Book Thoughts: Winter Men by Jesper Bugge Kold

Winter Men by Jesper Bugge Kold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I typically don't read many books that are set in World War II. As someone who has studied history, I'm pretty familiar with the relevant history (though its not my main point of historical interest), and through my studies in philosophy and politics the rise of Nazism and the Holocaust have been well discussed. Reading Elie Wiesel's "Night" continues to be one of the more profound pieces of literature I have ever read; but because of it, and its emotional impact on me when reading, I have tended to stay away from WWII historical fiction, particularly those that touch on the Holocaust. Despite that, this book, which I had gotten through a Kindle First promotion, is one I am glad that I read (though it does little to change my opinion of the difficulties of reading this era/genre).

Winter Men follows the story of two upper class and well educated brothers in Germany, primarily during the 1930s. Karl, a wealthy business men, and Gerhard, an academic mathematician, are the focal point, and we follow their stories through the joining of the Nazi party not due to ideology but career/business advancement, and their eventual increased role in the actions of the party and government. The book seems to stress the reluctant nature of their involvement, and how they are "tricked" into both working for the SS. While Karl ends up fighting primarily on the eastern front of the war in Russia, and Gerhard ends up being involved it the "logistics" and transportation related to various concentration camps, both are portrayed consistently by Kold as a combination of reluctant participants to conflicted men choosing survival over morals.

Certainly, there is reflection to engage in and commentary to be made on the role of compliant German citizens in the horror of the Holocaust. What Kold does though is present that moral dilemma in stark terms - join us or die. And, as a reader, while you consistently hope for some showing of moral backbone in the face of such evil, the question presented - join us or die - is inescapable. What would we do? Easy questions in a vacuum, and perhaps should be easy questions in reality - though we know that many fail. In the end, Kold makes no excuses for his characters, and readers, I think, will ultimately see them each as incredibly tortured and conflicted consciences; and those of harsh (but not necessarily inaccurate) judgment will see them as cowards. But again, because of the inescapable question that Kold presents, the reader will be forced to examine one's own moral backbone.

Kold's writing, and the work of the translator, makes the book easy to read, with good pacing and a natural flow to the story. Combine that with the deeper questions and themes of the book, and its a worthy read.

View all my reviews