Book Blurb:
As the war on the Eastern Front turns in the favor of the Soviets, Leningrad remains locked in a fight for survival.
Having survived the brutal winter with only half of her family intact, Tatiana Ivankova focuses on surviving the war without losing anyone else, including Heinrich Nottebohm. The goal is a seemingly impossible one. As the Soviet government tightens its grip on Tatiana and her people, she is forced into a scheme that threatens Heinrich’s life and her own if she refuses to comply, forcing her to make a difficult decision that may have far-reaching consequences.
Heinrich Nottebohm faces dangers of his own, coming from inside his company. His adjutant, Walter Schneider, has become his enemy, and Heinrich finds himself with few supporters. As his enemies plot against him, Heinrich does everything he can to survive, making him a bigger target for the Soviets. He vows to do anything to protect Tatiana, even if it means making a choice that will tear them apart.
In this final installment, Leningrad: The People’s Hero portrays Leningrad at a turning point. Will the sacrifices made by her people be done in vain? Or will it signal a new beginning?
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Editorial Review:
The sixth of July 1942. It is the three hundred and fortieth day of the siege of Leningrad. It is hot and Tatiana Ivankova is not the only one exhibiting signs of sunburn. The sky is cloudless, but it is as well to keep an eye open, as the fine weather means greater activity from the German Luftwaffe.
''Leningrad. The People's Hero'' is the final book in Rachel R. Heil's extraordinary trilogy of books on the subject of the fearsome Siege of Leningrad in the Second World War and of the tale of the 'star cross'd lovers Tatiana Ivankova and Heinrich Nottebohm. It is strongly recommended that the first two books in the trilogy be read, if only to make full and greater sense of this one and to savour the fully immersive experience of the work as a whole.
The morale and the health of the people of Leningrad have, on the whole, improved greatly, though the death rate, the residual effects of the terrible winter, is still high. Although the news of the war elsewhere in Russia is unremittingly bad an the Fuhrer has ordered the capture of the city by September. in the city the much-needed 'Spring Clean' is still a work in progress. People are, however, conscious that they will soon need to face another winter; the second of the Great Siege. The volunteer duties of Ivana and her friends Marina and Lidiya, under their scheming, jealous and vengeful leader, Ekaterina Kalukova, are as arduous and never-ending as ever and Tatiana is still pursued by the relentless party hack, Josef Krasnoff. He is unrelenting in his attention and Tatiana reluctantly agrees to accompany him to a concert and performance of the Seventh 'Leningrad' symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich. This same performance is listened to across the lines by Tatiana's tortured lover Heinrich Nottebohm, currently unaware that the Soviet High Command has singled him out for special attention. In the company of his suspicious commanding officer, Max Rothmann, he listens in silence to the radio broadcast:
''As the violins pulled at their strings, releasing a pitch so high and beautiful, Heinrich's mind turned to the photos their spies had taken during the winter. He could see the bodies lying on the sidewalks, corpses frozen together in the snow, and bent over, hobbled figures wrapped in layers of clothing, pulling a tiny sleigh behind them with a body always lying on top. It was these people, Heinrich acknowledged, that this music had been written for, the people who had died because of what Heinrich and his men had done.''
Needless to say, all is far from well for the newly promoted ''Generalmajor''. His own superiors are plotting his downfall, as are his once-loyal comrades and subordinates, he is a marked man suffering massive guilt and a crippling love of an enemy woman he can no longer contact. ''For the first time since Elisabeth's death, Heinrich felt completely along amongst his own people.'' Heinrich is being engineered and steered into a Soviet trap through the Russians' use of Tatiana as a lure. There is no way at all that she can remove herself from this trap laid for her secret lover. The plan is that through a series of letter drops and actual meetings and a promise that she, 'the hero of Leningrad', will defect to the Germans. The real target, of course, is Nottebohm himself! Tatiana's devoted friend, Marina is appalled at this plan cooked up by the odious Ekaterina and Comrade Zhdanov and alerts the lovestruck Josef to do everything in his power to prevent the plan from going ahead. But the wheels are already in motion. At least, with the first meeting scheduled, she can warn Nottebohm of the plan. Unfortunately, Walter's smouldering resentment and hatred of his commanding officer lead to him intercepting and stealing a letter given by Tatiana to Nottebohm's new close friend, the Spaniard Oritz, in which she explicitly warns him of a forthcoming Soviet offensive. The signs of Soviet build-up are clear enough and Max Rothmann, in a decision reminiscent of the Biblical tale of King David and Uriah the Hittite, orders him to take command of a unit of freshly arrived new recruits, untrained and without experience, to the highly vulnerable position of Shlisselberg to counter-attack. It is seen as a virtual death sentence. Heinrich gives his new friend a letter to deliver to Tatiana. ''It is a letter he hoped Tatiana would never read.''
It could be argued that the main body of ''Leningrad: The Peoples' Hero'' is somewhat lacking in the verve and impact of the previous two books of the trilogy, but it remains dramatic and gripping for all that. Having been sent to seemingly certain death, Heinrich is brought back grievously wounded and more dead than alive. It is the deeply remorseful and grieving Walter Schneider who travels deep into the heart of Leningrad in civilian clothes, risking his life, to bring Tatiana back to Heinrich's bedside and It is the faithful Spanish friend Fernando Oritz who stays with him into his convalescence. The reader is of course left wondering how long this extremely dangerous liaison can continue, it has hardly prospered. With the removal and transfer of the troublesome Max Rothmann to a new appointment to Kursk, Heinrich becomes overall Commander of the entire Leningrad front. This is, of course, a poisoned chalice, particularly as the Fuehrer has ordered its capture. On her part, Tatiana's sister is admitted to hospital with the diagnosis of tuberculosis, and her brother Dmitri's relationship with the dubious girlfriend Anna is a great cause of concern to Tatiana. In February 1943 the momentous news of the disaster of Stalingrad is announced and, soon after, the 'Total War' speech of Josef Goebbels is broadcast. Rothmann and Nottelbohm listen to this and share a last drink. Rothmann tells him he knows all about his secret love affair and makes a grim prediction of the outcome. Ultimately, one of them would either be obliged to flee to the side of the victor or face death. ''It was the hard crushing reality of war: One side always lost.'' This, the reader reflects, may well be the case here. It is an affair that has been requited, but it surely must be doomed!
Prior to his removal to Kursk, Max Rothmann in a not at all fond warning tells Nottebohm that his relationship with Tatiana is pointless. He even suggests killing her; the war from the German point of view is entering a catastrophic phase. With the arrival of Spring 1943 food rations in Leningrad are increased and Soviet pressure on the Germans increase. Heinrich and Tatiana are able to meet on a few more occasions. Tatiana is informed that in the Autumn, on September 3rd, she will be awarded the medal of 'Hero of the Soviet Union'. Her appearances in 'Pravda' and elsewhere increase. In the meantime, she is no longer sent on dangerous assignments and she is informed that her former role of attempting to entrap and capture Heinrich Nottebohm is at an end. She submits to the ordeal of the medal investiture with deep sorrow, for by this time she has lost her remaining brother and sister. When next they meet, Heinrich tells Tatiana that, for her safety, they can no longer meet. They must separate and forget all about each other, forever. Tatiana is heartbroken and desolated at this news and it is this that propels her into an unwilling relationship with the ever eager, ever ardent Josef; the Party hack. It is a position that brings her much unhappiness and is the cause of utter incredulity on the part of Marina and Lidiya. The German military position is now untenable and the newly recalled Max Rothmann - minus an eye, a memento of Kursk, returns to take command of the Leningrad front. Tatiana cannot even find it in her to return home: ''These memories [of her family] flooded back instantly, and they were the reason Tatiana had stayed away. She couldn't stand being in a house filled with images of people who had been stripped from Tatiana's grasp.'' When she leaves for the last time the old family photo is one of the few personal possessions she takes with her.
Due to Rothmann's return, Nottebohm finds himself with what remains of his unit defending an untenable position at the height of a Soviet assault, attempting to win time while his wounded are evacuated. He and his unit are captured and paraded through the streets of Leningrad to the fury and actual assault of those who gathered in numbers to witness the event. Tatiana and the ever-vigilant Josef is there also. Her eyes meet with those of the dejected Heinrich. She is, from that point on, determined upon some criminally insane plan to release him and for them to be together once more. ''She was willing to do anything for him, even if it meant leaving everyone behind.'' She must bid farewell forever to her two devoted friends and to her now reconciled cousins. She must also, of course, sever the connection with the ever-present Josef and his unbearable love. Josef is left with a heartbreaking recognition of the truth and the finality of his loss:
''Reality came back and Josef dropped his arms, letting them hang. His shoulders slumped as he bowed his head in defeat. The chase had finally ended, and they both realised it. Tatiana thought she would have celebrated the day, but all she felt was grief and pity for a man who, in a different life, could have been the man she called the love of her life. She was sure of it now - that he would have protected her and loved her to the end, even if their troubles had caused waves of discontent and anger. In the end, they would have resolved them as all couples do.''
Much of the remaining tragedy is subsequently recorded in the memoirs of Marina Yesipova, the highly decorated former volunteer and recognised freedom fighter. She, her husband, and three children are guests in St. Petersburg on the occasion of the fifty-fifth Anniversary of the start of the eight hundred and eighty-eight days of the Siege. The old lady is present, an honoured guest, at the unveiling of the monument to all the dead of Leningrad at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery in memory of all the suffering and sacrifice of those dreadful years. There are, however, in her Memoirs memories that the old lady has elected not to include and to keep to herself.
Rachel R. Heil's three-book trilogy of the agony of Leningrad must stand as an epic achievement and the author can feel justifiably proud of all that she has created and achieved. She can also feel justifiably entitled to all the many plaudits that are sure to come. She has sustained this extremely long narrative with a great eye for historical accuracy and has portrayed it all compellingly and movingly. Rachel R. Heil is to be truly congratulated for her achievement.
*****
“Leningrad: The People's Hero” by Rachel R. Heil receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
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Author Bio:
Rachel R. Heil is a historical fiction writer who always dreamed of being an author. After years of dreaming, she finally decided to turn this dream into a reality with her first novel, and series, Behind the Darkened Glass. Rachel is an avid history fan, primarily focused on twentieth century history and particularly World War Two-era events. In addition to her love for history, Rachel loves following the British Royal Family and traveling the world, which only opens the door to learning more about a country's history. Rachel resides in Wisconsin.
