‘Storm of Steel’ and ‘Quartered Safe Out Here’ by George MacDonald Fraser.
Right, I’m off to read The Forgotten Soldier.
Right, I’m off to read The Forgotten Soldier.
In a similar vein, i'm currently reading "Blood Red Snow"
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Red-Snow-G%C3%BCnte...
Not an "easy" read, but quite eye opening in parts, not least trying to dodge being deliberately crushed to death in a foxhole by a T-34.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Red-Snow-G%C3%BCnte...
Not an "easy" read, but quite eye opening in parts, not least trying to dodge being deliberately crushed to death in a foxhole by a T-34.
texaxile said:
In a similar vein, i'm currently reading "Blood Red Snow"
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Red-Snow-G%C3%BCnte...
Not an "easy" read, but quite eye opening in parts, not least trying to dodge being deliberately crushed to death in a foxhole by a T-34.
I picked that up discounted in The Works before xmas; not read it yet. I shall move it up my "to read" pile.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Red-Snow-G%C3%BCnte...
Not an "easy" read, but quite eye opening in parts, not least trying to dodge being deliberately crushed to death in a foxhole by a T-34.
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