{"product_id":"the-good-soldier-from-austrian-social-democracy-to-communist-captivity-with-a-soldier-of-panzergrenadier-division-grossdeutschland","title":"The Good Soldier: From Austrian Social Democracy to Communist Captivity With a Soldier of Panzer-Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlfred Novotny was born in Vienna on 1 April 1924  and was perfectly placed to suffer the ancient Chinese curse: \"May you live in interesting times.\" His times were interesting and deadly  but that he survived them is not the greatest surprise. Rather  what stands out is that Fred never lost his compassion  nor his humanity  nor his mind. Growing up in 1930s Vienna  the former home of a young  frustrated  and fuming artist named Adolf Hitler  Fred was the stepson of an ardent Social Democrat. As such  he grew up with a visceral and deep dislike and distrust of their rival parties  including the National Socialists  or \"Nazis.\" Although the political situation in Austria throughout the 1930s was stormy  the German annexation of Austria absolutely ended effective opposition to the \"New Order.\" Attracted by the superficial benefits of unity with Germany and the evident achievements of the Nazis  young Alfred gradually parted ways with his stepfather. He performed his duty to the Reich when called up for service in the Labor Corps  and later proudly served in the most elite division of the German Army in World War II  Panzer-Grenadier Division \"Grossdeutschland\" (\"Greater Germany\"). From 1942 forward  Fred saw more than his share of combat. Starting with action as a member of a hurriedly-armed labor detachment in the famous British naval and commando raid at St. Nazaire  France  in March 1942  Fred later joined the Grossdeutschland Division in time to participate in some of the most well-knownand most bloodybattles of the war on the Eastern Front. During the Germans last great offensive in the Soviet Union in 1943  Fred fought at Poltava and in the titanic clash of thousands of tanks at Kursk. Wounded there  he later returned to his unit and fought in the long series of fiercely-contested defensive battles that ended only when the Soviets occupied much of eastern and central Germany and Austria. . . and when Hitler and the Thousand Year Reich were finally destroyed. Like so many members of German units  Fred was happy to surrender to the US Army at the end of the war  but under the terms of inter-Allied agreements reached months before  units which had fought only against the Soviets were turned over to the Red Army  en masse. Thus began the ordeal after the ordeal2 years in Soviet prison camps. After being freed from Soviet captivity  Fred eventually escaped the old world and the old conflicts . . . and started a new life in the United States  free of the competing \"isms\" of Europe that had wreaked misery on millions. Supported by detailed commentary by author\/historian Marc Rikmenspoel  The Good Soldier contains 62 illustrations  including original diagrams and sketches drawn before the war and during the authors captivity; comprehensive documentary authentication of the authors military service; and extensive wartime photography.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44948113391669,"sku":"ByrdShop_0966638999","price":92.03,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780966638998.jpg?v=1770038760","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-good-soldier-from-austrian-social-democracy-to-communist-captivity-with-a-soldier-of-panzergrenadier-division-grossdeutschland","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}