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Richard Oppenheimer #1
Germania: Ein Fall für Kommissar Oppenheimer 1
Ein Serienmörder im Berlin des 2. Weltkriegs – Fall 1 für den jüdischen Kommissar Richard Oppenheimer und ein grandioser historischer Krimi
Berlin, 1944: In der zerbombten Reichshauptstadt macht ein Serienmörder Jagd auf Frauen und legt die verstümmelten Leichen vor Krieger-Denkmälern ab. Alle Opfer hatten eine Verbindung zur NSDAP, doch laut einem Bekennerschreiben ist der Täter kein Regimegegner, sondern ein linientreuer Nazi.
Als die Ermittlungen stagnieren, reaktiviert die Gestapo schließlich den suspendierten jüdischen Kommissar Richard Oppenheimer, einst erfolgreichster Ermittler der Kripo Berlin. Für Oppenheimer geht es nicht nur um das Überleben anderer, sondern nicht zuletzt um sein eigenes. Womöglich erst recht dann, wenn er den Fall lösen sollte. Fieberhaft sucht er einen Ausweg aus diesem gefährlichen Spiel.
Für die historische Krimi-Reihe aus Berlin zur Zeit des Nationalsozialismus ist Harald Gilbers bereits mit dem Friedrich-Glauser-Preis und dem Prix Historia ausgezeichnet worden.
Berlin, 1944: In der zerbombten Reichshauptstadt macht ein Serienmörder Jagd auf Frauen und legt die verstümmelten Leichen vor Krieger-Denkmälern ab. Alle Opfer hatten eine Verbindung zur NSDAP, doch laut einem Bekennerschreiben ist der Täter kein Regimegegner, sondern ein linientreuer Nazi.
Als die Ermittlungen stagnieren, reaktiviert die Gestapo schließlich den suspendierten jüdischen Kommissar Richard Oppenheimer, einst erfolgreichster Ermittler der Kripo Berlin. Für Oppenheimer geht es nicht nur um das Überleben anderer, sondern nicht zuletzt um sein eigenes. Womöglich erst recht dann, wenn er den Fall lösen sollte. Fieberhaft sucht er einen Ausweg aus diesem gefährlichen Spiel.
Für die historische Krimi-Reihe aus Berlin zur Zeit des Nationalsozialismus ist Harald Gilbers bereits mit dem Friedrich-Glauser-Preis und dem Prix Historia ausgezeichnet worden.
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First published October 17, 2013
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May 5, 2022
Berlin 1944: Richard Oppenheimer ist Kriminalkommissar außer Dienst und Jude. Gemeinsam mit seiner arischen Frau Lisa lebt er in einem sogenannten Judenhaus. Unerwartet wird Richard Oppenheimer wieder in den Dienst zurückgerufen, denn ein brutaler Serienmörder treibt sein Unwesen in der zerstörten Hauptstadt. Oppenheimer soll bei den Ermittlungen helfen, was für ihn selbst nicht ganz ungefährlich ist.
Mein Leseeindruck:
Das Buch konnte mich von Anfang bis Ende überzeugen durch seine authentischen Figuren, die spannende Handlung und die wirklich umfassende Recherche des Autors! Ich hatte wirklich das Gefühl, in die Zeit zurückversetzt worden zu sein und sah das zerbombte Berlin bildhaft vor meinen Augen.
Die Kriminalgeschichte an sich ist zwar fiktiv, aber der geschichtliche Hintergrund beruht auf Tatsachen. Man merkt, wie ausführlich sich der Autor mit der Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkriegs befasst hat.
Von Anfang an konnte mich das Buch fesseln. Es hat bei mir die verschiedensten Gefühle hervorgerufen, und auch nach dem Lesen bleibt das Buch sicherlich noch lange Zeit präsent. Um so mehr freue ich mich darüber, dass es einen Nachfolgeband geben wird. Ich würde gerne erfahren, wie es mit Richard Oppenheimer und Lisa weitergeht!
Mein Leseeindruck:
Das Buch konnte mich von Anfang bis Ende überzeugen durch seine authentischen Figuren, die spannende Handlung und die wirklich umfassende Recherche des Autors! Ich hatte wirklich das Gefühl, in die Zeit zurückversetzt worden zu sein und sah das zerbombte Berlin bildhaft vor meinen Augen.
Die Kriminalgeschichte an sich ist zwar fiktiv, aber der geschichtliche Hintergrund beruht auf Tatsachen. Man merkt, wie ausführlich sich der Autor mit der Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkriegs befasst hat.
Von Anfang an konnte mich das Buch fesseln. Es hat bei mir die verschiedensten Gefühle hervorgerufen, und auch nach dem Lesen bleibt das Buch sicherlich noch lange Zeit präsent. Um so mehr freue ich mich darüber, dass es einen Nachfolgeband geben wird. Ich würde gerne erfahren, wie es mit Richard Oppenheimer und Lisa weitergeht!
November 27, 2020
”Berlin sounded too disdainful in his ears. A new name was required, one worthy of a capital of world renown. A name like Germania, perhaps.”
In 1944, Berlin is being bombed into oblivion. If there is going to be a Germania, it will be built on the smoldering ruins of the old. Richard Oppenheimer lives in a Jewish house with his Aryan wife. His marriage to her has been the only thing that has kept him alive. When a man in an SD (Sicherheitsdienst) uniform shows up at his door in the middle of the night, he believes his luck has run out. He feels a sense of relief that finally his wife Lisa will be rid of the burden of him. She will be safe and free of the constant worry of the sound of heavy boots on the stairs coming to take them away.
But as it turns out, the SS has a use for him.
Before the rise of the Nazis, he was a well-regarded police inspector, and now they have need of his special skills to help them find a depraved, serial killer who is viciously mutilating the genitalia of women and leaving them as offerings before monuments from World War One.
These aren’t prostitutes, exactly, who are being murdered, but they are women who are engaging in sexual activity with men who are highly placed in the Nazi regime. Needless to say, the powers that be would like the killer caught and the murders swept under the rubble. If the SS fail to find satisfactory answers, Oppenheimer will make a perfect scapegoat.
Serial killers are difficult to catch, even in modern times, and it is much harder trying to catch one against the backdrop of a world war with allied bombing raids frequently forcing Oppenheimer to seek shelter as he chases down every slender lead he is fortunate to know about.
I’ve read many books regarding the blitz of London, but I’ve spent very little time reading about the bombing of Berlin. The conditions in Berlin were, in many ways, worse than they were in London, with many people expecting to die at any moment and many, including Oppenheimer of course, secretly hoping for an Allied win. Oppenheimer keeps himself propped up through the chaos on a steady dose of Pervitin, an early form of crystal meth. It was liberally distributed to German soldiers to allow them to exist on very little sleep and be kept in a constant state of euphoria. Oppenheimer has a doctor friend who keeps him supplied. Doctor Hilde’s house is a warehouse for banned books. ”She opened the door to the black stove in the corner of the room, stood in front of it, and proclaimed, ‘For Stefan Zweig.’ Then she threw the luxury edition of Hitler’s Mein Kampf onto the coals and lit it with a match.” Hilde is also Oppenheimer’s connection to the German resistance, and soon they want to know everything he is learning about the activities of the Golden Pheasants, the nickname for the senior party members, who skim off the cream of food and goods and live in the lap of luxury while the city around them starves. Oppenheimer has enough trouble staying alive without getting himself caught up in politics, but when they offer him an opportunity to flee the country with his wife, the temptation to cooperate is too good to pass up.
It’s not just that he wants to solve the crime to stay alive. He feels alive again, for the first time in years, and wants to catch the killer for his own satisfaction as well. It becomes almost as important to him as his own life.
The killer is becoming frustrated, too. He has sent letters to the police that have never been read. His missives are buried in a huge pile of letters sent by citizens denouncing their neighbors or family for violations against the Third Reich. These are people who fully understand that, by doing so, they are not just getting their neighbors and family members in trouble but are potentially condemning them to death. The Nazis rely on bullets more than incarceration for punishments. These tattle tales/liars/judgemental people consider themselves to be good people, but it is examples like these situations that make it very hard to like humanity.
Circling back to the burning copy of Mein Kampf, I find this passage to be very interesting as well: ”Oppenheimer doubted that Mrs. Korber had ever actually read Hitler’s book. Even among his most zealous followers, there were very few who voluntarily did that. Similar to a dusty family Bible, the work was more of a devotional object used to show your disposition than reading material that you perused to uplift yourself.” I’ve never really equated Mein Kampf with The Bible, but the blind faith of their followers is very similar indeed. If you want to have an intelligent conversation with someone about The Bible, don’t have it with a Christian; have it with an atheist. The atheist is much more likely to have read the book. I’m sure the same can be said about White Supremacists. I would postulate that few have read Hitler’s book, but probably all of them own a copy. Blind faith is easier to maintain than building a belief on a bedrock of truth.
Oppenheimer is in the unenviable position of trying to keep too many people happy and succeeding with none of them. As he closes in on the killer, he realizes that the window for having any kind of future for himself is also closing. When he is no longer useful, what will be his fate?
This reminds me of the TV show Foyle’s War in the sense that it sometimes seemed ridiculous to be looking for the killer of a person(s) in the midst of a war that is grinding up human beings by the millions. Serial killers are terrifying, but hardly in the same league as the politicians who send men into the bloody battlefields to be slaughtered, but then there is no mystery to be solved there. We know the culprits. Trying to figure out the motives for the vicious murders of these women is even more interesting than catching the killer. The case is intriguing, but what is most fascinating for me is the time that Harald Gilbers spends showing the reader the daily lives of these people under siege.
I received a free ARC of Germania by Harald Gilbers from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten and an Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/jeffreykeeten/
In 1944, Berlin is being bombed into oblivion. If there is going to be a Germania, it will be built on the smoldering ruins of the old. Richard Oppenheimer lives in a Jewish house with his Aryan wife. His marriage to her has been the only thing that has kept him alive. When a man in an SD (Sicherheitsdienst) uniform shows up at his door in the middle of the night, he believes his luck has run out. He feels a sense of relief that finally his wife Lisa will be rid of the burden of him. She will be safe and free of the constant worry of the sound of heavy boots on the stairs coming to take them away.
But as it turns out, the SS has a use for him.
Before the rise of the Nazis, he was a well-regarded police inspector, and now they have need of his special skills to help them find a depraved, serial killer who is viciously mutilating the genitalia of women and leaving them as offerings before monuments from World War One.
These aren’t prostitutes, exactly, who are being murdered, but they are women who are engaging in sexual activity with men who are highly placed in the Nazi regime. Needless to say, the powers that be would like the killer caught and the murders swept under the rubble. If the SS fail to find satisfactory answers, Oppenheimer will make a perfect scapegoat.
Serial killers are difficult to catch, even in modern times, and it is much harder trying to catch one against the backdrop of a world war with allied bombing raids frequently forcing Oppenheimer to seek shelter as he chases down every slender lead he is fortunate to know about.
I’ve read many books regarding the blitz of London, but I’ve spent very little time reading about the bombing of Berlin. The conditions in Berlin were, in many ways, worse than they were in London, with many people expecting to die at any moment and many, including Oppenheimer of course, secretly hoping for an Allied win. Oppenheimer keeps himself propped up through the chaos on a steady dose of Pervitin, an early form of crystal meth. It was liberally distributed to German soldiers to allow them to exist on very little sleep and be kept in a constant state of euphoria. Oppenheimer has a doctor friend who keeps him supplied. Doctor Hilde’s house is a warehouse for banned books. ”She opened the door to the black stove in the corner of the room, stood in front of it, and proclaimed, ‘For Stefan Zweig.’ Then she threw the luxury edition of Hitler’s Mein Kampf onto the coals and lit it with a match.” Hilde is also Oppenheimer’s connection to the German resistance, and soon they want to know everything he is learning about the activities of the Golden Pheasants, the nickname for the senior party members, who skim off the cream of food and goods and live in the lap of luxury while the city around them starves. Oppenheimer has enough trouble staying alive without getting himself caught up in politics, but when they offer him an opportunity to flee the country with his wife, the temptation to cooperate is too good to pass up.
It’s not just that he wants to solve the crime to stay alive. He feels alive again, for the first time in years, and wants to catch the killer for his own satisfaction as well. It becomes almost as important to him as his own life.
The killer is becoming frustrated, too. He has sent letters to the police that have never been read. His missives are buried in a huge pile of letters sent by citizens denouncing their neighbors or family for violations against the Third Reich. These are people who fully understand that, by doing so, they are not just getting their neighbors and family members in trouble but are potentially condemning them to death. The Nazis rely on bullets more than incarceration for punishments. These tattle tales/liars/judgemental people consider themselves to be good people, but it is examples like these situations that make it very hard to like humanity.
Circling back to the burning copy of Mein Kampf, I find this passage to be very interesting as well: ”Oppenheimer doubted that Mrs. Korber had ever actually read Hitler’s book. Even among his most zealous followers, there were very few who voluntarily did that. Similar to a dusty family Bible, the work was more of a devotional object used to show your disposition than reading material that you perused to uplift yourself.” I’ve never really equated Mein Kampf with The Bible, but the blind faith of their followers is very similar indeed. If you want to have an intelligent conversation with someone about The Bible, don’t have it with a Christian; have it with an atheist. The atheist is much more likely to have read the book. I’m sure the same can be said about White Supremacists. I would postulate that few have read Hitler’s book, but probably all of them own a copy. Blind faith is easier to maintain than building a belief on a bedrock of truth.
Oppenheimer is in the unenviable position of trying to keep too many people happy and succeeding with none of them. As he closes in on the killer, he realizes that the window for having any kind of future for himself is also closing. When he is no longer useful, what will be his fate?
This reminds me of the TV show Foyle’s War in the sense that it sometimes seemed ridiculous to be looking for the killer of a person(s) in the midst of a war that is grinding up human beings by the millions. Serial killers are terrifying, but hardly in the same league as the politicians who send men into the bloody battlefields to be slaughtered, but then there is no mystery to be solved there. We know the culprits. Trying to figure out the motives for the vicious murders of these women is even more interesting than catching the killer. The case is intriguing, but what is most fascinating for me is the time that Harald Gilbers spends showing the reader the daily lives of these people under siege.
I received a free ARC of Germania by Harald Gilbers from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten and an Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/jeffreykeeten/
August 17, 2018
Στο χιτλερικό Βερολίνο του 1944 ο πρώην επιθεωρητής του εγκληματολογικού, Ρίχαρντ Οπενχάιμερ που βρίσκεται σε διαθεσιμότητα επειδή είναι Εβραίος, κρίνεται απαραίτητο να ανακληθεί στη θέση του ώστε να εξιχνιάσει μια σειρά φόνων. Τα θύματα αυτών των δολοφονιών είναι γυναίκες ελαφρών ηθών που με κάποιο τρόπο σχετίζονται με το Εθνικοσοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα. Οι γυναίκες αυτές έχοντας θανατωθεί με ένα συγκεκριμένο τρόπο ανακαλύπτονται τελετουργικά τοποθετημένες κοντά σε μνημεία πεσόντων του Πρώτου παγκόσμιου πολέμου.
Ο επιθεωρητής Οπενχάιμερ βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπος από τη μια με τον δολοφόνο που πρέπει να πιάσει και απο την άλλη παλεύει για τη δική του ζωή μιας και μόλις εξιχνιαστούν οι δολοφονίες αυτός θα βρίσκεται στο έλεος των Ες Ες εξαιτίας των φυλετικών νόμων του Τρίτου Ράιχ.
Σ' αυτό το πρώτο μέρος της τριλογίας Germania με πρωταγωνιστή τον επιθεωρητή Οπενχάιμ το τοπίο των γεγονότων διαγράφεται με ερεβώδες τρόπο. Σκιερές εικόνες ποίησης αναπαριστούν το ναζιστικό σκηνικό του Βερολίνου. Η ομιχλώδης ποίηση του χώρου συμβαδίζει με τη μελανότητα που χαρακτηρίζει τους εφιαλτικούς καιρούς του Χίτλερ, μα και προσδίδει μια επιπλέον μελαγχολική νότα στο θλιβερό πεντάγραμμο του 1944.
Εν καιρώ πολέμου, λοιπόν, που τα πτώματα δεν αποτελούν εξαίρεση, αλλά κανόνα, εκτελεί το έργο του επιζητώντας προσοχή ένας άνθρωπος αδιανόητα αδίστακτος, ένας δολοφόνος με κτηνώδη ένστικτα. Αυτός ο φονιάς στήνει το σκηνικό του με ανθρώπινα μέλη αλλόκοτα παραμορφωμένα. Αναρωτιέται κανείς από πού πηγάζει τόσο μίσος, τι προκαλεί αυτή την ωμή βία. Το φυλετικό μίσος ευθύνεται για τις στυγερές πράξεις του δράστη ή κρύβονται κι άλλοι λόγοι για την εξήγηση του αποτροπιασμού;
Ο αναγνώστης γίνεται μάρτυρας της αδιανόητης φρίκης διαβάζοντας σελίδες που του παγώνουν το αίμα στις φλέβες, βιώνοντας τα βασανιστήρια των θυμάτων "ακούγοντας" την ηχητική τους καταγραφή.
Προσωπικά, με εξέπληξε το τέλος του βιβλίου. Ένα ψήγμα ανθρωπιάς ξεπηδά μέσα από τη ζοφερότητα της εποχής και αφήνει να πλανηθεί στον αέρα μια ανάσα ελπίδας για τα μελλοντικά βιβλία του συγγραφέα, μα και για την ανθρωπότητα.
Ο επιθεωρητής Οπενχάιμερ βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπος από τη μια με τον δολοφόνο που πρέπει να πιάσει και απο την άλλη παλεύει για τη δική του ζωή μιας και μόλις εξιχνιαστούν οι δολοφονίες αυτός θα βρίσκεται στο έλεος των Ες Ες εξαιτίας των φυλετικών νόμων του Τρίτου Ράιχ.
Σ' αυτό το πρώτο μέρος της τριλογίας Germania με πρωταγωνιστή τον επιθεωρητή Οπενχάιμ το τοπίο των γεγονότων διαγράφεται με ερεβώδες τρόπο. Σκιερές εικόνες ποίησης αναπαριστούν το ναζιστικό σκηνικό του Βερολίνου. Η ομιχλώδης ποίηση του χώρου συμβαδίζει με τη μελανότητα που χαρακτηρίζει τους εφιαλτικούς καιρούς του Χίτλερ, μα και προσδίδει μια επιπλέον μελαγχολική νότα στο θλιβερό πεντάγραμμο του 1944.
Εν καιρώ πολέμου, λοιπόν, που τα πτώματα δεν αποτελούν εξαίρεση, αλλά κανόνα, εκτελεί το έργο του επιζητώντας προσοχή ένας άνθρωπος αδιανόητα αδίστακτος, ένας δολοφόνος με κτηνώδη ένστικτα. Αυτός ο φονιάς στήνει το σκηνικό του με ανθρώπινα μέλη αλλόκοτα παραμορφωμένα. Αναρωτιέται κανείς από πού πηγάζει τόσο μίσος, τι προκαλεί αυτή την ωμή βία. Το φυλετικό μίσος ευθύνεται για τις στυγερές πράξεις του δράστη ή κρύβονται κι άλλοι λόγοι για την εξήγηση του αποτροπιασμού;
Ο αναγνώστης γίνεται μάρτυρας της αδιανόητης φρίκης διαβάζοντας σελίδες που του παγώνουν το αίμα στις φλέβες, βιώνοντας τα βασανιστήρια των θυμάτων "ακούγοντας" την ηχητική τους καταγραφή.
Προσωπικά, με εξέπληξε το τέλος του βιβλίου. Ένα ψήγμα ανθρωπιάς ξεπηδά μέσα από τη ζοφερότητα της εποχής και αφήνει να πλανηθεί στον αέρα μια ανάσα ελπίδας για τα μελλοντικά βιβλία του συγγραφέα, μα και για την ανθρωπότητα.
January 24, 2021
An excellent piece of historical fiction written from a new, for me, perspective. Richard Oppenheimer is a former police inspector in Berlin. Former due to the fact he is Jewish and could not stay in the job he performed well. The reason he is still in Berlin and has not been transported is that he has he has an Aryan wife which earns a dispensation.
But now there has been an unusual murder of a woman involving signs that a sexual predator may be active in the city. And this is not acceptable in the ordered Reich, even in the spring of 1944 as the Allies have begun bombing in earnest. Oppenheimer finds himself summoned during the night to a crime scene by a member of the SS, unsure why he is there. Is this a trap? Are they going to accuse him of a crime? But it seems one officer wants the benefit of his expertise.
And so begins an unusual mystery and "semi" police procedural performed without benefit of the Berlin police. Oppenheimer proves himself worthy of a modicum of trust as more murders occur. Motives and murderer unknown. There are so many well drawn characters and constant danger for everyone Oppenheimer knows who isn't a Nazi. And he lives day to day watchful and wondering lest he should misstep. What will happen at the end of this all, if there is an end?
I highly recommend this novel written with an inside view of Berlin during the final year of the war, when the government"s attention remained on winning the war at home and abroad and maintaining order. Fascinating.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
But now there has been an unusual murder of a woman involving signs that a sexual predator may be active in the city. And this is not acceptable in the ordered Reich, even in the spring of 1944 as the Allies have begun bombing in earnest. Oppenheimer finds himself summoned during the night to a crime scene by a member of the SS, unsure why he is there. Is this a trap? Are they going to accuse him of a crime? But it seems one officer wants the benefit of his expertise.
And so begins an unusual mystery and "semi" police procedural performed without benefit of the Berlin police. Oppenheimer proves himself worthy of a modicum of trust as more murders occur. Motives and murderer unknown. There are so many well drawn characters and constant danger for everyone Oppenheimer knows who isn't a Nazi. And he lives day to day watchful and wondering lest he should misstep. What will happen at the end of this all, if there is an end?
I highly recommend this novel written with an inside view of Berlin during the final year of the war, when the government"s attention remained on winning the war at home and abroad and maintaining order. Fascinating.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 11, 2020
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
In 1944, Berlin is in the midst of the Second World War. Living with his Aryan wife in a segregated “Jewish House” former police inspector Richard Oppenheimer is called out of bed in the middle of the night to insist the German SS with an investigation—women are being gruesomely murdered, their mutilated bodies left sprawled on war memorials. Richard has no choice but to comply, knowing the consequences that face him if he refuses. However, the consequences for Richard failing at finding the culprit could very well be life and death for him and his wife.
“Germania”, by Harald Gilbers, was originally published in 2013 in its original German, but is being released in translated English to the North American markets. It is also the first novel in an apparent series (which sort of gives you a hint as to the fate of our protagonist), the second of which has not yet been released.
“Germania” sets the gruesome stage of war-torn Berlin, where Jews are forced to identify themselves by the wearing of yellow stars on their clothing, if they are lucky enough to exist in Berlin at all. The SS and Gestapo are running rampant under Hitler, trying to change Germany “for the better” under the Fuhrer’s rule.
There are a lot of novels about World War Two and about the heartbreaking and devastating effects before, during and after, but Gilber’s story is different, in that it reads like a police procedural, with a crime, suspect and investigations taking place, all while a universe-altering war takes place in the background. Richard is more than just a former police investigator, relieved of his position due to his religion, but he faces more pressure to succeed as failure could very well be fatal. Both Richard and his wife, Lisa, are strong and brave characters who are likable and easy to root for.
I enjoyed the informative parts of this novel, that provided me with first-hand experiences of the devastating war, and (of course) I enjoyed the parts of the novel that were narrated by the murderer himself. There were many characters and settings in this novel, all with long, tongue-twisting German names, and I got a little lost toward the end as the culprit was being sought out. I wanted more psychological investigation, more of the “why-did-he-do-it” instead of the “whodunit”, which, to be honest, was anti-climactic when finally revealed.
“Germania” is definitely a novel for those who enjoy World War II fiction, especially if you prefer police procedurals, but it is not an easy read and is tough-going in a lot of places. Gilbers though, has definite writing talent, and I look forward to seeing what else Richard Oppenheimer gets up to.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
In 1944, Berlin is in the midst of the Second World War. Living with his Aryan wife in a segregated “Jewish House” former police inspector Richard Oppenheimer is called out of bed in the middle of the night to insist the German SS with an investigation—women are being gruesomely murdered, their mutilated bodies left sprawled on war memorials. Richard has no choice but to comply, knowing the consequences that face him if he refuses. However, the consequences for Richard failing at finding the culprit could very well be life and death for him and his wife.
“Germania”, by Harald Gilbers, was originally published in 2013 in its original German, but is being released in translated English to the North American markets. It is also the first novel in an apparent series (which sort of gives you a hint as to the fate of our protagonist), the second of which has not yet been released.
“Germania” sets the gruesome stage of war-torn Berlin, where Jews are forced to identify themselves by the wearing of yellow stars on their clothing, if they are lucky enough to exist in Berlin at all. The SS and Gestapo are running rampant under Hitler, trying to change Germany “for the better” under the Fuhrer’s rule.
There are a lot of novels about World War Two and about the heartbreaking and devastating effects before, during and after, but Gilber’s story is different, in that it reads like a police procedural, with a crime, suspect and investigations taking place, all while a universe-altering war takes place in the background. Richard is more than just a former police investigator, relieved of his position due to his religion, but he faces more pressure to succeed as failure could very well be fatal. Both Richard and his wife, Lisa, are strong and brave characters who are likable and easy to root for.
I enjoyed the informative parts of this novel, that provided me with first-hand experiences of the devastating war, and (of course) I enjoyed the parts of the novel that were narrated by the murderer himself. There were many characters and settings in this novel, all with long, tongue-twisting German names, and I got a little lost toward the end as the culprit was being sought out. I wanted more psychological investigation, more of the “why-did-he-do-it” instead of the “whodunit”, which, to be honest, was anti-climactic when finally revealed.
“Germania” is definitely a novel for those who enjoy World War II fiction, especially if you prefer police procedurals, but it is not an easy read and is tough-going in a lot of places. Gilbers though, has definite writing talent, and I look forward to seeing what else Richard Oppenheimer gets up to.
August 22, 2018
ΣΚΟΤΕΙΝΟ ΒΕΡΟΛΙΝΟ
Σ’ένα Βερολίνο όχι πολύ μακριά από το τέλος του Β’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, όπου το Ράιχ έχει αρχίσει να ψυχορραγεί, εμφανίζεται ένας serial killer όπου σκοτώνει γυναίκες (πόρνες κυρίως), πετσοκόβει τα γεννητικά τους όργανα και στη συνέχεια μοστράρει τα πτώματά τους μπροστά σε μνημεία πεσόντων του Α’ παγκοσμίου πολέμου. Το θέμα είναι σοβαρό (άλλες αυτές οι δολοφονίες κι άλλες αυτές που γίνονται στο όνομα της πατρίδας και του εθνικοσοσιαλισμού). Την εξιχνίαση της υπόθεσης αναλαμβάνει ο Φόγκλερ, ένας αξιωματικός των SS, επειδή όμως είναι αθώος κι άμαθος ο καημένος αναγκάζεται να συνεργαστεί με τον επιθεωρητή Οπενχάιμερ, που είναι εδώ και χρόνια εκτός Αστυνομίας για ένα τόσο δα μικρούλικο ‘παράπτωμα’. Είναι Εβραίος.
Το βιβλίο είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο της τριλογίας Germania, ωστόσο διαβάζεται και μόνο (διατηρώ κάποιες επιφυλάξεις μήπως στον επόμενο τόμο, γίνει καμιά γυριστή στην υπόθεση).
Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα ο τρόπος που ο συγγραφέας έστησε το background του βιβλίου (ένα Βερολίνο του τέλους του πολέμου, η καθημερινή ζωή, οι βομβαρδισμοί, η πείνα, οι αμφεταμίνες, η αγωνία κλπ, κλπ). Σ’αυτό το κομμάτι το πεντάρι θα το έβαζα άνετα. Πάμε τώρα στο αστυνομικό σκέλος της υπόθεσης. Εδώ ολίγον τα χαλάμε. Μου φάνηκε επιπόλαιο, του στυλ, εντάξει χρειάζομαι έναν δολοφόνο, βρίσκω έναν από τα καλάθια, τον παίρνω, του κοτσάρω και μια δικαιολογία και λύθηκε το μυστήριο. Ας μην αναφέρω το δίδυμο της συμφοράς της αστυνομίας, που δεν συγκράτησα τα ονόματά τους, ο Μπόλεκ και ο Λόλεκ αυτοπροσώπως.
Τα είπα και στο αμόρε, ‘καλό το Βερολίνο αλλά το αστυνομικό νούλα’, γούρλωσε τα μάτια του ‘μα τι λες τώρα; Δεν είναι πόλαρ είναι νουάρ και σαν νουάρ ήταν υπέροχο…’ Επειδή εγώ δεν είμαι της γαλλικής και από πόλαρ ξέρω μόνο το ‘πόλαρ εξπρές’ και από νουάρ μόνο το φιλμ νουάρ, ας πούμε τη Ρίτα Χειγουρθ στην Τζίλντα, θα πάω κάπου στη μέση και θα βάλω ένα τριαράκι…
Σ’ένα Βερολίνο όχι πολύ μακριά από το τέλος του Β’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, όπου το Ράιχ έχει αρχίσει να ψυχορραγεί, εμφανίζεται ένας serial killer όπου σκοτώνει γυναίκες (πόρνες κυρίως), πετσοκόβει τα γεννητικά τους όργανα και στη συνέχεια μοστράρει τα πτώματά τους μπροστά σε μνημεία πεσόντων του Α’ παγκοσμίου πολέμου. Το θέμα είναι σοβαρό (άλλες αυτές οι δολοφονίες κι άλλες αυτές που γίνονται στο όνομα της πατρίδας και του εθνικοσοσιαλισμού). Την εξιχνίαση της υπόθεσης αναλαμβάνει ο Φόγκλερ, ένας αξιωματικός των SS, επειδή όμως είναι αθώος κι άμαθος ο καημένος αναγκάζεται να συνεργαστεί με τον επιθεωρητή Οπενχάιμερ, που είναι εδώ και χρόνια εκτός Αστυνομίας για ένα τόσο δα μικρούλικο ‘παράπτωμα’. Είναι Εβραίος.
Το βιβλίο είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο της τριλογίας Germania, ωστόσο διαβάζεται και μόνο (διατηρώ κάποιες επιφυλάξεις μήπως στον επόμενο τόμο, γίνει καμιά γυριστή στην υπόθεση).
Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα ο τρόπος που ο συγγραφέας έστησε το background του βιβλίου (ένα Βερολίνο του τέλους του πολέμου, η καθημερινή ζωή, οι βομβαρδισμοί, η πείνα, οι αμφεταμίνες, η αγωνία κλπ, κλπ). Σ’αυτό το κομμάτι το πεντάρι θα το έβαζα άνετα. Πάμε τώρα στο αστυνομικό σκέλος της υπόθεσης. Εδώ ολίγον τα χαλάμε. Μου φάνηκε επιπόλαιο, του στυλ, εντάξει χρειάζομαι έναν δολοφόνο, βρίσκω έναν από τα καλάθια, τον παίρνω, του κοτσάρω και μια δικαιολογία και λύθηκε το μυστήριο. Ας μην αναφέρω το δίδυμο της συμφοράς της αστυνομίας, που δεν συγκράτησα τα ονόματά τους, ο Μπόλεκ και ο Λόλεκ αυτοπροσώπως.
Τα είπα και στο αμόρε, ‘καλό το Βερολίνο αλλά το αστυνομικό νούλα’, γούρλωσε τα μάτια του ‘μα τι λες τώρα; Δεν είναι πόλαρ είναι νουάρ και σαν νουάρ ήταν υπέροχο…’ Επειδή εγώ δεν είμαι της γαλλικής και από πόλαρ ξέρω μόνο το ‘πόλαρ εξπρές’ και από νουάρ μόνο το φιλμ νουάρ, ας πούμε τη Ρίτα Χειγουρθ στην Τζίλντα, θα πάω κάπου στη μέση και θα βάλω ένα τριαράκι…
November 25, 2021
For English version please scroll down
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Ein großartiger Kriminalroman aus dem Nazideutschland von 1944
Richard Oppenheimer ist wahrlich ein ungewöhnlicher Protagonist, denn er bearbeitet als Jude und ehemaliger Kommissar eine Reihe scheusslicher Frauenmorde, bei denen Frauen gequält, im Genitalbereich verstümmelt und dann vor irgendwelchen Kriegerdenkmälern in obszönen Posen abgelegt werden.
Der eigentliche Ermittlungsleiter ist der SS-Offizier Vogler, der sich den aus rassischen Gründen suspendierten Oppenheimer zu Hilfe geholt hat. Dabei ist von Anfang an für mich verblüffend, dass Vogler, obwohl er sich seiner Macht über Oppenheimer bewusst ist, offenbar weder Hass noch einen Mangel an Respekt gegenüber Oppenheimer verspürt.
Der Kriminalfall ist sehr spannend und komplex, der Plot ist logisch aufgebaut und enthält weder an den Haaren herbeigezogene Wendungen noch ist er auf lange Sicht vorhersehbar.
Noch viel mehr als die Mordfälle und die Ermittlungen, die natürlich mit den Mitteln der damaligen Zeit erfolgten und allein schon deshalb sehr interessant zu lesen sind, waren jedoch die Beschreibungen wie das Leben der normalen Menschen im kriegsgebeutelten Berlin aussahen. So erleben wir als Leser zahlreiche Bombardierung, die Lebensmittelknappheit, die stetigen “Evakuierungen” von Juden, den Überwachungsstaat und den Terror der Nazis, genauso wie ihre Vetternwirtschaft und die illegale unmäßige Bereicherung verschiedener Personen und können auch die langsame Veränderung der allgemeinen Atmopsphäre nach der Invasion in der Normandie nachfühlen. Besonders schlimm fand ich es zu lesen, wie die Gehirne von vielen Jugendlichen durch die Nazi-Ideologie vergiftet und möglicherweise auf Dauer geschädigt waren.
Der Autor hat eindeutig gründlich und akribisch recherchiert und es ist ihm gelungen seine Erkenntnisse in einen spannenden, sprachlich hochwertigen und auch sehr lehrreichen Kriminalroman umzusetzen. Definitiv ein würdiger Gewinner des Friedrich Glauser Preises.
5 Sterne
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A brilliant detective novel from 1944 Nazi Germany
Richard Oppenheimer is truly an unusual protagonist, because as a Jew and former detective he works on a series of hideous feminicides in which women are tortured, mutilated in the genital area and then placed in obscene poses in front of some war memorials.
The actual head of the investigation is the SS officer Vogler, who called on Oppenheimer, who was suspended for racial reasons, to help. Right from the start, it was astonishing to me that, although Vogler is aware of his power over Oppenheimer, he evidently feels neither hatred nor a lack of respect for Oppenheimer.
The criminal case is very exciting and complex, the plot is structured logically and does not contain any unlikely twists, nor is it predictable in the long term.
Much more than the murder cases and the investigations, which of course took place with contemporary resources and are therefore very interesting to read, were the descriptions of what the life of normal people in war-torn Berlin looked like. We as readers experience numerous bombings, the food shortage, the constant “evacuations” of Jews, the surveillance state and the terror of the Nazis, as well as their nepotism and the illegal excessive enrichment of various people and can also see the slow change in the general atmosphere after the invasion in Normandy. I found it particularly sad to read how the brains of many young people were poisoned by the Nazi ideology and possibly permanently damaged.
The author has clearly researched thoroughly and meticulously and has succeeded in converting his findings into an exciting, linguistically high-quality and also very instructive detective novel. Definitely a worthy winner of the Friedrich Glauser Prize.
5 Stars
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Ein großartiger Kriminalroman aus dem Nazideutschland von 1944
Richard Oppenheimer ist wahrlich ein ungewöhnlicher Protagonist, denn er bearbeitet als Jude und ehemaliger Kommissar eine Reihe scheusslicher Frauenmorde, bei denen Frauen gequält, im Genitalbereich verstümmelt und dann vor irgendwelchen Kriegerdenkmälern in obszönen Posen abgelegt werden.
Der eigentliche Ermittlungsleiter ist der SS-Offizier Vogler, der sich den aus rassischen Gründen suspendierten Oppenheimer zu Hilfe geholt hat. Dabei ist von Anfang an für mich verblüffend, dass Vogler, obwohl er sich seiner Macht über Oppenheimer bewusst ist, offenbar weder Hass noch einen Mangel an Respekt gegenüber Oppenheimer verspürt.
Der Kriminalfall ist sehr spannend und komplex, der Plot ist logisch aufgebaut und enthält weder an den Haaren herbeigezogene Wendungen noch ist er auf lange Sicht vorhersehbar.
Noch viel mehr als die Mordfälle und die Ermittlungen, die natürlich mit den Mitteln der damaligen Zeit erfolgten und allein schon deshalb sehr interessant zu lesen sind, waren jedoch die Beschreibungen wie das Leben der normalen Menschen im kriegsgebeutelten Berlin aussahen. So erleben wir als Leser zahlreiche Bombardierung, die Lebensmittelknappheit, die stetigen “Evakuierungen” von Juden, den Überwachungsstaat und den Terror der Nazis, genauso wie ihre Vetternwirtschaft und die illegale unmäßige Bereicherung verschiedener Personen und können auch die langsame Veränderung der allgemeinen Atmopsphäre nach der Invasion in der Normandie nachfühlen. Besonders schlimm fand ich es zu lesen, wie die Gehirne von vielen Jugendlichen durch die Nazi-Ideologie vergiftet und möglicherweise auf Dauer geschädigt waren.
Der Autor hat eindeutig gründlich und akribisch recherchiert und es ist ihm gelungen seine Erkenntnisse in einen spannenden, sprachlich hochwertigen und auch sehr lehrreichen Kriminalroman umzusetzen. Definitiv ein würdiger Gewinner des Friedrich Glauser Preises.
5 Sterne
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A brilliant detective novel from 1944 Nazi Germany
Richard Oppenheimer is truly an unusual protagonist, because as a Jew and former detective he works on a series of hideous feminicides in which women are tortured, mutilated in the genital area and then placed in obscene poses in front of some war memorials.
The actual head of the investigation is the SS officer Vogler, who called on Oppenheimer, who was suspended for racial reasons, to help. Right from the start, it was astonishing to me that, although Vogler is aware of his power over Oppenheimer, he evidently feels neither hatred nor a lack of respect for Oppenheimer.
The criminal case is very exciting and complex, the plot is structured logically and does not contain any unlikely twists, nor is it predictable in the long term.
Much more than the murder cases and the investigations, which of course took place with contemporary resources and are therefore very interesting to read, were the descriptions of what the life of normal people in war-torn Berlin looked like. We as readers experience numerous bombings, the food shortage, the constant “evacuations” of Jews, the surveillance state and the terror of the Nazis, as well as their nepotism and the illegal excessive enrichment of various people and can also see the slow change in the general atmosphere after the invasion in Normandy. I found it particularly sad to read how the brains of many young people were poisoned by the Nazi ideology and possibly permanently damaged.
The author has clearly researched thoroughly and meticulously and has succeeded in converting his findings into an exciting, linguistically high-quality and also very instructive detective novel. Definitely a worthy winner of the Friedrich Glauser Prize.
5 Stars
February 21, 2021
This a crime/police investigation into the horrific murders done by a serial killer in May/June/July 1944 in and around the city of Berlin in Nazi-Germany.
The main character is a Jewish policeman who is still alive because he married a German Aryan woman, I never knew that this could make such a difference and was a welcome new insight in Nazi Germany whom was running out of war quite quickly.
Why is Jewish policeman asked to investigate a serial killing by the SD or SS, simpley because the SS officer in charge wants and has to solve the case quickly because it is a blemish on the reputation of the boys of the super elite running Germany.
Richard Oppenheimer is living in a Jewish home and adds some new intelligence into the investigation of this vicious killer who does leave his victims cruelly mutilated behind and craves so much attention which the Nazi regime has not given him, since they would deny the excistence of such a creature as it would be murder on morale. The SS man Vogler desperatly needs the insights of this once very succesfull policeman and even the Nazis recognize the expert insight of a talented policeman even if he is Jewish.
It is also an interesting insight in Nazi Germany during tke last part of the war and a severly bombed Berlin, which also shows another view upon the war I am used to.
Als an excellent thriller and I would not mind to read some of the later installments of this German written books. Perhaps I'll chose to read them in German.
An excellent start of a series and even an excellent stand-alone novel. It also fills the space that Bernie Gunther by Phillip Kerr has left.
The main character is a Jewish policeman who is still alive because he married a German Aryan woman, I never knew that this could make such a difference and was a welcome new insight in Nazi Germany whom was running out of war quite quickly.
Why is Jewish policeman asked to investigate a serial killing by the SD or SS, simpley because the SS officer in charge wants and has to solve the case quickly because it is a blemish on the reputation of the boys of the super elite running Germany.
Richard Oppenheimer is living in a Jewish home and adds some new intelligence into the investigation of this vicious killer who does leave his victims cruelly mutilated behind and craves so much attention which the Nazi regime has not given him, since they would deny the excistence of such a creature as it would be murder on morale. The SS man Vogler desperatly needs the insights of this once very succesfull policeman and even the Nazis recognize the expert insight of a talented policeman even if he is Jewish.
It is also an interesting insight in Nazi Germany during tke last part of the war and a severly bombed Berlin, which also shows another view upon the war I am used to.
Als an excellent thriller and I would not mind to read some of the later installments of this German written books. Perhaps I'll chose to read them in German.
An excellent start of a series and even an excellent stand-alone novel. It also fills the space that Bernie Gunther by Phillip Kerr has left.
December 24, 2021
Those familiar with Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther series will experience a little bit of deja vu as they start reading about a police detective in the waning years of the Third Reich. Don’t despair. The stories are dissimilar despite the common setting. Gilbers has published five books in this Oppenheimer series starting in 2013, but now for the first time this first in the series has been translated (quite expertly) into English.
The setting is unmistakably unsettling as it is Spring 1944 in Berlin and the darkest nightmare ever imagined is starting to lose confidence following the devastating loss at Stalingrad, the Americans beating their way up the Italian peninsula, and the soon-to-come Normandy landing. In Berlin, there is not yet panic, but allied bombing is now a daily occurrence and there is starting to be a sense the tide has shifted.
Berlin is still run by Hitler’s brutal thugs and the ordinary Germans live in fear of saying the wrong thing. Oppenheimer, once upon a time, thought of himself as German as the next person, but he wears a yellow star when he leaves his home, an apartment house dubbed the Jewish house. He is one of the few Jews to survive in Nazi Berlin, tolerated for being married to an Aryan German. He was once upon a time an elite homicide detective and now he’s stuck with no way out.
In a bizarre twist, he is given a taste of his old life as a serial killer strikes in the heart of Berlin and the SS demands that Oppenheimer join the investigation and find the culprit. It is a bit of a Kafka-esque situation as Oppenheimer is asked to take off his star lest it make it awkward when he asks questions. Thus, he fulfills his old position, and somewhat can pretend everything is normal. But he knows it’s only temporary and that as soon as the investigation ends he could be shipped off to the death camps. Indeed, at any second, the Nazi authority or indeed any group of teenage bullies can effectively rip off his mask and condemn him. Gilbers does an excellent job of showing how odd and awkward Oppenheimer’s position is – a bit of normalcy in the center of Hell.
Not only is it a historical novel, but a top notch crime thriller with a chase on for a macabre killer who has eluded the regular investigators. While some reviewers have found the story as a whole slow to develop, the success of this novel is his the author so skillfully creates a believable storyline from such an odd and untenable situation. It’s a given to any readers of historical fiction what the Nazis were and Gilbers does not dwell on their evil. Rather, he gives us an eye toward what it was like at the center of the storm.
The setting is unmistakably unsettling as it is Spring 1944 in Berlin and the darkest nightmare ever imagined is starting to lose confidence following the devastating loss at Stalingrad, the Americans beating their way up the Italian peninsula, and the soon-to-come Normandy landing. In Berlin, there is not yet panic, but allied bombing is now a daily occurrence and there is starting to be a sense the tide has shifted.
Berlin is still run by Hitler’s brutal thugs and the ordinary Germans live in fear of saying the wrong thing. Oppenheimer, once upon a time, thought of himself as German as the next person, but he wears a yellow star when he leaves his home, an apartment house dubbed the Jewish house. He is one of the few Jews to survive in Nazi Berlin, tolerated for being married to an Aryan German. He was once upon a time an elite homicide detective and now he’s stuck with no way out.
In a bizarre twist, he is given a taste of his old life as a serial killer strikes in the heart of Berlin and the SS demands that Oppenheimer join the investigation and find the culprit. It is a bit of a Kafka-esque situation as Oppenheimer is asked to take off his star lest it make it awkward when he asks questions. Thus, he fulfills his old position, and somewhat can pretend everything is normal. But he knows it’s only temporary and that as soon as the investigation ends he could be shipped off to the death camps. Indeed, at any second, the Nazi authority or indeed any group of teenage bullies can effectively rip off his mask and condemn him. Gilbers does an excellent job of showing how odd and awkward Oppenheimer’s position is – a bit of normalcy in the center of Hell.
Not only is it a historical novel, but a top notch crime thriller with a chase on for a macabre killer who has eluded the regular investigators. While some reviewers have found the story as a whole slow to develop, the success of this novel is his the author so skillfully creates a believable storyline from such an odd and untenable situation. It’s a given to any readers of historical fiction what the Nazis were and Gilbers does not dwell on their evil. Rather, he gives us an eye toward what it was like at the center of the storm.
August 28, 2025
Ich empfand es als ziemlich schlecht geschrieben und bin überrascht, dass dieser Krimi so gute Beurteilung erhält. Immerhin ist er sogar Glauser-Gewinner für den besten Debütroman. Meine liebe Jury, ist das wirklich das Beste, was seinerzeit neu erschienen ist? Diese unharmonische Mischung aus Jugendbuch, historisches Sachbuch und brutalem Splatter?
Harald Gilbers ist unter anderem studierter Historiker. Das merkt man diesem Buch an, im positivem wie im negativem Sinne. Es erscheint sehr akribisch recherchiert, was ich auch lobend anerkenne. Ich bin sicher, dass jedes kleinste Detail in der Beschreibung Berlins im Jahr 1944 wirklich auf Tatsachen beruht. Insofern ein lehrreicher Krimi, aber leider auf einer besserwisserischen Art. Ich fühle mich dabei nicht ernst genommen, wenn jede Redewendung oder historisches Ereignissen, welches in Dialogen Erwähnung findet, in den folgenden Sätzen im Stile eine Wikipedia-Eintrags erst mal erklärt wird. Daran erkennt man einen guten historischen Roman, dass es ihm gelingt, Wissen so geschickt in eine Handlung und Gespräche zu verweben, dass es dem Leser gar nicht auffällt.
Beispiel aus der Erinnerung (sinngemäß): "Der Obersturmbandführer hatte einen Schmiss, der ihn entstellt. Bei einem Schmiss handelte sich um eine Schnittverletzung im Gesicht, die auf eine studentische...". Also Fremdwort in der Raum geworfen und danach erklärt. Wäre es nicht viel galanter den Nazi und seine Narbe zu beschreiben und im nächsten Satz den "Schmiss" mit der Studentenverbindung in Verbindung zu bringen.
Das erinnerte mich einfach an ein Jugendbuch, wo man der jungen Leserschaft, die Welt erklären möchte. Aber wir Krimileser in einem gewissen Alter wissen doch, was der Holocaust ist, wie die Naziherrschaft in groben Zügen aufgebaut war, wie die Alliierten in der Normandie landeten. Muss denn alles erklärt werden? Show, don't tell. Das ging insbesondere in der ersten Hälfte sehr zu Lasten der Story, die dann gegen Ende in den Fokus kommt. Leider empfand ich die Handlung diesbezüglich unnötig pervers und brutal. Ein sadistischer Sexualmörder, da ist der Autor gleich mal auf Nummer Sicher gegangen, dass die Aufmerksamkeitsspanne nicht absinkt beim Leser. Die Auflösung war dann bieder. Und ob es wirklich realistisch ist, dass ein jüdischer Ex-Kommissar der SS hilft und von Goebbels höchstpersönlich auch noch auf die Schulter geklopft bekommt, lasse ich mal dahin gestellt. Sicher wird mir der Historiker Gilbers versichern, dass es solche Fälle gab. Ich empfand sie trotzdem an den Haaren herbeigezogen, um eine mediale Beachtung im dichten Krimi-Dschungel der Neuerscheinungen zu erhalten. Ich werde die Serie nicht weiter lesen.
Harald Gilbers ist unter anderem studierter Historiker. Das merkt man diesem Buch an, im positivem wie im negativem Sinne. Es erscheint sehr akribisch recherchiert, was ich auch lobend anerkenne. Ich bin sicher, dass jedes kleinste Detail in der Beschreibung Berlins im Jahr 1944 wirklich auf Tatsachen beruht. Insofern ein lehrreicher Krimi, aber leider auf einer besserwisserischen Art. Ich fühle mich dabei nicht ernst genommen, wenn jede Redewendung oder historisches Ereignissen, welches in Dialogen Erwähnung findet, in den folgenden Sätzen im Stile eine Wikipedia-Eintrags erst mal erklärt wird. Daran erkennt man einen guten historischen Roman, dass es ihm gelingt, Wissen so geschickt in eine Handlung und Gespräche zu verweben, dass es dem Leser gar nicht auffällt.
Beispiel aus der Erinnerung (sinngemäß): "Der Obersturmbandführer hatte einen Schmiss, der ihn entstellt. Bei einem Schmiss handelte sich um eine Schnittverletzung im Gesicht, die auf eine studentische...". Also Fremdwort in der Raum geworfen und danach erklärt. Wäre es nicht viel galanter den Nazi und seine Narbe zu beschreiben und im nächsten Satz den "Schmiss" mit der Studentenverbindung in Verbindung zu bringen.
Das erinnerte mich einfach an ein Jugendbuch, wo man der jungen Leserschaft, die Welt erklären möchte. Aber wir Krimileser in einem gewissen Alter wissen doch, was der Holocaust ist, wie die Naziherrschaft in groben Zügen aufgebaut war, wie die Alliierten in der Normandie landeten. Muss denn alles erklärt werden? Show, don't tell. Das ging insbesondere in der ersten Hälfte sehr zu Lasten der Story, die dann gegen Ende in den Fokus kommt. Leider empfand ich die Handlung diesbezüglich unnötig pervers und brutal. Ein sadistischer Sexualmörder, da ist der Autor gleich mal auf Nummer Sicher gegangen, dass die Aufmerksamkeitsspanne nicht absinkt beim Leser. Die Auflösung war dann bieder. Und ob es wirklich realistisch ist, dass ein jüdischer Ex-Kommissar der SS hilft und von Goebbels höchstpersönlich auch noch auf die Schulter geklopft bekommt, lasse ich mal dahin gestellt. Sicher wird mir der Historiker Gilbers versichern, dass es solche Fälle gab. Ich empfand sie trotzdem an den Haaren herbeigezogen, um eine mediale Beachtung im dichten Krimi-Dschungel der Neuerscheinungen zu erhalten. Ich werde die Serie nicht weiter lesen.
October 23, 2019
Μάιος 1944. Η πρωτεύουσα του Ράιχ βρίσκεται υπό συνεχείς βομβαρδισμούς. Στο Βερολίνο επικρατιύν ανασφάλεια και φόβος. Και σα να μην ήταν αυτά αρκετά, βασανισμένα πτώματα νεαρών γυναικών ανευρίσκονται κοντά σε μνημεία του Πρώτου Παγκόσμιου Πολέμου.
Την υπόθεση καλείται να λύσει ο Εβραίος πρώην επιθεωρητής Ρίχαρντ Οπενχάιμερ, ο οποίος έχει τεθεί σε διαθεσιμότητα λόγω των νόμων του τρίτου Ράιχ. Εκτός όμως από την εξιχνίαση των φόνων, πρέπει να βρει κι ένα τρόπο να παραμείνει ζωντανός, αφού μετά το πέρας της υπόθεσης η ζωή του θα ανήκει και πάλι στα Ες Ες.
Ένα βιβλίο που βασίζεται στη ζοφερή ατμόσφαιρα και το ιστορικό πλαίσιο των γεγονότων.
Αν είστε λάτρεις της ιστορίας και σας αρέσουν οι ιστορίες με ρεαλισμό και πραγματικά γεγονότα, θα ευχαριστηθείτε σίγουρα αυτό το βιβλίο. Αν πάλι θέλετε γρήγορη δράση και διαρκή εξέλιξη, τότε αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι για εσάς.
Διαβάστε αναλυτικά την κριτική μου στο blog μου.
Την υπόθεση καλείται να λύσει ο Εβραίος πρώην επιθεωρητής Ρίχαρντ Οπενχάιμερ, ο οποίος έχει τεθεί σε διαθεσιμότητα λόγω των νόμων του τρίτου Ράιχ. Εκτός όμως από την εξιχνίαση των φόνων, πρέπει να βρει κι ένα τρόπο να παραμείνει ζωντανός, αφού μετά το πέρας της υπόθεσης η ζωή του θα ανήκει και πάλι στα Ες Ες.
Ένα βιβλίο που βασίζεται στη ζοφερή ατμόσφαιρα και το ιστορικό πλαίσιο των γεγονότων.
Αν είστε λάτρεις της ιστορίας και σας αρέσουν οι ιστορίες με ρεαλισμό και πραγματικά γεγονότα, θα ευχαριστηθείτε σίγουρα αυτό το βιβλίο. Αν πάλι θέλετε γρήγορη δράση και διαρκή εξέλιξη, τότε αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι για εσάς.
Διαβάστε αναλυτικά την κριτική μου στο blog μου.
December 11, 2021
Εξαιρετικό! Καλογραμμένο, αληθοφανές με πραγματικό ιστορικό υπόβαθρο, ζωντανοί, τρισδιάστατοι χαρακτήρες και σασπένς! Είναι πενταλογία και σπεύδω να συνεχίσω με το επόμενο! Αναζητήστε το!
November 20, 2020
Germania is a novel published abroad which became an international bestseller. Now it will soon become available to the US and Canada.
Dragged out of the Jewish House by the SS in Nazi occupied Berlin, Jewish detective Richard Oppenheimer is asked to investigate the horrific murders of women left mutilated in front of war memorials — women with ties to the Nazi party. Does Richard even have a choice? Either way, Richard is probably in jeopardy.
Full of espionage, the reader follows Richard in his investigation process. In Richard’s quest to apprehend the perpetrator, and with the help of a good friend, Richard uncovers deep secrets and covert operations occurring within the Reich.
Germania can be somewhat of a slow read. There are a number of players with names that I could barely pronounce. But the development of those players were well executed. The plot itself had its ups and downs. It was those hair-raising moments that kept me engaged.
Overall, Germania is an enjoyable read and a nice fit for those fans of historical fiction|mystery & thrillers. Three stars. I liked it.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Dragged out of the Jewish House by the SS in Nazi occupied Berlin, Jewish detective Richard Oppenheimer is asked to investigate the horrific murders of women left mutilated in front of war memorials — women with ties to the Nazi party. Does Richard even have a choice? Either way, Richard is probably in jeopardy.
Full of espionage, the reader follows Richard in his investigation process. In Richard’s quest to apprehend the perpetrator, and with the help of a good friend, Richard uncovers deep secrets and covert operations occurring within the Reich.
Germania can be somewhat of a slow read. There are a number of players with names that I could barely pronounce. But the development of those players were well executed. The plot itself had its ups and downs. It was those hair-raising moments that kept me engaged.
Overall, Germania is an enjoyable read and a nice fit for those fans of historical fiction|mystery & thrillers. Three stars. I liked it.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
August 6, 2019
Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read
Στο Βερολίνο του 1944, ένας λοχαγός των SS, αναλαμβάνει να εξιχνιάσει ένα έγκλημα και να συλλάβει έναν, όπως φαίνεται καθ’ έξιν δολοφόνο. Είναι ήδη Μάιος και το Βερολίνο βάλλεται από τα πυρά και τους βομβαρδισμούς των συμμάχων, όμως ο λοχαγός Φόγκλερ θα βρει έναν ιδιαίτερο τρόπο ώστε να εξιχνιάσει τα εγκλήματα και να παραδώσει τον ένοχο στη δικαιοσύνη. Θα ζητήσει και θα έχει τη βοήθεια του πρώην Επιθεωρητή Οπενχάιμερ. Δεν υπάρχει άνθρωπος αυτές τις μέρες σε ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη που θα μπορούσε να αρνηθεί κάτι σε αξιωματούχο των SS, όμως η επιλογή του Φόγκλερ είναι λιγάκι ιδιότυπη καθώς ο πρώην Επιθεωρητής είναι Εβραίος! Ένας από τους λίγους που υπάρχουν ακόμα στο Βερολίνο, προφανώς χάρη στο γεγονός ότι είναι παντρεμένος με Άρια.
Αν και θα περίμενε κανείς ο Οπενχάιμερ να βρίσκεται σε κάποιο στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης, αν όχι νεκρός, και η γυναίκα του να έχει υποστεί τουλάχιστον τον εξευτελισμό της ξυρισμένης κεφαλής, εντούτοις οι δυο τους ζουν σε ένα Εβραϊκό σπίτι, μαζί με άλλους Εβραίους, που για κάποιο λόγο φυτοζωούν ακόμα στην πρωτεύουσα του Ράιχ. Δεν είναι απίθανο, όμως ούτε και συνηθισμένο. Όπως και να έχει όμως, η συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση εξυπηρετεί τα μέγιστα την πλοκή της ιστορίας και το λοχαγό Φόγκλερ που διεξάγει την έρευνα και έχει έτσι στο δυναμικό της ομάδας του έναν έμπειρο επιθεωρητή που έχει έρθει ξανά αντιμέτωπος με κατά συρροήν δολοφόνο και ξέρει πως να κινηθεί.
Το βιβλίο είναι μια μίξη ιστορικού και αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος. Το ιστορικό κομμάτι είναι πολύ έντονο και φαίνεται να είναι το δυνατό στοιχείο του συγγραφέα. Η ενδελεχής έρευνα έχει αποδώσει, καθώς χρησιμοποιεί με μαεστρία τα ιστορικά στοιχεία σαν σκηνικό για την εξέλιξη της αστυνομικής ιστορίας του. Οι βομβαρδισμοί της πόλης του Βερολίνου είναι παρόντες, όπως και τα αποτελέσματα αυτών. Ακόμα και η απόβαση στη Νορμανδία παίζει ρόλο, καθώς χρονικά εντάσσεται στην περίοδο που εξελίσσεται η ιστορία μας, οπότε και χρησιμοποιείται τρόπον τινά, ώστε να αποδώσει τα χαρακτηριστικά και την ατμόσφαιρα που επικρατούσε λίγο πριν την απόβαση αλλά και μετά, τόσο στον απλό κόσμο του Βερολίνου, όσο και στις υπηρεσίες του Ράιχ.
Το Βερολίνο παρουσιάζεται όπως και στα βιβλία του Kerr, αρκετά διχασμένο. Η εξουσία και οι αξιωματούχοι που φυσικά βρίσκονται παντού στην πόλη αλλά και στα περισσότερα σημεία της χώρας, είναι όπως θα περίμενε κανείς πωρωμένοι με το καθεστώς. Οι απλοί πολίτες όμως δεν είναι όλοι υπέρ του Χίτλερ, αφού δεν ήταν λίγοι οι Βερολινέζοι που περίμεναν πως και πως να τελειώσει ο εφιάλτης, άσχετα με το τι έδειχναν ανοιχτά για να μη στοχοποιηθούν. Ακόμα και όταν ο ρωσικός στρατός μπήκε στην πόλη, πολλοί δεν περίμεναν τις ακρότητες που ακολούθησαν, θεωρώντας τους σωτήρες, αν και ουσιαστικά ήταν τέρατα, κρίνοντας από τα όσα έκαναν στον άμαχο πληθυσμό και ειδικά στις γυναίκες. Άλλωστε είναι γνωστό πως τη μεγαλύτερη δύναμη ο Χίτλερ την είχε στο νότο, στα σύνορα Βαυαρίας Αυστρίας που είχε και το εξοχικό του.
Ευτυχώς ο συγγραφέας δεν αναλώνεται με τα δεινά που υπέστησαν τόσοι και τόσοι Εβραίοι, παρά μόνο στο βαθμό που χρειάζεται ώστε να δώσει την πρέπουσα σημασία και την υφέρπουσα ατμόσφαιρα, χωρίς όμως να παρασυρθεί σε μονοπάτια που δεν θα είχαν τίποτα να προσφέρουν στη ροή της συγκεκριμένης ιστορίας. Φυσικά και δεν θα ήταν δυνατόν να δεχτεί κανένας Γερμανός τη συγκεκριμένη περίοδο εντολές από έναν Εβραίο, ούτε και θα απαντούσε σε ερωτήσει που μπορεί να έκανε σχετικά με κάποια αστυνομική έρευνα. Οι «κατώτεροι» άνθρωποι όπως τους θεωρούσαν οι Ναζί, δεν θα μπορούσαν να κατέχουν στο Βερολίνο του 1944 μια θέση ισχύος. Η λύση που βρήκε ο συγγραφέας δεν είναι πολύ αληθοφανής και δύσκολα θα πίστευε κάποιος ότι ο Υπουργός Προπαγάνδας Γιόζεφ Γκέμπελς θα δεχόταν κάτι τέτοιο αδιαμαρτύρητα, όμως, αν λάβει κανείς υπόψιν του πως ο απώτερος σκοπός των SS ήταν να λήξει η έρευνα με τέτοιο τρόπο που δε θα αμαυρώνεται κανένα στέλεχος του Εθνικοσοσιαλιστικού κόμματος, τότε βγαίνει νόημα. Αν ήταν κάποιος να την πληρώσει, σε κάθε περίπτωση ήταν πιο εύκολο να κατηγορηθεί ένας Εβραίος.
Ο Gilbers έχει το δικό του στιλ γραφής που παντρεύει την ιστορία με το αστυνομικό ή το νουάρ καλύτερα. Είναι ένα ύφος που εμένα προσωπικά μου ταιριάζει, καθώς μπορώ να μην κολλήσω σε αυστηρά κριτήρια και να αφεθώ να απολαύσω το βιβλίο. Το συγκεκριμένο μυθιστόρημα είναι το πρώτο της σειράς που αρχικά προοριζόταν για τριλογία. Μέχρι τη στιγμή που γράφονται αυτές οι γραμμές, τα πρώτα τρία βιβλία έχουν κυκλοφορήσει στην Ελλάδα από τις Εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο και αναμένεται και το τέταρτο.
Στο Βερολίνο του 1944, ένας λοχαγός των SS, αναλαμβάνει να εξιχνιάσει ένα έγκλημα και να συλλάβει έναν, όπως φαίνεται καθ’ έξιν δολοφόνο. Είναι ήδη Μάιος και το Βερολίνο βάλλεται από τα πυρά και τους βομβαρδισμούς των συμμάχων, όμως ο λοχαγός Φόγκλερ θα βρει έναν ιδιαίτερο τρόπο ώστε να εξιχνιάσει τα εγκλήματα και να παραδώσει τον ένοχο στη δικαιοσύνη. Θα ζητήσει και θα έχει τη βοήθεια του πρώην Επιθεωρητή Οπενχάιμερ. Δεν υπάρχει άνθρωπος αυτές τις μέρες σε ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη που θα μπορούσε να αρνηθεί κάτι σε αξιωματούχο των SS, όμως η επιλογή του Φόγκλερ είναι λιγάκι ιδιότυπη καθώς ο πρώην Επιθεωρητής είναι Εβραίος! Ένας από τους λίγους που υπάρχουν ακόμα στο Βερολίνο, προφανώς χάρη στο γεγονός ότι είναι παντρεμένος με Άρια.
Αν και θα περίμενε κανείς ο Οπενχάιμερ να βρίσκεται σε κάποιο στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης, αν όχι νεκρός, και η γυναίκα του να έχει υποστεί τουλάχιστον τον εξευτελισμό της ξυρισμένης κεφαλής, εντούτοις οι δυο τους ζουν σε ένα Εβραϊκό σπίτι, μαζί με άλλους Εβραίους, που για κάποιο λόγο φυτοζωούν ακόμα στην πρωτεύουσα του Ράιχ. Δεν είναι απίθανο, όμως ούτε και συνηθισμένο. Όπως και να έχει όμως, η συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση εξυπηρετεί τα μέγιστα την πλοκή της ιστορίας και το λοχαγό Φόγκλερ που διεξάγει την έρευνα και έχει έτσι στο δυναμικό της ομάδας του έναν έμπειρο επιθεωρητή που έχει έρθει ξανά αντιμέτωπος με κατά συρροήν δολοφόνο και ξέρει πως να κινηθεί.
Το βιβλίο είναι μια μίξη ιστορικού και αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος. Το ιστορικό κομμάτι είναι πολύ έντονο και φαίνεται να είναι το δυνατό στοιχείο του συγγραφέα. Η ενδελεχής έρευνα έχει αποδώσει, καθώς χρησιμοποιεί με μαεστρία τα ιστορικά στοιχεία σαν σκηνικό για την εξέλιξη της αστυνομικής ιστορίας του. Οι βομβαρδισμοί της πόλης του Βερολίνου είναι παρόντες, όπως και τα αποτελέσματα αυτών. Ακόμα και η απόβαση στη Νορμανδία παίζει ρόλο, καθώς χρονικά εντάσσεται στην περίοδο που εξελίσσεται η ιστορία μας, οπότε και χρησιμοποιείται τρόπον τινά, ώστε να αποδώσει τα χαρακτηριστικά και την ατμόσφαιρα που επικρατούσε λίγο πριν την απόβαση αλλά και μετά, τόσο στον απλό κόσμο του Βερολίνου, όσο και στις υπηρεσίες του Ράιχ.
Το Βερολίνο παρουσιάζεται όπως και στα βιβλία του Kerr, αρκετά διχασμένο. Η εξουσία και οι αξιωματούχοι που φυσικά βρίσκονται παντού στην πόλη αλλά και στα περισσότερα σημεία της χώρας, είναι όπως θα περίμενε κανείς πωρωμένοι με το καθεστώς. Οι απλοί πολίτες όμως δεν είναι όλοι υπέρ του Χίτλερ, αφού δεν ήταν λίγοι οι Βερολινέζοι που περίμεναν πως και πως να τελειώσει ο εφιάλτης, άσχετα με το τι έδειχναν ανοιχτά για να μη στοχοποιηθούν. Ακόμα και όταν ο ρωσικός στρατός μπήκε στην πόλη, πολλοί δεν περίμεναν τις ακρότητες που ακολούθησαν, θεωρώντας τους σωτήρες, αν και ουσιαστικά ήταν τέρατα, κρίνοντας από τα όσα έκαναν στον άμαχο πληθυσμό και ειδικά στις γυναίκες. Άλλωστε είναι γνωστό πως τη μεγαλύτερη δύναμη ο Χίτλερ την είχε στο νότο, στα σύνορα Βαυαρίας Αυστρίας που είχε και το εξοχικό του.
Ευτυχώς ο συγγραφέας δεν αναλώνεται με τα δεινά που υπέστησαν τόσοι και τόσοι Εβραίοι, παρά μόνο στο βαθμό που χρειάζεται ώστε να δώσει την πρέπουσα σημασία και την υφέρπουσα ατμόσφαιρα, χωρίς όμως να παρασυρθεί σε μονοπάτια που δεν θα είχαν τίποτα να προσφέρουν στη ροή της συγκεκριμένης ιστορίας. Φυσικά και δεν θα ήταν δυνατόν να δεχτεί κανένας Γερμανός τη συγκεκριμένη περίοδο εντολές από έναν Εβραίο, ούτε και θα απαντούσε σε ερωτήσει που μπορεί να έκανε σχετικά με κάποια αστυνομική έρευνα. Οι «κατώτεροι» άνθρωποι όπως τους θεωρούσαν οι Ναζί, δεν θα μπορούσαν να κατέχουν στο Βερολίνο του 1944 μια θέση ισχύος. Η λύση που βρήκε ο συγγραφέας δεν είναι πολύ αληθοφανής και δύσκολα θα πίστευε κάποιος ότι ο Υπουργός Προπαγάνδας Γιόζεφ Γκέμπελς θα δεχόταν κάτι τέτοιο αδιαμαρτύρητα, όμως, αν λάβει κανείς υπόψιν του πως ο απώτερος σκοπός των SS ήταν να λήξει η έρευνα με τέτοιο τρόπο που δε θα αμαυρώνεται κανένα στέλεχος του Εθνικοσοσιαλιστικού κόμματος, τότε βγαίνει νόημα. Αν ήταν κάποιος να την πληρώσει, σε κάθε περίπτωση ήταν πιο εύκολο να κατηγορηθεί ένας Εβραίος.
Ο Gilbers έχει το δικό του στιλ γραφής που παντρεύει την ιστορία με το αστυνομικό ή το νουάρ καλύτερα. Είναι ένα ύφος που εμένα προσωπικά μου ταιριάζει, καθώς μπορώ να μην κολλήσω σε αυστηρά κριτήρια και να αφεθώ να απολαύσω το βιβλίο. Το συγκεκριμένο μυθιστόρημα είναι το πρώτο της σειράς που αρχικά προοριζόταν για τριλογία. Μέχρι τη στιγμή που γράφονται αυτές οι γραμμές, τα πρώτα τρία βιβλία έχουν κυκλοφορήσει στην Ελλάδα από τις Εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο και αναμένεται και το τέταρτο.
December 10, 2020
Compelling read, action packed novel set in Berlin, Germany during WWII. Intense serial killer investigation led by Richard Oppenheimer who is also a Jew. The serial killer is targeting women and displaying them in front of monuments, and no one seems to be able to track down who this killer is. Germania describes the harsh reality of living in Germany and what it was like- the hatred, the lack of resources, the attitudes, and most importantly the fear. Very well written book that is not an easy or a quick read, but one that tells story after story if the reader engages. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to NetGalley for this digital advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for this digital advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.
March 3, 2021
With the untimely passing of Philip Kerr that ended his wonderful Bernie Gunther series I have been searching for a replacement that deals with police investigations within Nazi Germany apart from a total focus on the Holocaust. I have explored Volker Kutscher’s Gereon Rath mysteries whose focus is at the end of the Weimar era as the Nazis are about to come to power. The series is very satisfying as is Harald Gilbers novel, GERMANIA, the first to be translated from the German with two to follow. Gilbers’ protagonist is a Jewish investigator named Richard Oppenheimer who had been fired long before the case that the author introduces. The book was first published in Germany in 2013 and received the Friedrich Glausner Prize for best crime fiction debut.
The novel begins in bombed out Berlin in May 1944 where people gear up on a nightly basis for allied bombing. Oppenheimer and his wife Lisa, an Aryan are huddled together in the Jewish house where they live with other families in very crowded conditions. One evening the SS shows up at the house and they transport Oppenheimer to a murder scene. Since he has been let go as a detective years before Oppenheimer is at a loss as to why the SS is interested in his opinion. The employment of Oppenheimer is the brainchild of Hauptsturmfuhrer Volger of the SS who believes that Oppenheimer’s past experience with a serial killer would be valuable with his investigation. As Oppenheimer becomes involved in the case it seems that the murder of Inge Friedrichsen is only the first as two other women, Julie Dufour and Christina Gerdeler have also been victims within the last year.
Gilbers does an excellent job creating the ambiance of Berlin in May 1944 as the Nazi capital has become an obstacle course ridden with rubble from allied bombing. Gilbers’ command of the history of the period is quite extensive as Albert Speer and Hitler’s grand architectural plans for the new city of Germania (to replace Berlin) are neatly integrated into the story. Gilbers development of the Hildegard von Strachwitz’s character (Hilde) brings forth Kristallnacht as she begins her close friendship with Oppenheimer as she rescued him from an SA mob during the evening’s destruction. Hilde, a rabid anti-Nazi and physician has done a great deal of work in psychiatry and become Oppenheimer’s alter ego as he tries to solve the murders.
Gilbers’ dive into Nazi history focuses on the distrust and deadly competition within the SS as Volger and Oppenheimer deal with their investigation that could involve the Nazi Lebensborn program. Nazi racial theory called for pure blooded Germans and with the cost of Hitler’s war effort millions of German males would be needed to fight for the Fuhrer, so the program was ratcheted up. It seems that Inge Friedrichsen had been a secretary at Klosterhide, one of the many Lebensborn sites the Nazis created, in addition her son Horst was part of the program.
It is clear to Volger that Oppenheimer is an excellent investigator, and he accepts the pressure from SS hire ups that he is working with a Jew. The interaction between characters is one of the strengths of the novel. The Volger-Oppenheimer dynamic is important as is the Hilde-Oppenheimer relationship. For Oppenheimer he is in a quandary. Should he assist in tracking down the killer or take advantage of an opportunity to get his wife and himself out of the country as Gilbers describes the plight of Jews in the east.
The story line unfolds very slowly, and the reader does not become aware of the murder of Dufour and Gerdeler until about a third of the book has passed. Gilbers picks up the pace about halfway through the novel as the Nazi shadow begins to dominate. To Gilbers’ credit he incorporates little known aspects of life under the Nazis as a few thousand German Jews were still living in Berlin because like Oppenheimer they were married to a Christian women. In addition, he refers to Oppenheimer’s use of Pervitin, a stimulant to get through the day, as well as its pervasive use by German troops, particularly tankers on the eastern front.
Gilbers does a nice job allowing the reader to project into the recesses of the killer’s mind as he describes the methods the killer used to eliminate his victims, the staging of the murders, and disposing of their bodies. Certain aspects of the crime lead one to believe that the killer is a member of the SS which adds to the level of horror as Gilbers’ novel unfolds but its conclusion takes on a much different path.
For a debut novel GERMANIA is a success and it makes me want to read the next installment of Richard Oppenheimer’s adventures. Hopefully, the English translation will appear soon as he has left the reader wondering what the fate of Oppenhiemer and his wife Lisa is.
The novel begins in bombed out Berlin in May 1944 where people gear up on a nightly basis for allied bombing. Oppenheimer and his wife Lisa, an Aryan are huddled together in the Jewish house where they live with other families in very crowded conditions. One evening the SS shows up at the house and they transport Oppenheimer to a murder scene. Since he has been let go as a detective years before Oppenheimer is at a loss as to why the SS is interested in his opinion. The employment of Oppenheimer is the brainchild of Hauptsturmfuhrer Volger of the SS who believes that Oppenheimer’s past experience with a serial killer would be valuable with his investigation. As Oppenheimer becomes involved in the case it seems that the murder of Inge Friedrichsen is only the first as two other women, Julie Dufour and Christina Gerdeler have also been victims within the last year.
Gilbers does an excellent job creating the ambiance of Berlin in May 1944 as the Nazi capital has become an obstacle course ridden with rubble from allied bombing. Gilbers’ command of the history of the period is quite extensive as Albert Speer and Hitler’s grand architectural plans for the new city of Germania (to replace Berlin) are neatly integrated into the story. Gilbers development of the Hildegard von Strachwitz’s character (Hilde) brings forth Kristallnacht as she begins her close friendship with Oppenheimer as she rescued him from an SA mob during the evening’s destruction. Hilde, a rabid anti-Nazi and physician has done a great deal of work in psychiatry and become Oppenheimer’s alter ego as he tries to solve the murders.
Gilbers’ dive into Nazi history focuses on the distrust and deadly competition within the SS as Volger and Oppenheimer deal with their investigation that could involve the Nazi Lebensborn program. Nazi racial theory called for pure blooded Germans and with the cost of Hitler’s war effort millions of German males would be needed to fight for the Fuhrer, so the program was ratcheted up. It seems that Inge Friedrichsen had been a secretary at Klosterhide, one of the many Lebensborn sites the Nazis created, in addition her son Horst was part of the program.
It is clear to Volger that Oppenheimer is an excellent investigator, and he accepts the pressure from SS hire ups that he is working with a Jew. The interaction between characters is one of the strengths of the novel. The Volger-Oppenheimer dynamic is important as is the Hilde-Oppenheimer relationship. For Oppenheimer he is in a quandary. Should he assist in tracking down the killer or take advantage of an opportunity to get his wife and himself out of the country as Gilbers describes the plight of Jews in the east.
The story line unfolds very slowly, and the reader does not become aware of the murder of Dufour and Gerdeler until about a third of the book has passed. Gilbers picks up the pace about halfway through the novel as the Nazi shadow begins to dominate. To Gilbers’ credit he incorporates little known aspects of life under the Nazis as a few thousand German Jews were still living in Berlin because like Oppenheimer they were married to a Christian women. In addition, he refers to Oppenheimer’s use of Pervitin, a stimulant to get through the day, as well as its pervasive use by German troops, particularly tankers on the eastern front.
Gilbers does a nice job allowing the reader to project into the recesses of the killer’s mind as he describes the methods the killer used to eliminate his victims, the staging of the murders, and disposing of their bodies. Certain aspects of the crime lead one to believe that the killer is a member of the SS which adds to the level of horror as Gilbers’ novel unfolds but its conclusion takes on a much different path.
For a debut novel GERMANIA is a success and it makes me want to read the next installment of Richard Oppenheimer’s adventures. Hopefully, the English translation will appear soon as he has left the reader wondering what the fate of Oppenhiemer and his wife Lisa is.
November 21, 2020
Bleak. And, oddly, both enlightening and engrossing: Those are my reactions after reading this book. It was not, at least to me, an easy book to read. First of all, my coming of age happened on the lower cusp of the "Make Love, Not War" generation; I don't like the thought of war, much less reading about one. As for World War II, near the end of which this story is set, my earliest recollections, somewhere around age 4, is hiding with my mother while my father - an air raid warden in our small Indiana town - hit the streets to make sure all the residents had their lights turned off (in later years, though, I did wonder whatever possessed my mother to think we'd be safe hunkered down in an upstairs bedroom - but that's a story for another day).
At any rate, I've for the most part steered clear of reading books or watching movies about wars. But because this one is a murder mystery/thriller and offered to me from the publisher, I put aside my doubts and dug in. And in the end, it won me over, triggering emotions from hope to sadness to fear and giving me a unique glimpse into what it must have been like to live in war-torn Berlin in mid-1944. Honestly, I can't imagine hell being much worse.
The story centers around former Detective Richard Oppenheimer, who, as Jew, has been relieved of duty under Nazi Germany rules. He's spared a worse fate, at least for the time being, because he's married to an Aryan woman named Lisa. They live in not much more than a hovel, which at any moment could be reduced to rubble by one of the frequent Allied air strikes. But then, his life takes a different turn: The Gestapo, it seems, need his expertise to help solve the gruesome murder of a woman whose mutilated body was laid out in front of a war memorial. He's reluctant to get involved - especially to help the people he sees as the enemy - but he also sees little choice. Soon, another body turns up in similar fashion - and now the search is for what is presumed to be a serial killer.
As he tries to skirt the uncertainties of interacting with a Gestapo supervisor (including such details as to when, or whether, he should keep the Star of David sewn onto his overcoat lapel as is normally required of him as a Jew), he becomes fascinated by the case. But many obstacles fall into his path, not the least of which is dodging the damage from incoming artillery. As all this unfolds and he's eager to nail the murderer, he tries to maintain his secret relationships with his anti-Nazi friends and keep up his hopes that he and his wife can escape to a safe country instead of being banished to a concentration camp - perhaps after the case is solved and he is no longer needed.
In between the action are extensive descriptions of what it was like to live in a war-torn city and the workings of the Nazi regime. It was to me a bit of a difficult read because scenes shift within the chapters with no warning; I lost count of the times I had to back up because I suddenly realized I was reading about an entirely different character in an entirely different setting. Still, it was overall a well-thought out, intriguing story I'm glad I took the time to read. Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for offering a pre-release copy. Definitely worth reading!
At any rate, I've for the most part steered clear of reading books or watching movies about wars. But because this one is a murder mystery/thriller and offered to me from the publisher, I put aside my doubts and dug in. And in the end, it won me over, triggering emotions from hope to sadness to fear and giving me a unique glimpse into what it must have been like to live in war-torn Berlin in mid-1944. Honestly, I can't imagine hell being much worse.
The story centers around former Detective Richard Oppenheimer, who, as Jew, has been relieved of duty under Nazi Germany rules. He's spared a worse fate, at least for the time being, because he's married to an Aryan woman named Lisa. They live in not much more than a hovel, which at any moment could be reduced to rubble by one of the frequent Allied air strikes. But then, his life takes a different turn: The Gestapo, it seems, need his expertise to help solve the gruesome murder of a woman whose mutilated body was laid out in front of a war memorial. He's reluctant to get involved - especially to help the people he sees as the enemy - but he also sees little choice. Soon, another body turns up in similar fashion - and now the search is for what is presumed to be a serial killer.
As he tries to skirt the uncertainties of interacting with a Gestapo supervisor (including such details as to when, or whether, he should keep the Star of David sewn onto his overcoat lapel as is normally required of him as a Jew), he becomes fascinated by the case. But many obstacles fall into his path, not the least of which is dodging the damage from incoming artillery. As all this unfolds and he's eager to nail the murderer, he tries to maintain his secret relationships with his anti-Nazi friends and keep up his hopes that he and his wife can escape to a safe country instead of being banished to a concentration camp - perhaps after the case is solved and he is no longer needed.
In between the action are extensive descriptions of what it was like to live in a war-torn city and the workings of the Nazi regime. It was to me a bit of a difficult read because scenes shift within the chapters with no warning; I lost count of the times I had to back up because I suddenly realized I was reading about an entirely different character in an entirely different setting. Still, it was overall a well-thought out, intriguing story I'm glad I took the time to read. Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for offering a pre-release copy. Definitely worth reading!
November 29, 2020
Rated 3.75 stars.
It is 1944 Berlin. Gruesome murders of women with Nazi connections are taking place and the SS is desperate to solve the case. Former Inspector Richard Oppenheimer, one of the few Jewish Germans allowed to remain in Berlin as his wife Lisa is deemed Aryan, is advised that he will assist Captain Vogler of the SS to find out who is behind the murders. Fearing for his and Lisa’s safety, Oppenheimer has no choice but to put his skills to best use. He ends up becoming energized by the opportunity to work again while realizing he is being used by the Nazis.
Germania is not your typical crime mystery as the story is set in Germany during WWII as the Allies are closing in on the SS. Bombs are continually being dropped. As the serial murders continue, the case becomes more complicated leading to an underworld that includes prostitution and the Lebensborn program, which was the Nazi’s scheme to breed a master race. As the investigation advances, Oppenheimer continues to face personal danger. He is aided by a German friend who is against everything the Nazi party stands for. You’ll want to find out who is behind the murders but more importantly, you’ll want to know how Oppenheimer will fare after the case is done and he will no longer be needed.
I enjoyed the book but the lack of connection Oppenheimer seems to have with his heritage was disappointing, even if he was not religious. While realizing the grave danger he was in, his non-Jewish wife appeared to have an even greater hatred towards the Nazis.
Germania is the first in the Oppenheimer series, which has been an international bestseller. It is now being introduced in the U.S. and Canada. I will be interested in seeing how the series progresses in post war years.
Many thanks to Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Germania in advance of its December 1, 2020 release.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
It is 1944 Berlin. Gruesome murders of women with Nazi connections are taking place and the SS is desperate to solve the case. Former Inspector Richard Oppenheimer, one of the few Jewish Germans allowed to remain in Berlin as his wife Lisa is deemed Aryan, is advised that he will assist Captain Vogler of the SS to find out who is behind the murders. Fearing for his and Lisa’s safety, Oppenheimer has no choice but to put his skills to best use. He ends up becoming energized by the opportunity to work again while realizing he is being used by the Nazis.
Germania is not your typical crime mystery as the story is set in Germany during WWII as the Allies are closing in on the SS. Bombs are continually being dropped. As the serial murders continue, the case becomes more complicated leading to an underworld that includes prostitution and the Lebensborn program, which was the Nazi’s scheme to breed a master race. As the investigation advances, Oppenheimer continues to face personal danger. He is aided by a German friend who is against everything the Nazi party stands for. You’ll want to find out who is behind the murders but more importantly, you’ll want to know how Oppenheimer will fare after the case is done and he will no longer be needed.
I enjoyed the book but the lack of connection Oppenheimer seems to have with his heritage was disappointing, even if he was not religious. While realizing the grave danger he was in, his non-Jewish wife appeared to have an even greater hatred towards the Nazis.
Germania is the first in the Oppenheimer series, which has been an international bestseller. It is now being introduced in the U.S. and Canada. I will be interested in seeing how the series progresses in post war years.
Many thanks to Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Germania in advance of its December 1, 2020 release.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
January 27, 2021
Thank you so much to Thomas Dunne Books & St Martin’s Press for the lovely free finished copy of Germania in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!
In Germania, Richard Oppenheimer used to be a detective for the Berlin police, but as a Jew under Hitler he is now forced to work a menial job. One SS agent is stumped when a serial killer starts leaving desecrated bodies in front of WW1 memorials, and he consults (forces) Oppenheimer to help catch the killer. Amidst air raids and bombs and constant fear of death in the rubble of Berlin, Oppenheimer and Vogler try to solve this case.
The setting felt so real as well with rubble strewn streets, frequent rain fall, bombed out buildings, and foreigners from everywhere. It ties in perfectly with the blackouts, oppressive and depressing overall atmosphere of the book.
So much danger, whether from the constant air strikes, Hitler’s regime, or a truly brutal killer, makes this a quietly exciting mystery. Oppenheimer is clever and an observant investigator, so many pages are spent as he puzzles out the case to his new boss, Vogler. Some thoroughly brutal descriptions of desecration were enough to really give me the chills about this killer.
I liked the characters too, Richard knows that his life is hanging by a thread but he still feels the thrill of being back on the case. He is an inherently good person. I think Vogler is too, he would never admit it but he sticks his neck out for Oppenheimer quite a bit and has at least a small streak of humanity. I would have liked a little more from the killer – they had a few paragraphs here and there but it was hard to tell when he was the one being featured, and the glimpses were small! I think he had a good and believable arc to insanity though.
As he is investigating, Oppenheimer learns that he is not being told all the facts. That says, he does a phenomenal job with what he is given. It’s definitely more of a literary investigative mystery than a thriller, although some parts are exciting. I don’t know much about German history at all so it was also interesting to read about landmarks, architecture, and some of Hitler’s less than popular Aryan breeding and spy schemes.
It is also my first German translated book. I don’t think a lot of German words and phrases translate well, which created some blocky language and curious phrases at times, but not enough to affect enjoyment. Gilbers is a history proficient theater writer, so I felt like I was getting an accurate portrayal of Nazi politics as well as a dramatic and depressing atmosphere.
I definitely couldn’t figure out why the party cared so much about one murderer… But… You’ll find out why when you read it!
I took the 1.5 stars off for the book being a little anticlimactic – I think Oppenheimer should have been more present during the criminal apprehensions, but his role was only to figure out who did it. Also without knowing the German history I had to look up quite a few abbreviations, and lord knows that German words are a mouthful to pronounce. All the points for setting and atmosphere though and for the characters.
I think this is a wonderfully human mystery and would recommend to anyone interested!
In Germania, Richard Oppenheimer used to be a detective for the Berlin police, but as a Jew under Hitler he is now forced to work a menial job. One SS agent is stumped when a serial killer starts leaving desecrated bodies in front of WW1 memorials, and he consults (forces) Oppenheimer to help catch the killer. Amidst air raids and bombs and constant fear of death in the rubble of Berlin, Oppenheimer and Vogler try to solve this case.
The setting felt so real as well with rubble strewn streets, frequent rain fall, bombed out buildings, and foreigners from everywhere. It ties in perfectly with the blackouts, oppressive and depressing overall atmosphere of the book.
So much danger, whether from the constant air strikes, Hitler’s regime, or a truly brutal killer, makes this a quietly exciting mystery. Oppenheimer is clever and an observant investigator, so many pages are spent as he puzzles out the case to his new boss, Vogler. Some thoroughly brutal descriptions of desecration were enough to really give me the chills about this killer.
I liked the characters too, Richard knows that his life is hanging by a thread but he still feels the thrill of being back on the case. He is an inherently good person. I think Vogler is too, he would never admit it but he sticks his neck out for Oppenheimer quite a bit and has at least a small streak of humanity. I would have liked a little more from the killer – they had a few paragraphs here and there but it was hard to tell when he was the one being featured, and the glimpses were small! I think he had a good and believable arc to insanity though.
As he is investigating, Oppenheimer learns that he is not being told all the facts. That says, he does a phenomenal job with what he is given. It’s definitely more of a literary investigative mystery than a thriller, although some parts are exciting. I don’t know much about German history at all so it was also interesting to read about landmarks, architecture, and some of Hitler’s less than popular Aryan breeding and spy schemes.
It is also my first German translated book. I don’t think a lot of German words and phrases translate well, which created some blocky language and curious phrases at times, but not enough to affect enjoyment. Gilbers is a history proficient theater writer, so I felt like I was getting an accurate portrayal of Nazi politics as well as a dramatic and depressing atmosphere.
I definitely couldn’t figure out why the party cared so much about one murderer… But… You’ll find out why when you read it!
I took the 1.5 stars off for the book being a little anticlimactic – I think Oppenheimer should have been more present during the criminal apprehensions, but his role was only to figure out who did it. Also without knowing the German history I had to look up quite a few abbreviations, and lord knows that German words are a mouthful to pronounce. All the points for setting and atmosphere though and for the characters.
I think this is a wonderfully human mystery and would recommend to anyone interested!
April 15, 2024
This was brilliantly written.
November 29, 2020
Review
Germania
Harald Gilbers
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
,Rejoice fans of Philip Kerr and Alan Furst, a new voice has reached our shores. Germania was published in Germany in 2013 to great acclaim, and garnered the prestigious Glauser Prize for Best Debut Crime novel. Finally, an excellent English translation is available for our reading pleasure.
A cinematic noir thriller is woven through the bombed-out streets of war-torn Berlin in the waning years of 1944 Nazi Germany. SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Vogler has unsuccessfully chased a serial killer for three months. In desperation, he enlists—or rather coerces—Richard Oppenheimer to act as an advisor in his unsuccessful endeavor. Oppenheimer was one of the best investigators in the crime squad before he was removed from public service, because of his odious crime of being “a Jew.” He had successfully investigated and brought to justice three of the most heinous serial killers in German history: Friedrich “Fritz” Haarmann the “Butcher of Hannover,” Peter Kurten the Vampire of Dusseldorf, and Karl Grossman the killer of prostitutes and homeless women. It was Oppenheimer’s involvement in this last one—the killer, monster, madman investigation—that brought his name to the attention of Vogler.
Oppenheimer has no choice and certainly cannot not turn down Vogler’s request. He’s already living in the “Jew House” with his Aryan wife, and slinks around the streets marked by a yellow star, avoiding eye contact with passersby. By joining the case, Oppenheimer hopes to avoid his “evacuation,” an official term used by the National Socialists and euphemism for being shipped off to a concentration camp.
Inspector Oppenheimer quickly, reflexively, takes on the familiar role of hunter. At the multiple murder sites he finds a young women, strangled and displayed in a somewhat sacrificial manner on top of a World War I memorial with her legs splayed open, revealing a horrendous mutilation of her genitals. With further exploration the victims have had long steel nails driven into both ear canals, which were embedded into the brain.
Gilbers weaves together a complex and convoluted narrative that culminates in multiple unexpected reveals. His cinematic and atmospheric tale obviously pays homage to the great noir films of Fritz Lang. Like any good historical novel, this story is populated by the main players of the time: Hitler, Goebbels, Speer, and Goring, though they are only present tangentially. The main focus are the protagonists of Oppenheimer, Vogler, and the murderer. And, lastly perhaps, the German people.
The bottom line: An excellent translation to a deeply engaging historical noir. All the markings of a classic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This tale measures right up there with the best of Philip Kerr’s beloved “Bernie Gunther” series. I look forward to English translations of Gillber’s four other “Oppenheimer” novels.
Germania
Harald Gilbers
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
,Rejoice fans of Philip Kerr and Alan Furst, a new voice has reached our shores. Germania was published in Germany in 2013 to great acclaim, and garnered the prestigious Glauser Prize for Best Debut Crime novel. Finally, an excellent English translation is available for our reading pleasure.
A cinematic noir thriller is woven through the bombed-out streets of war-torn Berlin in the waning years of 1944 Nazi Germany. SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Vogler has unsuccessfully chased a serial killer for three months. In desperation, he enlists—or rather coerces—Richard Oppenheimer to act as an advisor in his unsuccessful endeavor. Oppenheimer was one of the best investigators in the crime squad before he was removed from public service, because of his odious crime of being “a Jew.” He had successfully investigated and brought to justice three of the most heinous serial killers in German history: Friedrich “Fritz” Haarmann the “Butcher of Hannover,” Peter Kurten the Vampire of Dusseldorf, and Karl Grossman the killer of prostitutes and homeless women. It was Oppenheimer’s involvement in this last one—the killer, monster, madman investigation—that brought his name to the attention of Vogler.
Oppenheimer has no choice and certainly cannot not turn down Vogler’s request. He’s already living in the “Jew House” with his Aryan wife, and slinks around the streets marked by a yellow star, avoiding eye contact with passersby. By joining the case, Oppenheimer hopes to avoid his “evacuation,” an official term used by the National Socialists and euphemism for being shipped off to a concentration camp.
Inspector Oppenheimer quickly, reflexively, takes on the familiar role of hunter. At the multiple murder sites he finds a young women, strangled and displayed in a somewhat sacrificial manner on top of a World War I memorial with her legs splayed open, revealing a horrendous mutilation of her genitals. With further exploration the victims have had long steel nails driven into both ear canals, which were embedded into the brain.
Gilbers weaves together a complex and convoluted narrative that culminates in multiple unexpected reveals. His cinematic and atmospheric tale obviously pays homage to the great noir films of Fritz Lang. Like any good historical novel, this story is populated by the main players of the time: Hitler, Goebbels, Speer, and Goring, though they are only present tangentially. The main focus are the protagonists of Oppenheimer, Vogler, and the murderer. And, lastly perhaps, the German people.
The bottom line: An excellent translation to a deeply engaging historical noir. All the markings of a classic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This tale measures right up there with the best of Philip Kerr’s beloved “Bernie Gunther” series. I look forward to English translations of Gillber’s four other “Oppenheimer” novels.
November 29, 2024
So an interesting premise…a ghettoized and fired Jewish inspector in nazi Berlin in 44 finds himself investigating a serial killer…
The backdrop is engaging and the initial characters are well drawn…and the story just slows down as it goes on…
The backdrop is engaging and the initial characters are well drawn…and the story just slows down as it goes on…
January 17, 2021
Richard Oppenheimer is a German Jewish detective who was removed from his job when the Nazis came to power.
While he is required to wear the yellow Star of David on his clothes he has somehow managed to stay out of the death camps and remain in Berlin with his Aryan wife.
1944 when the war is almost at an end he is brought in by the SS to help them solve a gruesome murder.
If this isn’t an unlikely story I don’t know what is.
The book is slow moving without the actual horror of the Holocaust being presented.
However, the murder details are rather grisly.
I did not find anything enjoyable about this book and the ending went off with a sigh.
While he is required to wear the yellow Star of David on his clothes he has somehow managed to stay out of the death camps and remain in Berlin with his Aryan wife.
1944 when the war is almost at an end he is brought in by the SS to help them solve a gruesome murder.
If this isn’t an unlikely story I don’t know what is.
The book is slow moving without the actual horror of the Holocaust being presented.
However, the murder details are rather grisly.
I did not find anything enjoyable about this book and the ending went off with a sigh.
June 16, 2016
Gros coup de coeur pour ce thriller historique qui a su trouver le parfait équilibre entre l'Histoire avec un grand H et l'enquête policière ! Du rythme, du suspense, un travail de recherche minutieux sur la vie des berlinois en ce printemps 1944 et des personnages extrêmement attachants ! Bref, On est pris dans le tourbillon de cette histoire avec ce duo improbable entre un SS et un ex-policier juif ! Un Excellent thriller historique que je conseille fortement aux fans du genre !
http://www.ilestbiencelivre.com/1677/...
http://www.ilestbiencelivre.com/1677/...
July 29, 2020
Το Σκοτεινό Βερολίνο τελείωσε και μάλλον εδώ θα σταματήσει και η γνωριμία μου με τον συγγραφέα.Ηταν μια προσπάθεια που σαν βάση επιδίωξε να έχει την πραγματική ιστορία και πάνω της να στηθεί ο μύθος,αλλά τελικά απέτυχε να δέσει το γλυκό.Στα πολύ θετικά του βιβλίου,η έρευνα και η μελέτη του συγγραφέα,η οποία ήταν όντως επισταμένη και αυτό ήταν ξεκάθαρο σε όλο το βιβλίο.Όμως,η κυριότερη ένστασή μου ήταν η έλλειψη συναισθήματος.Η κανονικοποίηση της φρίκης και η ουδέτερη παρουσίαση-τύπου,είμαστε ασφαλίτες Γκεσταπίτες και έχουμε τους τρόπους μας με τα βασανιστήρια,γιατί αυτό ξέρουμε να κάνουμε και είμαστε ΟΚ,και δεν πειράζει που εσύ είσαι ένας Εβραίος επιθεωρητής,που ενώ γενικά οι υπόλοιποι έχουν γίνει όλοι παρανάλωμα,εσένα σε αφήνουμε λίγο χαλαρό να μας κάνεις τη δουλίτσα.Όλο αυτό ίσως να το περνούσα στα ψιλά,αν η ιστορία δεν χρησιμοποιούσε τα πραγματικά γεγονότα.Αν όλο ήταν αποκύημα φαντασίας θα ήταν εντάξει.Όμως δεν ήταν.Στο αστυνομικό κομμάτι του πράγματος,τα βρήκα λίγο πιο νορμάλ τα πράγματα.Όχι εξαιρετικά πολυεπίπεδα,αλλά τίμια.Βέβαια η επιλογή του Εβραίου επιθεωρητή ήταν σχεδόν μονόδρομος για το ποιος ήταν ο δολοφόνος,αλλά αυτό έχει να κάνει με τις δυο νταλίκες αστυνομικά που έχω διαβάσει τα τελευταία τριάντα χρόνια,δεν ήταν αποτρεπτικό στο να το διαβάσω μέχρι τέλους.
2,5⭐
2,5⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2015
Kommissar a. D.
Im Mai 1944 während die Stadt unter den Bombenangriffen der Alliierten fast zerbricht werden in Berlin seltsam hergerichtete und verstümmelte Frauenleichen gefunden. Die Untersuchungen zu den Todesfällen werden von Hauptsturmführer Vogler durchgeführt. Schnelle Ergebnisse sind gefragt, doch diese zeichnen sich nicht ab. Da erinnert man sich an den ehemaligen Kommissar Richard Oppenheimer, der wegen seiner Angehörigkeit zum jüdischen Glauben vom Dienst suspendiert wurde. Vogler bittet Oppenheimer an den Untersuchungen teilzunehmen, damit der Täter möglichst schnell entlarvt werden kann. Allerdings werden Oppenheimer nicht alle Informationen zur Verfügung gestellt. Überhaupt arbeitet es sich für einen Juden nicht leicht unter den Augen der herrschenden Klasse. Obwohl Oppenheimer sich jederzeit beobachtet und verfolgt fühlt und er jeden Schritt fast schon in der Gewissheit unternimmt, es könnte der letzte sein, ist er doch froh endlich einmal wieder seinem erlernten Beruf nachgehen zu können.
Schon wenige Seiten nach Beginn der Lektüre spürt man die Bedrückung und Bedrohung, die Oppenheimer umgibt. Als der Wagen Voglers neben ihm hält, glaubt Oppenheimer, die Zeit des Abtransports sei gekommen. Auch die Offenbarung seiner wirklichen Aufgabe bringt kaum Erleichterung, schließlich kann sie nur einen Aufschub bedeutet. Die gesamte Berliner Bevölkerung erlebt die ständige Anspannung in Erwartung des nächsten Bombenangriffs. Die Folgen der Angriffe sind unübersehbar, auch wenn man bemüht ist, die gröbsten Spuren zu beseitigen. Bereits am Tatort wird Oppenheimers Spürsinn geweckt.
Die Stimmung in Berlin während des letzten Kriegsjahres wird in diesen Buch sehr gut eingefangen. Die Berliner sind des Krieges zwar überdrüssig, doch immer noch hoffen gerade die Jüngeren auf einen Sieg. Eigentlich müsste klar sein, dass dieser nicht mehr kommen wird. Die Unbelehrbaren scheinen aber in der Überzahl zu sein. Doch auch in dieser gebeutelten Stadt geschehen Verbrechen, doch da die normale Polizei nahezu nichts mehr zu sagen hat, sieht sich Vogler genötigt, den aus dem Dienst entfernten Juden Oppenheimer zu reaktivieren. Vom dem Spannungsverhältnis zwischen diesen beiden Personen lebt das Buch. Oppenheimer, der jederzeit befürchten muss, verhaftet zu werden, und Vogler, der allerlei unternimmt und erlaubt, um sich die Meriten für die Lösung des Falls anheften zu können. Ein Stück lebendige Geschichte um Kommissar a. D. Oppenheimer, die zu lesen lohnt.
4,5 Sterne
Im Mai 1944 während die Stadt unter den Bombenangriffen der Alliierten fast zerbricht werden in Berlin seltsam hergerichtete und verstümmelte Frauenleichen gefunden. Die Untersuchungen zu den Todesfällen werden von Hauptsturmführer Vogler durchgeführt. Schnelle Ergebnisse sind gefragt, doch diese zeichnen sich nicht ab. Da erinnert man sich an den ehemaligen Kommissar Richard Oppenheimer, der wegen seiner Angehörigkeit zum jüdischen Glauben vom Dienst suspendiert wurde. Vogler bittet Oppenheimer an den Untersuchungen teilzunehmen, damit der Täter möglichst schnell entlarvt werden kann. Allerdings werden Oppenheimer nicht alle Informationen zur Verfügung gestellt. Überhaupt arbeitet es sich für einen Juden nicht leicht unter den Augen der herrschenden Klasse. Obwohl Oppenheimer sich jederzeit beobachtet und verfolgt fühlt und er jeden Schritt fast schon in der Gewissheit unternimmt, es könnte der letzte sein, ist er doch froh endlich einmal wieder seinem erlernten Beruf nachgehen zu können.
Schon wenige Seiten nach Beginn der Lektüre spürt man die Bedrückung und Bedrohung, die Oppenheimer umgibt. Als der Wagen Voglers neben ihm hält, glaubt Oppenheimer, die Zeit des Abtransports sei gekommen. Auch die Offenbarung seiner wirklichen Aufgabe bringt kaum Erleichterung, schließlich kann sie nur einen Aufschub bedeutet. Die gesamte Berliner Bevölkerung erlebt die ständige Anspannung in Erwartung des nächsten Bombenangriffs. Die Folgen der Angriffe sind unübersehbar, auch wenn man bemüht ist, die gröbsten Spuren zu beseitigen. Bereits am Tatort wird Oppenheimers Spürsinn geweckt.
Die Stimmung in Berlin während des letzten Kriegsjahres wird in diesen Buch sehr gut eingefangen. Die Berliner sind des Krieges zwar überdrüssig, doch immer noch hoffen gerade die Jüngeren auf einen Sieg. Eigentlich müsste klar sein, dass dieser nicht mehr kommen wird. Die Unbelehrbaren scheinen aber in der Überzahl zu sein. Doch auch in dieser gebeutelten Stadt geschehen Verbrechen, doch da die normale Polizei nahezu nichts mehr zu sagen hat, sieht sich Vogler genötigt, den aus dem Dienst entfernten Juden Oppenheimer zu reaktivieren. Vom dem Spannungsverhältnis zwischen diesen beiden Personen lebt das Buch. Oppenheimer, der jederzeit befürchten muss, verhaftet zu werden, und Vogler, der allerlei unternimmt und erlaubt, um sich die Meriten für die Lösung des Falls anheften zu können. Ein Stück lebendige Geschichte um Kommissar a. D. Oppenheimer, die zu lesen lohnt.
4,5 Sterne
November 29, 2020
Review
Germania
Harald Gilbers
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
,Rejoice fans of Philip Kerr and Alan Furst, a new voice has reached our shores. Germania was published in Germany in 2013 to great acclaim, and garnered the prestigious Glauser Prize for Best Debut Crime novel. Finally, an excellent English translation is available for our reading pleasure.
A cinematic noir thriller is woven through the bombed-out streets of war-torn Berlin in the waning years of 1944 Nazi Germany. SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Vogler has unsuccessfully chased a serial killer for three months. In desperation, he enlists—or rather coerces—Richard Oppenheimer to act as an advisor in his unsuccessful endeavor. Oppenheimer was one of the best investigators in the crime squad before he was removed from public service, because of his odious crime of being “a Jew.” He had successfully investigated and brought to justice three of the most heinous serial killers in German history: Friedrich “Fritz” Haarmann the “Butcher of Hannover,” Peter Kurten the Vampire of Dusseldorf, and Karl Grossman the killer of prostitutes and homeless women. It was Oppenheimer’s involvement in this last one—the killer, monster, madman investigation—that brought his name to the attention of Vogler.
Oppenheimer has no choice and certainly cannot not turn down Vogler’s request. He’s already living in the “Jew House” with his Aryan wife, and slinks around the streets marked by a yellow star, avoiding eye contact with passersby. By joining the case, Oppenheimer hopes to avoid his “evacuation,” an official term used by the National Socialists and euphemism for being shipped off to a concentration camp.
Inspector Oppenheimer quickly, reflexively, takes on the familiar role of hunter. At the multiple murder sites he finds a young women, strangled and displayed in a somewhat sacrificial manner on top of a World War I memorial with her legs splayed open, revealing a horrendous mutilation of her genitals. With further exploration the victims have had long steel nails driven into both ear canals, which were embedded into the brain.
Gilbers weaves together a complex and convoluted narrative that culminates in multiple unexpected reveals. His cinematic and atmospheric tale obviously pays homage to the great noir films of Fritz Lang. Like any good historical novel, this story is populated by the main players of the time: Hitler, Goebbels, Speer, and Goring, though they are only present tangentially. The main focus are the protagonists of Oppenheimer, Vogler, and the murderer. And, lastly perhaps, the German people.
The bottom line: An excellent translation to a deeply engaging historical noir. All the markings of a classic.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This tale measures right up there with the best of Philip Kerr’s beloved “Bernie Gunther” series. I look forward to English translations of Gillber’s four other “Oppenheimer” novels.
November 18, 2020
I received a free advance review copy from the publisher, via Netgalley.
It is June, 1944. Richard Oppenheimer, once a successful homicide detective inspector with the Berlin Kriminalpolizei, was forced off because he is Jewish. He has not been deported “to the east,” though, because he is married to a so-called Aryan, Lisa. Along with others in mixed marriages, they live a hand-to-mouth life in a Jewish House apartment building.
Out of the blue, Oppenheimer is told to join an SS officer, Vogler, to investigate a series of brutal murders of women. It’s a shock to his system, being able to be out and about in Berlin and working with the powerful. He sees the rapacious acquisitiveness of the Nazi elite, the foreign workers doing much of the labor and, most of all, the transformation wreaked on the city in these waning months of the war. The city is bombarded daily, turning it into a landscape of ruins, smoke and death. There are rumors of the D-Day invasion, and Germans seem to know that the Third Reich will fall far short of its promised thousand years.
In this bizarre time and place, a serial killer must be stopped, to protect public morale. Oppenheimer’s methods are classic police procedural stuff. As in many serial killer novels, we have some passages from the point of view of the killer. They’re not nearly as interesting as Oppenheimer’s story, but fortunately they take up only a small proportion of the book.
Harald Gilbert is a German writer of WW2 history, and this is a translation of his (first?) novel. The translation is good, though not always entirely smooth.
There is one thing that puzzled me about this book. A couple of times while he’s out on his new official duties, Oppenheimer runs into people who know him and know that he’s Jewish. When they ask how he can be working as a detective (or anything, for that matter) in Nazi Berlin, he tells them he converted. This doesn’t make sense, since Nazis considered Jewishness to be an immutable racial category, not merely a religious faith. And Harald Gilbert, as a historian of the period, must surely know that.
I can’t help assessing any novel about homicide in the Nazi era to the Bernie Gunther series by the late Philipp Kerr. Does this book meet that standard? No, it’s not quite as good at painting an entire world, rich with historic context, and Oppenheimer is, unsurprisingly, not the wisecracking gumshoe that Bernie Gunther is. Still, this is a vivid story, well told, and if Harald Gilbert has more crime fiction to offer, I will happily read it.
It is June, 1944. Richard Oppenheimer, once a successful homicide detective inspector with the Berlin Kriminalpolizei, was forced off because he is Jewish. He has not been deported “to the east,” though, because he is married to a so-called Aryan, Lisa. Along with others in mixed marriages, they live a hand-to-mouth life in a Jewish House apartment building.
Out of the blue, Oppenheimer is told to join an SS officer, Vogler, to investigate a series of brutal murders of women. It’s a shock to his system, being able to be out and about in Berlin and working with the powerful. He sees the rapacious acquisitiveness of the Nazi elite, the foreign workers doing much of the labor and, most of all, the transformation wreaked on the city in these waning months of the war. The city is bombarded daily, turning it into a landscape of ruins, smoke and death. There are rumors of the D-Day invasion, and Germans seem to know that the Third Reich will fall far short of its promised thousand years.
In this bizarre time and place, a serial killer must be stopped, to protect public morale. Oppenheimer’s methods are classic police procedural stuff. As in many serial killer novels, we have some passages from the point of view of the killer. They’re not nearly as interesting as Oppenheimer’s story, but fortunately they take up only a small proportion of the book.
Harald Gilbert is a German writer of WW2 history, and this is a translation of his (first?) novel. The translation is good, though not always entirely smooth.
There is one thing that puzzled me about this book. A couple of times while he’s out on his new official duties, Oppenheimer runs into people who know him and know that he’s Jewish. When they ask how he can be working as a detective (or anything, for that matter) in Nazi Berlin, he tells them he converted. This doesn’t make sense, since Nazis considered Jewishness to be an immutable racial category, not merely a religious faith. And Harald Gilbert, as a historian of the period, must surely know that.
I can’t help assessing any novel about homicide in the Nazi era to the Bernie Gunther series by the late Philipp Kerr. Does this book meet that standard? No, it’s not quite as good at painting an entire world, rich with historic context, and Oppenheimer is, unsurprisingly, not the wisecracking gumshoe that Bernie Gunther is. Still, this is a vivid story, well told, and if Harald Gilbert has more crime fiction to offer, I will happily read it.
November 11, 2020
For more reviews and Bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Germania by Harald Gilbers is a murder-mystery taking place during the last weeks of World War II, following a Jewish investigator reactivated by the Gestapo. This book won the Glauser Prize for the best German crime novel.
Richard Oppenheimer, a Jewish police commissioner who has been stripped from his office once the Nazis took over has been secretly reactivated by the Gestapo to find a serial killer friendly to the regime. All the victims are someone connected to the party, and the case needs to be solved quickly and secretly.
For Oppenheimer, the case is an opportunity for him and his wife to survive a bit longer. He knows, however, that he is playing a dangerous game.
This was a very interesting take on an old genre. In Germania by Harald Gilbers bombed out Berlin plays a major part, setting up events and landscapes which make it difficult for former Inspector Richard Oppenheimer, but more interesting to the readers.
The premise of the book is fascinating, a Jewish policeman brought back by the Gestapo’s SS Hauptsturmführer Vogler to solve a series of murders, in a city torn apart by war, where corpses lying around are not an exception, but the rule. Oppenheimer has to navigate a ruined city, corpses abound, his family life, secret friendships, while solving a murder.
And he’s also a persona non grata in his own city, anti-Semites all around who will kill him in a heartbeat for simply not wearing his yellow star, with no consequences of course, expect maybe a pat on the back.
The book shows life in bombed out Berlin, a city falling apart where nightly bombing raids are common, and a good night’s sleep is almost unheard of. The mood of the city is captured very well. Berliners are exhausted, suspecting, or rather knowing, that they are being lied to by the government, gathering clues from wherever they can to figure out what’s really going on.
The author does a very good job showing the oppression Oppenheimer feels on a daily base. Every event can mean the end of his life, either as he knows it or in a more literal, and lethal sense. The relationship between Oppenheimer and Vogel is a tense one. Vogel has vouched for Oppenheimer to his superiors, and will pay a heavy price if they fail, or even if they succeed. Oppenheimer, of course, is afraid all the time and he too knows the prices of failure, or success as well, will be heavy.
Out of all the horrors which are shown, the novel does have a touch of humanity in it which gives the reader some semblance of hope among the ruins. Finally, kudos to a wonderful, and somewhat poetic translation by Alexandra Rosech.
Germania by Harald Gilbers is a murder-mystery taking place during the last weeks of World War II, following a Jewish investigator reactivated by the Gestapo. This book won the Glauser Prize for the best German crime novel.
Richard Oppenheimer, a Jewish police commissioner who has been stripped from his office once the Nazis took over has been secretly reactivated by the Gestapo to find a serial killer friendly to the regime. All the victims are someone connected to the party, and the case needs to be solved quickly and secretly.
For Oppenheimer, the case is an opportunity for him and his wife to survive a bit longer. He knows, however, that he is playing a dangerous game.
This was a very interesting take on an old genre. In Germania by Harald Gilbers bombed out Berlin plays a major part, setting up events and landscapes which make it difficult for former Inspector Richard Oppenheimer, but more interesting to the readers.
The premise of the book is fascinating, a Jewish policeman brought back by the Gestapo’s SS Hauptsturmführer Vogler to solve a series of murders, in a city torn apart by war, where corpses lying around are not an exception, but the rule. Oppenheimer has to navigate a ruined city, corpses abound, his family life, secret friendships, while solving a murder.
And he’s also a persona non grata in his own city, anti-Semites all around who will kill him in a heartbeat for simply not wearing his yellow star, with no consequences of course, expect maybe a pat on the back.
The book shows life in bombed out Berlin, a city falling apart where nightly bombing raids are common, and a good night’s sleep is almost unheard of. The mood of the city is captured very well. Berliners are exhausted, suspecting, or rather knowing, that they are being lied to by the government, gathering clues from wherever they can to figure out what’s really going on.
The author does a very good job showing the oppression Oppenheimer feels on a daily base. Every event can mean the end of his life, either as he knows it or in a more literal, and lethal sense. The relationship between Oppenheimer and Vogel is a tense one. Vogel has vouched for Oppenheimer to his superiors, and will pay a heavy price if they fail, or even if they succeed. Oppenheimer, of course, is afraid all the time and he too knows the prices of failure, or success as well, will be heavy.
Out of all the horrors which are shown, the novel does have a touch of humanity in it which gives the reader some semblance of hope among the ruins. Finally, kudos to a wonderful, and somewhat poetic translation by Alexandra Rosech.
August 14, 2024
Καταρχάς να πω ότι το άκουσα σε audio book. Μου άρεσε τρέλα σαν ιστορία -αν και από πλευράς ατμόσφαιρας ήταν πιο λάιτ από όσο θα έπρεπε- κι επίσης βρήκα εξαιρετικό τον επιθεωρητή Οπενχάιμερ. Το γεγονός δε ό,τι αναφερόταν στην περίοδο του Β'ΠΠ είναι ακόμη ένα συν.
Ωστόσο δεν μπορώ να παραβλέψω τα πολλά και εξόφθαλμα λάθη, εκφραστικά γραμματικά κτλ., τα οποία όταν τα διαβάζεις μπορεί και να τα προσπεράσεις όταν όμως τα ακούς δεν μπορείς να τα ξεπεράσεις με τίποτα. Σημειώνω μερικά που έχω πρόχειρα: "Φωτεινή δέσμη φωτός", "Πολύ εξαιρετικά δυσκολο", "Το ένστικτο του κυνηγού είχε αφυπνίσει μέσα τους!", "προσποιητικός αναστεναγμός".
Πέραν αυτών ο συγγραφέας κάνει αναφορά σε θέματα και πρακτικές που άπτονται της εγκληματολογίας και της διερεύνησης του τόπου εγκλήματος, που από όσο τουλάχιστον γνωρίζω -και παρακαλώ αν κάνω λάθος να μου το επισημάνετε- δεν χρησιμοποιούνταν την εποχή που αναφέρεται το βιβλίο. Μιλάω για δακτυλικά αποτυπώματα, σκιαγράφηση προφίλ εγκληματία, περισυλλογή τριχών, νυχιών και λοιπών στοιχείων για περαιτέρω εξετάσεις (DNA το 1944;;;)
Δεν ξέρω τι να πω, ειλικρινά. Είμαι τόσο διχασμένη με αυτό το βιβλίο. Από τη μια μου άρεσε τόσο σαν ιστορία κι από την άλλη όλα αυτά. Θεωρώ ότι τα 3 αστέρια είναι μια τίμια βαθμολογία.
Πάντως για την ιστορία σκοπεύω να διαβάσω και το δεύτερο της σειράς -σε έντυπο αυτή τη φορα- κι αναλόγως τι θα βρω εκεί θα αποφασίσω ή όχι αν θα προχωρήσω και με τα υπόλοιπα.
Ωστόσο δεν μπορώ να παραβλέψω τα πολλά και εξόφθαλμα λάθη, εκφραστικά γραμματικά κτλ., τα οποία όταν τα διαβάζεις μπορεί και να τα προσπεράσεις όταν όμως τα ακούς δεν μπορείς να τα ξεπεράσεις με τίποτα. Σημειώνω μερικά που έχω πρόχειρα: "Φωτεινή δέσμη φωτός", "Πολύ εξαιρετικά δυσκολο", "Το ένστικτο του κυνηγού είχε αφυπνίσει μέσα τους!", "προσποιητικός αναστεναγμός".
Πέραν αυτών ο συγγραφέας κάνει αναφορά σε θέματα και πρακτικές που άπτονται της εγκληματολογίας και της διερεύνησης του τόπου εγκλήματος, που από όσο τουλάχιστον γνωρίζω -και παρακαλώ αν κάνω λάθος να μου το επισημάνετε- δεν χρησιμοποιούνταν την εποχή που αναφέρεται το βιβλίο. Μιλάω για δακτυλικά αποτυπώματα, σκιαγράφηση προφίλ εγκληματία, περισυλλογή τριχών, νυχιών και λοιπών στοιχείων για περαιτέρω εξετάσεις (DNA το 1944;;;)
Δεν ξέρω τι να πω, ειλικρινά. Είμαι τόσο διχασμένη με αυτό το βιβλίο. Από τη μια μου άρεσε τόσο σαν ιστορία κι από την άλλη όλα αυτά. Θεωρώ ότι τα 3 αστέρια είναι μια τίμια βαθμολογία.
Πάντως για την ιστορία σκοπεύω να διαβάσω και το δεύτερο της σειράς -σε έντυπο αυτή τη φορα- κι αναλόγως τι θα βρω εκεί θα αποφασίσω ή όχι αν θα προχωρήσω και με τα υπόλοιπα.
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