#13: Unlikely Warrior

Last night I finished the book Unlikely Warrior by Georg Rauch.  It's an autobiography about being A Jewish Soldier in Hitler's Army.  I read the back of this book at a book fair and just had to purchase it.  I was really intrigued to see what war would be like for a Jewish soldier.

While I found this book to be well written and give lots of details about the hardships and emotions Rauch went through during the war, I think the title is a little misleading.  We find out towards the beginning that he is supposed to be promoted to a higher position and that is when he goes to the authorities and tells them he is part Jewish.  The reason the title is misleading, is because Rauch doesn't even think of himself as Jewish.  One of his grandparent's was Jewish, but his family never practiced Judism.  Yes, his family helped the Jews and were against Hitler's war, but I really wouldn't consider him to be a Jewish soldier.  I think being Jewish was maybe brought up twice in the whole book.

I did like his story though.  It really made you feel all the hardships everyone was going through.  The lack of food and water, destruction, loss, etc was all so sad.  And all for 1 man's thoughts.  Most of the soldiers in the book on both sides of the war did not agree with the war.  It still amazes me as I read WWII books, how many people opposed the war, but how few tried to stand up to Hitler.

A good read if you like WWII stories, but not really about being Jewish.

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