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I was born of parents who were part of the occupying armies in Hamburg not long after WW2, while that war was still recent memory, The revailing societal attitude in which I experienced childhood was one in which "we" were the Good Guys fighting the forces of evil. Junger's account is a refreshing insight into the alternative perspective, not from an ideological point of view; indeed, he shares with Sassoon et al the sense of bitter futility of the glorification of needless slaughter, but he tells of his homeland, and of protecting it. The book appears to be written in a manner which does not dwell of the emotions to any great extent but records starkly and brutally the events to which the writer was witness, but I'm not certain that this isn't as much an imporession reinforced by reading the story in translation as much as of the author's intent. For all the hundred years which have passed since these events were chronicled, the book remains relevant and indeed appposite in the prevailing climate, The saying "if we forget we risk repeating" comes to mind. Are we forgetting? A very worthwhile read,Read full review
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Most books about infantry life during World War One are pretty bleak. Europe's wars in the late 1800's and early 1900's had been mostly fought by small professional armies with relatively few casualties, with gallantry and honour celebrated. Machinery's rise to dominance on the battlefield combined with a leadership that was slow to adapt to the reality of new technology resulted in conditions and subsequent death tolls that were horrific. Many accounts of the time dealt with this dichotomy – the stories of gallant individual heroism running into the reality war in the industrial age where lives were spent at an astonishing rate for little gain. Wilfrid Owen's Collected Poems and All Quiet on the Western Front are good examples of this. The Storm of Steel is not one of those books. Ernst Jünger's account of war on the Western Front is so interesting because he sees some value in it. The book is filled with tiny observations and details about life in the trenches but its fascinating because you get the sense Jünger was one of those rare men who were born for this role. He doesn't relish in taking life but he seems to believe that men can gain a great deal from conflict. It's considered one of the best WWI memoirs and was also one of the first to be published, released only two years after the end of the war. It's a quick exciting read that I really enjoyed, well worth the money.Read full review
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This is by far and away the greatest autobiography on the First World War ever written by a front line German officer. The writer not only being tough and brave is also very human ,an excellent story teller keeping you on edge as though you were really there. Wounded numerous times and escaping death from near misses too many times too recount he led a charmed life .He was greatly loved by his men and respected by his enemies. He was the last surviving holder of The Knights Cross ,Germanys highest award for bravery Do yourself a favour and buy this book you wont be disappointed
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From youthful adventure to the utter carnage of military warfare. A beautiful yet intense brutal story of facing horrific jagged shells, some so big they block out the sun. Extreme.
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