Customer Reviews

Sniper Ace: From the Eastern Front to Siberia

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A decent well-written-enough sniper tale from the Eastern Front in World War II. Comparable to others such as "A Grandfather's Tale", unusually insofar as the author is ethnically Lithuanian but born in Germany; this fact plays a pivotal role in the course of his life events throughout the book. Also the book starts at a relatively late date (1944) so that the Soviets are pushing in East Prussia after only a couple chapters; also the author never really discusses National Socialism, or Hitler, at all, instead he focuses on his upbringing and how his agricultural training, work ethic, and observations of the natural world facilitated his later success as a sniper.

A large part of the book, more than half, is taken up by his various postwar arrests, imprisonments, "interrogations", and so on at the hands of communist authorities, including time spent in various locales in Siberia, in one capacity or another. Due to his high number of kills, including many officers, combined with ambiguity about his nationality, led to his only being released from Siberia *only after the collapse of the Soviet Union*, surely making him one of the longest-held prisoners of World War II of any nationality. Upon his release he was celebrated as a national hero in Lithuania, and lectured to many Lithuanian soldiers and cadets about his experiences.

The book makes a big deal out of the documentation surrounding his confirmed kills, whether this proves they were real or that the author/publisher were simply trying very hard to create that impression is impossible to know. The wartime narrative does consist of a virtually miraculous series of brushes with death along with many confirmed shots to the heads of snipers sent specifically to eliminate him, but as we all know truth is stranger than fiction so I for one was generally inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. He discusses unit movements and various battles in moderate detail, but does not really spend a great deal of time describing equipment, apart from his sniper's rifle. He also never really addresses any moral questions whatsoever, for him it was simply a matter of defending his homeland, and trying to stay alive (to be sure the author was fairly young while in service). Describes in some detail what the Soviet occupation of East Prussia was like, both while the war was ending and thereafter (not good). Also claimed that at war's end the U.S. Army attempted to recruit him for service in "Asia" but that he declined, telling the American officer that the Americans had helped the Bolsheviks defeat Germany and would now have to deal with them on their own, without his help.

All in all a good read but not great literature, similar to other accounts out there already but perhaps unique for people interested in the history of a German-Lithunian veteran of World War II, along with many detailed accounts of life as a POW in Siberia. The latter treatment especially is filled with accounts of the absurdities of state-run economic systems, both in agriculture and coal mining, along with the general brutalities of the gulag system. Unlike "A Grandfather's Tale" the author doesn't seem to embrace pacifism later in life, perhaps his existence was too filled with harshness and mistreatment to believe in anything other than a sober and somewhat grim view of human nature.

I was looking forward to receiving this book but was disappointed after reading it. It is rare for a German sniper's records to be still in existence, especially one who served on the Eastern Front and I thought that this record would provide the author with the structure to provide a vivid portrait of what it was like to be a sniper on that front. However, the reality is that this part of the book is little more than the recounting of his sniper log with some additional detail.

This may have been the result of the incredible difficulties the author went through after the war being exiled to Siberia by the Russians. That he survived that ordeal for as long as he did is a testimony to his powers of survival. Many men would have succumbed to the incredible conditions and hardships. He also must have been one of the last German prisoner of war to be repatriated. However, even this part of his narrative is skimmed over and at no time is there much sense of the ceaseless struggle to survive that he endured.

If you are looking for a book about sniping on the Eastern Front there are better books. If you want a book that shows just what a human can endure then this one is a good example.

I liked the book Myself. I have always liked the personal stories. It was interesting to maybe have a brief look at life in very early post-war Eastern Europe and the Bannishment to Siberia. It did seem like more than one life could live. But there have always been incrediable people throughout the ages. So, I just liked to believe that Bruno Sutkus was one of them. I would suggest it.

One of the most interesting books on the fascinating world of sharpshooters on the eastern front during world war 2. The Russian forces were extremely careless with human life and would often force their own men to carve into the fire from the German front line. The writer tells of all the brutal situations the German forces were forced to endure.. There are many books written from the Russian perspective which are very judgmental of the evil German soldiers. However as the reader goes along you realize the german men were actually very well educated and trained and much more civilized then the Russian criminals they were fighting. It also makes the reader realize most of the German soldiers were young fathers or husbands just trying to protect their fatherland and not the evil soldiers it we were taught to believe. The German perspective is very interesting and gives insight on just how well trained and practical these men were. The sniper division was extremely well trained and this writer takes time to bring the reader onto the front line with him and experience the bloody amazing tales that occurred during the back and forth slug match on the eastern front. This writer also allows the reader to follow him through his military carrear and his thoughts regarding the Russian forces brings insight into the overall conflict and outcome of the war itself. A very well written book and worth the purchase. A must read for any history student.

this book was very good! it read very well and was like sitting with my grandfather on a sunday afternoon. the first part of the book was like most old vet stories . he didnt dwell on whys and how comes, but told what was going on and gave just enough to keep you going. the second half is where you really bond with mr.sutkus. the details of his exile were moving and the treatment of the pow's and the natives was just horrable. the feeling of blind stupidity that the communist party people had was amazing. but i guess thats why that feel apart in the long run. this is a good book for any level and i would recomend it to everyone to try.

This is a wonderful book that looks into the aftermath of what happened to the German prisoners after WWII. It would have been much better if the Author detailed the battle scenes in more detail.

Excellent book, that's worth the read. The book describes the horrors that both the civilians and the soldiers of both sides suffered during the war and during the post war years. Setting aside ideology, like most soldiers, he fought for his country, family and fellow soldiers. While put in the most dire, hopeless situations, Bruno Sutkos, had the will power to be a survivor. A National hero. A man that showed in his actions what it meant to be part of the "Greatest Generation". Rest in Peace.

Ok, so I lean toward the sniper adventures. However I am more interested in human nature. This is a true adventure that you read, sit, contemplate and then read again just to make sure you read it right! How the hell does a human survive all this and still come out able to teach others his craft--- and write down his adventures?!! If you read my review of "The Sniper", I said you see the view-point of the Russian defenders. Here is the view of the German sniper, the vanquished foe---but wow--what do you learn? Human spirit, all sides, all races---hard to vanquish, hard to conquer. All you folks who want to learn.. Read this!

It sucked it was a reprint of his sniper log book and more story of his life in siberia after the war. Not a great read

Bruno Sutkus was a tough man. He was of Lithuanian extract but lived on the eastern fringe of Prussia. He was nineteen when he was called up in July 1943 from his parents' farm. Having spent his youth hunting and creeping across the border to Lithuania he was naturally skilled at fieldcraft and soon came to the attention of his superiors as an expert shot. He was sent to sniper school at Vilnius and became operational in early 1944. When he was wounded in January 1945 he had totaled 207 confirmed kills. When the war ended he was in the American zone. He made the mistake of entering the Soviet zone to meet his mother and found himself unable to return. In 1949 he was banished to Siberia where he endured great hardship, and was only allowed to return to Lithuania in 1974. He did not regain his German citizenship until 1994 and manage to return to Germany until 1997, fifty two years after he left.