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Willi,
Diary of a Young Lieutenant tells many adventure stories a
young German officer encountered in WWII. One is in a state
of awe when learning of the experiences Willi faced compared
to the daily challenges of today’s youth. The battle
stories from the cold Russian front to the exciting spy stories
in Paris leave the reader wondering as to how Willi survived
all the danger that surrounded him. Lastly, each mission Willi
was assigned reminded me of the real risks that secret agents
encounter. It is great to see stories like Willi’s be
shared to the world after so many years of silence.
P. MacDonald, London, Ontario, Canada
What
an excellent story! One can clearly see that it is a
work of love and pride.
I had heard, but never understood before, how deplorable
the conditions were at the Russian Front. The story
of Willi’s wounding and determination to live moved
me to tears. As a young teenager, news of the successful
bombings of German cities made me rejoice. After reading
about the bombing of Hamburg by the Allies, I see things
in a different light – the Germans were people
with families too. I cried when Willi dug his records
out and found them intact. I loved reading about his
bittersweet romances. James Bond’s adventures pale
compared to the unexpected twist at the end of Willi’s
story.
This is a well written documentation and the maps are
excellent guides.
Nyla G., Retired teacher,
London, Ontario, Canada
I
recently attended Michelle’s reading at the Central Public
Library in London, Ontario, Canada. The room was packed to the
rafters. The audience and I were spellbound listening with our
eyes closed to the incredible gripping excerpts of Willi’s
Diary. You could have heard a pin drop. It was an awe inspiring
experience.
Yvonne R., St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Absolutely first rate! An amazing story of a young man thrown
into the jaws of the most brutal conflict (Operation Barbarossa,
Battle of Stalingrad) the world has ever known. The courage,
dedication and endurance it must of taken to survive is mind
numbing. I can't imagine the emotions that must have been racing
through Willi as those 3000 Russian cavalrymen approached.
To survive all those battles (never mind the insane weather
conditions, lack of proper attire and supplies; and an injury
that would have killed most men) is not only AWE-inspiring,
but a real tribute to Willi's drive to survive. But to top it
all off he continues to do intelligence with edge-of-your-seat
adventures. This is the stuff movies are made of! It
was truly an honour and privilege (not to mention also tremendously
enjoyable) to read this first hand account of such magnitude,
I can only fathom the long hours it took to finally conclude
this project of great desire.
Todd C., London, Ontario, Canada
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