Nazi Germany is now under the control of a man from a different universe. Heinrich Schloss was bounced from 1982 Germany into a 1941 world where Hitler dies in a plane crash. In this world he is a senior Nazi, and is able to use his knowledge of history to guide the nation along a dramatically different path.And now, as Chancellor of the Reich, he discovers he has changed the world so dramatically that his knowledge of history, as he knew it, no longer helps. He must now govern by his wits and ruthlessness. He must manipulate the British and the Americans to avoid a wider war that Germany could not win. He must ensure a homeland in Palestine for the Jews, in order to avoid a wider slaughter in Europe. And he must somehow prevent the radical, old-guard Nazis from retaking control of the government and bringing the entire nation down in flames.This second book in the Parallel Nazi series continues the saga of a man who is tormented by a past he cannot know, and terrified by a future he can no longer predict.
In The Accidental Nazi, a historian from 1981 West Berlin was astonished to find himself inexplicably standing on a tarmac in 1941 Berlin, watching a plane carrying Adolf Hitler plow into the pavement and completely reroll the dice on Germany’s future. He was himself, and yet not himself: Heinrich Schloss in 1941 Germany was the leader of the Nazi Party, now a member of the small fuhrercouncil responsible for leading Germany until a new fuhrer could be appointed. Schloss, though confused, was desperate to prevent both Operation Barbarossa and the Holocaust — and after months of political maneuvering, the reckless Hess finally set events into motion that saw both himself and Himmler dead. Schloss was hailed as the new king of town, master of a Germany whose future he cannot quite predict. Reactionary forces within Germany want him gone and the tenants of Nazism restored, and the world scene is utterly unpredictable. But Schloss is a man on a mission: to machen Sie Deutscherland großartig again!
This second book in the series takes us into utter terra incognita, foreign-policy wise. At this point, mild spoilers for the first book will follow, so proceed at your literary peril, meine Damen und Herren. Schloss was largely successful in meeting his goals in the first book, largely because his background as an historian makes him extremely familiar with the characters and technology of the day. He was able to exploit his knowledge of late war technical improvements, in fact, to increase his bona fides with a lot of military figures who were impressed by how much he knew about the jet-engine proposals and the next-gen u-boat concepts. Schloss is also good at manipulating people. Now, however, things are changing to such a degree that he can no longer lead his targets: he must take events as they come. And…boy, do they come, with repeated attempts on his life by one Reynard Heidrich. Because of the events of the first novel. Heidrich was busy elsewhere on the night he would have been shot by Czechs; now he is the standard-bearer for the hardline Nazis who attracts those who point out that “Hey, our whole Nazi thing is about attacking the Jews, and now we’re giving them free transport to the middle east?” Geopolitically, things are also very messy: Japan launched a much more potent Pearl Harbor assault this time, and has apparently succeeded in not only taking Hawaii but threatening Australia. Most of Australia’s troops are in Africa, fighting a losing war against the Germans who control the entirety of the med. Despite this, he refuses to bow out, even though the Germans point out that they could help his armies exit Africa with guns and men intact. Honor must be satisfied, apparently. Other events are going on: Franklin Roosevelt dies of natural causes in Warm Springs, being replaced by Henry Wallace, and explosions disable the Panama Canal.
I tend to focus on the military and political scene, but there’s also character work. When Schloss found himself in 1941 Germany, he also found himself in possession of a family — children, a sister and brother-in-law, and a red-headed girlfriend whose cunning is as remarkable as her beauty. (Heinlein lives!) There is also a curious houseskeeper who knows far more than she should — she knows without being told that Schloss comes from a world where the hammer-and-sickle of the bolshies once flew over a ruined Berlin, and that Russian boots once tread on German necks. Schloss’s bonds with these characters, particular his brother-in-law who rises to join the fuhrercouncil, seem real. While some events of the novel seem improbable — the Japanese running wild in the Pacific — and I’m still wondering WHERE IS CHINA in all this. Are the Japanese so empowered because they don’t have men tied down there? The book creates an interesting Middle East plot thread, which leads to an EXPLOSIVE twist at the end and urges me to continue in the series.
I really enjoy reading this alternate history and seeing the different scenarios is really enjoyable.
I will say that there are two things that are starting to nag at me, specifically starting in this novel. Simplistic relationships. We have multiple characters that meet once and its love at first sight. Just like that. In real life that does happen but the way its portrayed is kind of eye rolling. Along with simple relationships, there is no arguing among any of the couples... at all. Especially with how dangerous our main character is, its a huge contrast. Someone cold hearted, threatening, and menacing at work while subserviant to his maid, his wife, and his sister.
The second part is that Schloss is developing a healthy amount of plot armor. He has had a handful attempts on his life and he is always the smartest in the room. Now, he has an advantage with all that history that he knows, but still he works with a bunch of morons in the authors own words. There is no one to challenge Schloss, no one in the government, none of the world leaders, no one. It makes for dry reading when our main protagonist always makes the right choice.
I will say that the relationship part isnt the main part of the novel in terms of what I as a reader is invested in, but its sizable enough that it makes me want to skip past the relationship scenes since I already know the gist of what is going to happen in everyone of those scenes.
I am really enjoying reading this series. The premise that with Hitler, Himmler dead and Germany not invading Russia or declaring war on America could have such an interesting new outcome. An exceptionally good alternative history of ww2.
Very hard to put the book down. Always wanting to read just a few more pages.
Improbable Nazi should be subtitled "Assassination Roulette." This book is a gripping thriller of assassination, politics, and home sweet home. The characters are well drawn and interesting. The action and plot twists are great. The historical characters in new situations are interesting. The book keeps you reading and can't be easily put down. Recommended, but read the first book first. Duck when the shooting starts.
Again, some of the old WW2 Allied propaganda colors the pages as problems the characters must "solve" that weren't the actual issues. This time we add in some actual serious errors, like Gatun lake was able to be readily dammed to stop it from being drained. If actually drained as stated, it would be heard to recover.
I really enjoyed this alt-history story even though it’s about the Nazis whom I despise. Solid writing and highly accurate in its historical detail. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.