The Forgotten Soldier

[MBI]

I just created this subforum, by member request, so I figured I'd start things off by listing what I'm currently reading.

The Forgotten Soldier, by Guy Sajer is rather unlike any other war book I've read so far. Written in French, the author's native language, published in 1965 under the title Le Soldat Oublié. I'm reading the English translation.

It's about a 16 year old French-German who volunteers for the German army in WWII. This is an account of his experiences in the Military, first in training and then fighting on the Eastern front. He struggles with the German language as it's not his native tongue, which understandably causes him some difficulty as a member of Hitler's war machine. He's self deprecating and seems to consider himself physically unfit (initially) and not a tremendous example of an ideal soldier, yet he endures considerable hardship during the war, and what seems to be an endless stream of horrors. Although he regularly criticizes himself for cowardice, in the performance of his duties he performs acts that I would think require considerable bravery.

I'm only about halfway through the book. It seems rather long, but since it's an eBook I don't have a good frame of reference for it's length, but I am enjoying it so far. As it's written, it's a perspective of war that I've never encountered before.

[Jowens90]

That soundslkike something I would like to read. Is it written in journal format? More formal auto biography? Or just as if he were sharing war stories? I hope the question makes sense

[MBI]

It's been a few months but as I recall it's just him talking, 1st person, as though you were sitting in the living room as he told you the story of his experiences.

Another interesting thing was eventually revealed, and I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to reveal it, rather it's just more of something which gives you greater insight into his psyche and what he was subjected to. I don't recall it ever being implicitly stated but through most of the book I had the distinct impression he had volunteered for service. It appears that wasn't the case. He was actually illegally conscripted, but as the Germans were short of manpower they chose to ignore the selection rules and took him anyway. As a part of the brainwashing of German conscripts he was led to believe it was his patriotic duty to serve, to the point that he seemed to be made to feel that he had actually volunteered.

It's a very long book but I'm glad I read it. It was interesting throughout and gave me some perspectives on the war which I've never seen in other books or in any documentaries.

[Jowens90]

Yeah I didnt notice the post was so old, I may have to check it out after i finish secret speech, seems like something I would enjoy, thanks for the insight