The Black March [Paperback]

Peter Neumann (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam Books (October 1981)
• ISBN-10: 0553201255
• ISBN-13: 978-0553201253
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,363,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't Judge History, September 21, 2002

By 

Kyle Hawkins (Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black March (Paperback)

What a valuable lesson this book teaches. Peter Neumann wrote exactly what he was feeling in this book which reads like a diary with some narration. From 1938 through the end of the war, you get to follow a young idealistic German from depression era Germany through the euphoria of early victories and the final defense of Vienna, where he was ultimatly wounded and captured at the end of the war.
There are no pulled punches. You are reading what the author thought at the time. Indoctrinated at a young age he first reacts as trained and has to learn what is true.
Such things as mercy for Russian Civilians, empathy for Jews (one of whom he unknowingly falls in love with), and disdain for enept Nazi leadership are difficult and hard earned lessons.
While it is true that he never abandons his belief that the SS (he is an officer in the SS) played an essential role in defending the fatherland against the 'hordes of asiatic masses of communists', you do get a real feeling for what was going on in the minds of the typical Nazi soldier.
Look, we all know that Nazism was wrong and Hitler was a demonic figure, but when you ask yourself, "how is it that millions of Germans willingly laid down their lives for such a cause", Peter Neumann answers it.
A fantastic book, and a must read -- especially for the new generation coming up. Here is an account of World War II that is seldom heard, and when it is, almost always is danced around. Because Peter Neumann is not ashamed of his actions, you are give a truly rare window into history. One where most of the witnesses to these historical events are now dead or dying off.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I could hardly put the book down., December 11, 2003

By 

Robert Wynkoop (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black March (Paperback)

What a book! This is at least the second time I have read it and as far as a war memoir goes, it just about as good and it gets. Although a little slow at first and lacking the character development of a great novel, it takes the reader by storm and involves him in the terror battle and the absolute carnage and cruelty of war. It is a five-star book action wise, but a one-star book morally. The author seems to be justifying his role as an officer in the infamous SS. As noted in previous reviews, never once does he condemn the extermination of the Jews, Communist party officials or others deemed unfit for life.

What we do see here is the dehumanization of people. The ruthlessness of the SS was founded in the German belief that the Jews, Slavic and Asian peoples were less than human. Yes, he recoils at horror when first exposed to the slaughter of innocent civilians, communist party officials and German deserters, but in the end he justifies it to himself. He writes: We of the SS must be ruthless. But the partisans also wage an inhuman war and show no mercy. Perhaps we cannot blame them for wishing to defend their own land, but all the same, it's clearly our duty to destroy them. . . When the wives and children of those bandits are killed, because their menfolk are guilty of cowardly murder of some German solider, perhaps they will stop and think. In order words, Neumann reasons that the end justifies the means.

I think it is interesting that secular man rejects Christianity and often cites the religious wars of Europe and the Crusades as demonstrating the terrible dark side of religion. As a Christian and a pastor I know there is no way that religious war can be justified in the name of Christ; but we really do need to reconsider the premise that the abolition of religion will stop prejudice, war and genocide. It is interesting to note that the twentieth century puts the rest of history to shame in its slaughter of innocents- The Russian Revolution and Civil War, Stalin's Purges, the rise of Fascism in German and Italy, the slaughter of 6 million Jews and the death of 20 million Russians in the Second World War, the Cambodian Holocaust which resulted in the death of over two million, not to mention the millions who died in Communist China- these people were killed by secular idealist.

Back to the book. Neumann's description of the battle of Vienna is unsurpassed in drama, suspense and terror. I could hardly put the book down. He literally draws the reader into the battle. We lie with him in a corpse and sewage infested canal, lying in freezing temperatures in the dank water up to our mouths praying that the Russian soldiers will not spot us. It is outstanding writing. The only thing I wish he publisher included would be an afterward. How long was Neumann in captivity? Was he forced into slave labor? When was he repatriated? It is a hard to find book, but well worth the read.

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Grimm fairy tale, December 14, 2011

By 

Daulman (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black March (Paperback)

This book contains every cliche in the litany of the standardized SS history. It paints a picture of the SS exactly as you learned about on the History Channel. It reads just as if he the author worked off the WW2 press reports out of the USSR. So, if you want to hear the same stories about the SS raping, pillaging, shooting their own officers and killing babies, this book is for you. It covers every part of the Western propaganda campaign except the lampshades. This might be the same guy who wrote the Sven Hassel series.