The Boy Who Went to War: The Story of a Reluctant German Soldier in WWII

British journalist Milton's biography about his father-in-law Wolfram A%C3%AFchele serves dual purposes: to give his daughters a better understanding of their German grandfather; and to share A%C3%AFchele's unique experiences with Hitler's army during World War II. In countless interviews, A%C3%AFchele, born in 1924, recalls his childhood, when his "most impressionable years [were] spent in the shadow of the Third Reich, with its marching, drilling, and obligatory attendance at gatherings of the Hitler Youth." When A%C3%AFchele turned 18, he was drafted. Milton (The Riddle and the Knight) cites the tremendous impact the Nazis had on ordinary Germans: "Wolfram's parents became aware that Hitler had introduced an element of fear into every aspect of daily life within weeks of his becoming chancellor." He also notes his father-in-law's unusual situation. Not until the end of combat, for example, did A%C3%AFchele learn of the mass murder of Jews, partisans, and Soviet prisoners of war. With this book, Milton provides an unusual perspective on an undeniably tragic period in history. (Oct.)