This is one of the most vivid accounts of destruction and hopelessness we have ever seen. It is a 17-year-old German conscript's experiences in the defense of Berlin during the spring of 1945 - the last desperate days of Berlin - annotated and illustrated to show his part in the overall picture. Altner’s account covers in detail recruit training on the front line after only ten days in barracks, the execution of deserters and action against the Red Army and turncoat German 'Seydlitz' Troops. He tells of the retreat back to Berlin with full kit, escaping capture time after time and the annihilation of nearly all his company in just one action. He gives detailed descriptions of house to house fighting in the Spandau sector of Berlin, the battle for the Olympic Stadium, the sacrifice of Hitler Youths, fighting in the city's subway tunnels and the disastrous attempt at a breakout to the west, culminating in his final capture. This is an account of war at its most basic and brutal level, of the collapse of everything familiar and the hopelessness of imminent defeat.

Berlin Dance of Death

History

Altner, Helmut

Le Tissier, Tony.

Military

Casemate

A teenager's account of his experiences as a conscript during the final desperate six weeks of the Third Reich's existence, supplemented with notes and photographs to illustrate how his experiences fitted into the overall picture.After some basic training on the Eastern Front, Helmut Altner is caught up in the massive Soviet assault on Berlin, fights against turncoat "Seylditz-Troops", retreats successfully, and then takes part in the defence of the western suburb of Spandau, where he becomes one of the only two survivors of his company of teenagers.An abortive attempt to desert leads to him fighting in the battle for the Olympic Stadium in the U-Bahn tunnels toward the city centre. Returning to barracks, he then takes part in the break-out to the west that turns into a bloodbath for soldiers and civilians alike, only to be wounded and finally captured.

Berlin Dance Of Death

Spellmount Ltd Pub

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