Book Blurb:
In the aftermath of the most devastating conflict in human history, the horrors of war have left an indelible mark on the world's conscience. In 1940, the chilling disappearance of thousands of Polish military officers, policemen, and intellectuals foreshadowed a monstrous atrocity that would shock the world. April 1943 unveils a gruesome truth buried deep in the Katyn Forest of the Soviet Union—eight massive graves, a stark testament to the scale of the atrocity.
As Europe struggles to rebuild in the wake of war, August 1945 brings Lieutenant Colonel Doug Walters to the forefront of a new battleground—justice. An American lawyer, he is tasked with investigating and building war crimes cases against the Nazis at the historic Nuremberg Trials. But justice knows no boundaries, and the pursuit of truth has a way of transcending borders.
Walters' relentless pursuit of evidence leads him on a perilous journey across occupied Germany, where he seeks an elusive Polish massacre witness. In this post-war landscape, where the past's sins loom large, he becomes entangled in a web of mystery and danger.
For Lt. Colonel Doug Walters, truth is the only compass, and justice is the ultimate destination. Yet, he unwittingly becomes a pawn in a global political game. The fragile post-war alliance between the Soviets, Americans, and British teeters on the brink of collapse, and the truth he seeks has the power to reshape the world order.
"The Nuremberg Endgame" is a gripping tale of relentless determination and moral reckoning, set against the backdrop of a world still reeling from the horrors of war. As Lt. Colonel Doug Walters races against time, he must confront the shadows of the past and navigate the treacherous terrain of post-war diplomacy.
Review
The Nuremberg Endgame by Brian Walker was a book that I found both fascinating and immensely enjoyable. While overlooking the grammatical concerns, I believe that this novel is a must-read for those who are passionate about 20th-century history.
*****
“The Nuremberg Endgame” by Brian Walker receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company
Recognition
Spring 2023 BookFest 2nd & 3rd Place Awards in Historical Fiction categories.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/qNXmK1
Editorial Review:
“Now you sit hand in hand with the Soviets and attempt to seek justice as
victors. If you want seek justice for war crimes, look at them first.”
Although the war in Europe has come to a close and the top Nazis are dead or
awaiting trial in Nuremberg, there are still unanswered questions that must be
addressed. Lieutenant Colonel Doug Walters, an American lawyer assigned to
investigate war crimes committed by the Nazis, is most concerned with
identifying those responsible for the mass killing of over 20,000 Polish soldiers
in the Katyn Forest. The Soviets are very clear on who was responsible - the
Nazis. Being a lawyer, Doug must gather the evidence to make sure the
prosecution case is legitimate. But, as he investigates further, he finds out a
shocking truth. A truth that the Allies will do anything to keep a secret...
The Nuremberg Endgame by Brian Walker offers a stinging critique of the
history and rhetoric of the lead-up to the Nuremberg Trials. The United
Kingdom of Great Britain, The United States of America, and France were
determined to make Nazi representatives pay for their heinous crimes, but there
was apprehension that their Soviet ally would turn the trials into a farce -
another infamous show trial. The depiction of the Allies' mistrust was skilfully
and realistically done. This book, like history, reveals the extent to which the
Allies tried to appease Stalin and comply with his rhetoric concerning the Katyn
Massacre. The novel also showed that even though the return of Poland from
the Soviets was a concern, punishing the Nazis for their atrocities was more
significant. The way the Allies navigated around the Soviet Union was
portrayed brilliantly and underscored the sensitive political climate of the era.
The plot revolves around uncovering the truth about the events at Katyn. The
book has some distressing scenes that might upset a few readers, yet Walker
portrays the brutality of war for both soldiers and citizens without hesitation.
Additionally, Walker causes readers to question whether the Allies were
innocent of war crimes, and why only the Nazis were being held accountable?
“Your Soviet friends massacred thousands of Polish prisoners in the Katyn
Forest. Shot them all in the back of the head and then neatly buried them.”
He paused for a moment. “Of course, they couldn’t have known we would
find and expose their war crimes after we pushed them out of Poland and
deep into Russia.”
The inclusion of Alfred Jodl in the novel was a brilliant choice. It added a sense
of realism to the story since he was awaiting trial at Nuremberg. Moreover, he
raised critical questions about the legality of the attack on Dresden and whether
the use of an atomic bomb could be justified, as it may also be considered a war
crime. He cautions against believing the Soviets' rhetoric and emphasises their
untrustworthiness, especially when it comes to the Katyn Massacre. Despite a
brief appearance in the story, he significantly propels the narrative and
inadvertently exhibits the extent to which the Soviets were willing to conceal
information and pass the blame.
“What does Jodl expect me to do with this information?”
“I believe he expects a war crimes investigator to ‘investigate’.”
Even though the story followed multiple characters, Lieutenant Colonel Doug
Walters was undoubtedly the most captivating. Doug, an American lawyer, has
been assigned to investigate and construct cases against the Nazis for war
crimes. However, he soon finds himself caught up in a maze of deceit and false
information from the Soviet Union. Although he does not know who to trust, he
is resolute in his pursuit to reveal the truth about the Katyn Massacre. But, in
doing so, he has stirred up a hornet’s nest and as such, there will be
consequences. I thought Doug brought so much to the story. Although he has a
lot of integrity, he's the type of character who quickly understands when he is
out of his depth. He witnesses abhorrent things, and he realises that a dictated
rhetoric is the only one the Allies want to hear. Doug was without a doubt my
favourite character in this novel. He is surrounded by corruption, but somehow
he manages to keep a cool head. He is usually a step ahead of those who seek to
discredit him, but he is taken aback by the lengths his colleagues will go to keep
the world's attention on the Nazi war criminals.
Unfortunately, grammatical mistakes are scattered throughout this novel. In
addition, there were numerous changes in perspective, several of which I
deemed unnecessary because they featured minor characters whose thoughts
and viewpoints contributed little to the plot. Despite feeling that the writing was
rushed at times, I found the story interesting. The author's knowledge of this
historical period is evident, but it would have been more accurate to
acknowledge Britain's participation in the joint bombing of Dresden along with
the US.
The Nuremberg Endgame by Brian Walker was a book that I found both
fascinating and immensely enjoyable. While overlooking the grammatical
concerns, I believe that this novel is a must-read for those who are passionate
about 20th-century history.
*****
“The Nuremberg Endgame” by Brian Walker receives four stars from
The Historical Fiction Company
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