Customer Reviews

Wallenberg Is Here! The True Story About How Raoul Wallenberg Faced Down the Nazi War Machine & the Infamous Eichmann & Saved Tens of Thousands of Budapest Jews

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If a reader is looking for a good factual, non-fictional account of the horrors of late 1944 Budapest and the efforts of a little known Swedish hero to save the last remaining Jewish community in Europe, then by all means pursue Carl Steinhouse's Wallenberg is Here! If, on the other hand, one wants to immerse one's self in an exciting World War II work of historical fiction, then by all means read Carl Steinhouse's Wallenberg is Here. Can these paradoxical recommendations be a misprint? Most assuredly not, as Mr. Steinhouse's moving portrayal of the true story of Raoul Wallenberg works extremely well on both levels. In fact, it is actually an excellent example of the increasingly popular genre of the fictionalized version of real events peopled by the actual figures, both famous and infamous, in the history of man's journey on this planet.

Carl Steinhouse places us in Budapest in late 1944 and early 1945 with a verisimilitude worthy of the better-known writers of World War II fiction, and his accurate historiography reflects what must have been a long and painstaking research process. The facts presented are reminiscent more of a post-graduate thesis than of a work of historical fiction and while the read is not the juicy stew of other books in this genre, it still remains a tasty consommé to lovers of these works.

The primary antagonists in this quintessential good versus evil tableau are Adolph Eichmann and Raoul Wallenberg. Eichmann and his brutal history are well known to the masses, but Wallenberg is known mostly to those interested in Holocaust studies and it is only in recent years that his leviathan efforts to rescued a doomed humanity have become more widely heralded. Steinhouse provides the reader with a brilliant portrayal of both these men, reinforcing the ignominy so well deserved by the Nazi and the honor due the little known Swedish diplomat. Even the more intense scholars of this global calamity will learn more about the Second World War from this well executed factual/fictional tract.

Mr. Steinhouse deserves praise for reinforcing the utter depravity of Hitler's war against the Jews by presenting it on a very personal, average-man level. By illustrating the work with individual criminal acts, the enormity of the bestial atrocities committed by the Third Reich and its willing accomplices are seared into the reader's consciousness. Obviously some of these victims are fictional, yet their suffering is all too real. The author has also included many lesser know villains in his treatise and by doing so further creates the travail suffered by the Jews of Budapest at the hands of their sadistic tormentors, the Nazis and their willing local fascist allies, the Arrow Cross of Hungary.

The six years of global conflict in the middle years of the twentieth century has provided a most fertile field for authors to cultivate, and the flow of true stories from this period that continue to amaze one seem infinite. Following in this tradition, Mr. Steinhouse has definitely both entertained and enlightened, The book lover in search of a World War Two thriller and the serious student of the history of this watershed in world history can both find intellectual satisfaction between the covers of his eminently readable work. It definitely deserves a place in the literary canon of this fascinating period.

This is a novel of contrasts - cruelty with compassion, horror with human kindness, despair with hope. The author paints a rending picture of the life-and-death struggle between two men, Raoul Wallenberg, young Swedish diplomat, and Adolph Eichmann, Nazi exterminator. They were alike in their perseverance but vastly different in their values and goals. The fate of thousands of Hungarian Jews was in their hands. While fictionalized, the incidents in which Wallenberg and his associates prevented the deportation of Jews and a memorable debate between Wallenberg and Eichmann have the ring of authenticity. The major and minor characters seem very real. The format of the book, giving date and place of each incident, helps move the story forward.
This novel brings to light a less well known part of the terrible Holocaust epic and gives deserved attention to one of the great benefactors of the period. It is disturbing to read of the terrible Final Solution, and of the slowness of the U.S. government to get involved in extending aid to the victims of Nazi persecution. There is evidence of careful and painstaking research by the author. An excellent bibliography is included.

Wallenberg is Here transports you into wartime Budapest in a way puts you right in the middle of the action. You can feel the terror of the victims, the arrogance of the Nazis and the triumphs and frustrations of Raoul Wallenberg. It's like being right there in an an adventure far more exciting than fiction.

I loved the book.

I knew very little about Wallenberg and what he accomplished during the Holocaust.. I learned about the characters of Wallenberg and SS Col Eichmann, which the author developed very well. The adventures of this selfless Wallenberg in saving Jews are breath-taking. It's a real page turner, especially the face-off between the unarmed Wallenberg and the German Army commander. Wallenberg's dinner with Eichmann as the Soviets are closing in on Budapest is a fascinating study in the fallacies of Nazism. A very good job.

I have just read this fascinating historical novel by Carl Steinhouse. Having read many other materials on Nazism and the treatment of Jews in my teaching career, I have found the information, settings, and characters to be carefully portrayed. In the section on Auschwitz, I had to recall the feelings I experienced in visiting the site. While there, I tried to place myself in the role of one of the victims arriving by train and living in one of the barracks until my death. The author does give a realistic portrayal of the fate of so many humans. One must admire Wallenberg for the risks he took and the creative ways he used to help the Jews in Hungary. The author has presented the material in an easy to read and easy to follow manner. The book is one when you start reading it, you will stay up late into the night because Steinhouse has written a most interesting book on an important series of events in our history.

This is a very moving book. In describing the day to day existence of Raoul Wallenberg during the period of his face-off against Eichmann and the Hungarian anti-semites, it defines heroism. To those of us who have been fortunate to live our lives in this country, this book provides a valuable reminder that sometimes one individual who commands moral authority by virtue of his own actions can mobilize the people around him to great bravery.

I THOUGHT I WAS FAIRLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST UNTIL I READ THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK PLACES YOU IN BUDAPEST NEAR THE END OF WWII. IT IS A RIVITING ACCOUNT OF ONE MAN'S STRUGGLE AGAINST ALL ODDS TO SAVE THE JEWS OF BUDAPEST.I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN HISTORY.

I recommend this well written historical book to anyone who wants to know the truth about this horrible period in our life time.
Mr.Steinhouse's insight and documentation of the personalities of Wallenberg and Eichmann was facsinating. He wrote a unique comparison of the two men. It was intriguing to read about Wallenberg's compassion for the Jews and Eichmann's total disregard for human life for his own gain. I could not put the book down once I started it. I felt that I was there!

I knew very little about Wallenberg and what he accomplished during the Holocaust.. I learned about the characters of Wallenberg and SS Col Eichmann, which the author developed very well. The adventures of this selfless Wallenberg in saving Jews are breath-taking. It's a real page turner, especially the face-off between the unarmed Wallenberg and the German Army commander. Wallenberg's dinner with Eichmann as the Soviets are closing in on Budapest is a fascinating study in the fallacies of Nazism. A very good job.

I knew very little about Wallenberg and what he accomplished during the Holocaust.. I learned about the characters of Wallenberg and SS Col Eichmann, which the author developed very well. The adventures of this selfless Wallenberg in saving Jews are breath-taking. It's a real page turner, especially the face-off between the unarmed Wallenberg and the German Army commander. Wallenberg's dinner with Eichmann as the Soviets are closing in on Budapest is a fascinating study in the fallacies of Nazism. A very good job.