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Postwar Survivor: Journey To America: Book 1
Based on a true story.
Germany, October 1945. World War II has come to an end and after narrowly surviving the fall of Berlin and the months afterward, Karl Veth is faced with new challenges. He must help his family survive in an impoverished country torn apart by war. Food is scarce but using the street-smarts he developed throughout the war, Karl is able to establish a trading network between local farmers and the US military to help provide for his family. Until his father puts an end to it.
At 15 years old, Karl should have already left home and completed the first year of an apprenticeship in his chosen trade. With the war over, his father insists he behave like a responsible adult, leave home, and learn a trade so he can provide for himself. Uncertain of which direction to take, Karl accepts a position on a fishing vessel until he can decide on an honorable trade.
A kind ship’s captain and his friend, a retired master chef, come to Karl’s aid and set him on a course that will change his life forever. Over the next few years, under the tutelage of a stern master, he will learn more, much more, than the required skills of his chosen craft.
Author’s Karl Veth's story began in the Degree series. He is the main character in the books and after reading the series, fans wanted to learn more about his life after the war. Encouraged by readers and their desire to know more, the story of Karl's journey to America begins in Germany in Book 1 and will be completed in Book 2.
Recommended reading
Children To A Degree – Book 1
Loyal To A Degree – Book 2
Trust To A Degree – Book 3
Partners To A Degree – Book 4
Postwar Survivor - Journey To Book 1
Germany, October 1945. World War II has come to an end and after narrowly surviving the fall of Berlin and the months afterward, Karl Veth is faced with new challenges. He must help his family survive in an impoverished country torn apart by war. Food is scarce but using the street-smarts he developed throughout the war, Karl is able to establish a trading network between local farmers and the US military to help provide for his family. Until his father puts an end to it.
At 15 years old, Karl should have already left home and completed the first year of an apprenticeship in his chosen trade. With the war over, his father insists he behave like a responsible adult, leave home, and learn a trade so he can provide for himself. Uncertain of which direction to take, Karl accepts a position on a fishing vessel until he can decide on an honorable trade.
A kind ship’s captain and his friend, a retired master chef, come to Karl’s aid and set him on a course that will change his life forever. Over the next few years, under the tutelage of a stern master, he will learn more, much more, than the required skills of his chosen craft.
Author’s Karl Veth's story began in the Degree series. He is the main character in the books and after reading the series, fans wanted to learn more about his life after the war. Encouraged by readers and their desire to know more, the story of Karl's journey to America begins in Germany in Book 1 and will be completed in Book 2.
Recommended reading
Children To A Degree – Book 1
Loyal To A Degree – Book 2
Trust To A Degree – Book 3
Partners To A Degree – Book 4
Postwar Survivor - Journey To Book 1
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2017
18 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Horst Christian
24 books53 followersI was born in Berlin, Germany in 1930. My father taught me to read and write before the age of 5 and by the time I was 10 years old, I discovered my love for writing. I wrote vacation reports and several articles for a German school periodical.
When I was 10, I entered the “Jungvolk,” a subdivision of the Hitler Youth, which was mandatory in the Berlin school system. I then entered the Hitler Youth at the age of 14, also mandatory, and continued writing for the Hitler Youth periodicals.
I was drafted to help defend Berlin against the Soviets at the age of 14 because of my unique knowledge of the subway system and I served as a guide for various SS demolition commandos.
My books are based on my own experiences as a young boy in Germany during World War II and the days leading up to and after the fall of Berlin. There have been many books written about the war, but none from the perspective of a 14 year old boy who was forced to fight for a cause he did not understand.
I immigrated to the United States in the early 1950s and became a citizen. My wife, Jennifer, and I live in Northern California on a small ranch, where we have been for the last 30 years.
When I was 10, I entered the “Jungvolk,” a subdivision of the Hitler Youth, which was mandatory in the Berlin school system. I then entered the Hitler Youth at the age of 14, also mandatory, and continued writing for the Hitler Youth periodicals.
I was drafted to help defend Berlin against the Soviets at the age of 14 because of my unique knowledge of the subway system and I served as a guide for various SS demolition commandos.
My books are based on my own experiences as a young boy in Germany during World War II and the days leading up to and after the fall of Berlin. There have been many books written about the war, but none from the perspective of a 14 year old boy who was forced to fight for a cause he did not understand.
I immigrated to the United States in the early 1950s and became a citizen. My wife, Jennifer, and I live in Northern California on a small ranch, where we have been for the last 30 years.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 9, 2017
Each book is relevant to our day. The last book dealt with Karl'so friend releasing German soldiers sent to the Gulag in Ukraine. Whether they were common soldiers or those working in concentration camps these people spent 10 years there. Last month a former soldier was sentenced to prison though he may have spent time in the East.
Here we see Karl working in an apprenticeship as a confectioners. We see kids going to college but not having a trade that helps them survive today's world. I had this thought throughout the book .
Here we see Karl working in an apprenticeship as a confectioners. We see kids going to college but not having a trade that helps them survive today's world. I had this thought throughout the book .
September 27, 2019
Very Interesting
To realize what and how the German people lived and worked, especially after the Second World War was difficult to fathom. Of course there old customs were interesting, but it was also interesting how they changed.
To realize what and how the German people lived and worked, especially after the Second World War was difficult to fathom. Of course there old customs were interesting, but it was also interesting how they changed.
Currently reading
October 24, 2021Heart warms
This has been an eye opening series of books. They have provided an outlook of living and growing up during and after war torn Europe. Host Christian places you in the life of the of Karl and you can feel his pain and joys as he grows.
This has been an eye opening series of books. They have provided an outlook of living and growing up during and after war torn Europe. Host Christian places you in the life of the of Karl and you can feel his pain and joys as he grows.
April 25, 2021
I love following Karl and what he went through. First from living under the Natzi’s then afterwards with the Russians. In this book he had learned a trade. Just ordered Book 2.
May 9, 2020
Disappointing.
Overediting has nearly eliminated Karl's natural German voice as found in Book 1. The richness of detail so vivid in the earlier books is largely absent. The narrative is smooth and so English native-speaker like that in places it reads like a happy tale for middle schoolers. The grit is gone.
Bring back the real Karl!
Overediting has nearly eliminated Karl's natural German voice as found in Book 1. The richness of detail so vivid in the earlier books is largely absent. The narrative is smooth and so English native-speaker like that in places it reads like a happy tale for middle schoolers. The grit is gone.
Bring back the real Karl!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews