I've just got through reading William Lubbeck's book, "At Leningrad's Gates". I really enjoyed reading this book. Lubbeck writes about his childhood life on his family farm in Puggen, and how life changed for his family when the Nazis took power.
Lubbeck was drafted in the German Army in 1939, and throughout his service, except for a stint in officer candidate school, served with the 58th Infantry Div, 154th Infantry Regiment. He talks about serving with the communications section, and then serving as a forward observer for his company. After officer candidate school, he returns back to his unit as a 2nd Lt. Lubbeck avoids being captured by the Soviets, unlike his comrades by being ordered back to Germany to form a new 58th Division. During this time, he boards a German destroyer, and while enroute back, learns of the surrender of Germany.
After the war, he talks about the difficulties he and his wife had to endure, especially his immediate family in the Soviet zone in Puggen. Lubbeck, and his wife immigrates to Canada, and shortly after, to the US, eventually to settle in North Carolina.
If I were to find fault with this book, it is that the chapters are almost brief narratives. Overall though, I enjoyed reading it.
Lubbeck was drafted in the German Army in 1939, and throughout his service, except for a stint in officer candidate school, served with the 58th Infantry Div, 154th Infantry Regiment. He talks about serving with the communications section, and then serving as a forward observer for his company. After officer candidate school, he returns back to his unit as a 2nd Lt. Lubbeck avoids being captured by the Soviets, unlike his comrades by being ordered back to Germany to form a new 58th Division. During this time, he boards a German destroyer, and while enroute back, learns of the surrender of Germany.
After the war, he talks about the difficulties he and his wife had to endure, especially his immediate family in the Soviet zone in Puggen. Lubbeck, and his wife immigrates to Canada, and shortly after, to the US, eventually to settle in North Carolina.
If I were to find fault with this book, it is that the chapters are almost brief narratives. Overall though, I enjoyed reading it.
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