[.ca] Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp ... (ISBN 1844153177)

Jonathan H:
Ok so this book was a must buy when I saw it on Amazon.ca, I was however disapointed. To start its a very very short read 146 pages which hardley seems enough for one of the German Army's top snipers memoirs, further more this book is NOT written by Josef Sepp Allergerger but Albrecht Waker who interviewed Mr.Allerberger and wrote a book that is titled "Im auge des Jägers" which is double the size of this English translated edition (why cut the book in half?) All of this aside you would imagin that it could still be good, but really its just 146 pages of the most vile and descriptive violence imaginable, very little military information, or even a realistic narrative of what Soldiers on the Eastern front faced, just vivid descriptions of what someones head looks like after Herr Allerberger puts a 7.9 bullet through it. There are also a few attrocious recollections witnessed by Allerberger by the hands of Russians that are akin to the crimes you read about in books about the Holocaust. I have read many many memoirs and the fact the book is very cruel almost makes it feasible, but Im still unsure too much dosnt add up with this title, and in comparison to the likes of "Grenadiers - Kurt Meyer" "Forgotten soldier - Guy sajer " and "Black Edelwiesse - Johann Voss" this book really does not compare in anyway, nor does it stand out as a example of how to do a German memior differant. I have never heard a veteran describe shooting somone in the head as "Like wathching a ripe melon explode" regardless of the savagry of the fighting I think A.Waker add-libb'd a little too much. Only read this book if you are dead set on doing so, otherwise hope that they re-print "Im auge des Jägers" which is apparently the full story, not half of the story as the english readers seemed to have purchased. Its not worth the 40.00 after the books price and shipping. Peace