Set in the final days of the Third Reich, the narrative follows General Steiner as he attempts to use high-value prisoners of war as leverage for his own survival. Trapped within an Alpine fortress, a group of prominent Allied captives, including an American general and a French politician, become bargaining chips in a desperate trade for immunity. The plot focuses on the friction between SS fanatics determined to execute the prisoners and pragmatic officers seeking a way out of the ruins of Berlin as the Soviet and American armies close in.
History enthusiasts and fans of military suspense read this book to see how tactical decisions are made under extreme duress. It appeals to those interested in the logistical reality of the German collapse and the moral compromises made by soldiers on both sides of the front. Readers walk away with a detailed understanding of the chaos of 1945 and the specific tensions between the Waffen-SS and the regular army during the transition to Allied occupation.
Practical, outward-looking, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1976
- Language
- EN
