This book is a compilation of 3 journals written by Hans Roth, a soldier with the 299th Infantry Division, attached to the Sixth Army. It covers the period 1941 to 1943. It is an incredible first-hand narration of the life of a German soldier in the Eastern Front.

It is particularly interesting as it was written within days of the events being narrated (often on the same day), meaning that the memories were fresh and undisturbed by the pass of time. At the same time, being its own personal journal, censors were not able to edit out parts of the narration, reflecting the exact thoughts of a soldier in the front.

There are parts of the book when I almost felt like I was intruding in the personal life of Hans Roth, as he would describe his thoughts about his wife, daughter, and home, back in Germany. At other parts of the book, I could feel the stress, fear, and relief of Roth, due to his having survived a battle, waiting for a tunnel mine to explode, or just enjoying the sun in his skin.

With all the bias, rightness and wrongness of real life, and written in “real time”, this book accurately describes the impressions and experiences of everyday life and combat in the Russian steppes. It will not help you with your next scale model project or diorama. But it will give you a priceless insight into the people who lived and died by the equipment and groundwork that you will be modeling.

Recommended to all history aficionados and modelers.

I would like to thank Casemate Publishing and IPMS/USA for the review sample.