Rommel’s Game: Victory at El Alamein & Towards the Caucasus: An Alternate History Novel from the Eyes of a German War Correspondent

by Claude Stahl

This exciting and thought provoking alternative history is observed through the eyes of a young German war correspondent. With Rommel at its heart, the book chronicles many details of German war culture and places, describing military and civilian affairs in Nazi Germany during and after the war. The setting is ten years after Germanys partial 1943 victory and its subsequent reconciliation with its former enemies when Joseph the German war correspondent, meets with Cliff his American counterpart and old friend to describe his own, first-hand, account of how the road to Germanys victory began with Rommel and his success in North Africa. The book chronicles several real life battles in North Africa and the Mediterranean and the Desert Fox’s subsequent push north, towards the Russian Caucasus. It also provides a unique insight into life in Germany beyond the victory parade, including a personal invitation from Dr. Goebbels and details of a murderous plot against the Führer, the plot that prevented Rommel to play the ultimate role and one that would change the Third Reich forever. Rommel's Victory at Al Alamein and Towards the Caucasus is an exciting fantasy novel that offers a compelling alternative history, whilst maintaining the important facts. World War II enthusiasts will be mesmerized at what could have been diving into Rommel's campaign in North Africa, Malta, Syria and Russia, and his critical role in forever changing the course of world history. Chapters OktoberfestRommel's Farewell PresentFirst DeploymentLanding in TripoliA Grubby CinemaReunion in the Café KranzlerEl AlameinCrossing the NileVictory ParadeAn invitation to Dr. GoebbelsThe great German Art ExhibitionOperation HerkulesSyria - We Take Their OilTowards the CaucasusSmolensk succeeds

107 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2018

Reviews

[Shanell Meek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting, in a good way.

Rommel’s Game by Claude Stahl is a really short read, it only took me about an hour to finish it once I started. The story caught me and held me captive until the very end. The book reads like a biography which gives it a personal feel to it. I think the book will appeal not only to history buffs but to casual general interest readers as well, it doesn’t read like your traditional history book. Claude Stahls writing style makes me feel like I am there witnessing the events first hand rather than reading about them years later. It’s writers like that, that will keep history alive for many years to come. I loved reading and learning about the different events that occurred and would be interested in reading more from Claude Stahl.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good premise, but fell a little short…

Maybe I’m being a bit too harsh, but I just felt that Rommel’s Game was “flat” in relation to many other “what if” / alternate history novels out there (and I’ve read plenty of them). It’s a short read (about 100 pages), so worth a night just reading it…but not a lot of details on the revised / alternate Africa campaign or many of the other aspects of this book that drive the result of the changes in our known history. If you have an hour and a half and enjoy WW2 alternatives, go for it…but don’t expect too much.

[A D Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great effort.

Literally did not grab my attention. I would not recommend this book to anyone. It is more concerned with drunken journalists than a serious effort to tell a story. Blunders along with the two drunks discussing a supposed alternate history the major change is handled superficial manner in just a few pages. No detail and little flow to the narrative before we go back to the binge drinking

[Shannon Costis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alternate Histories for the win

Alternate histories are growing in popularity as we face stranger situations in reality. Its always an interesting challenge to think "what if things happened differently?" and this novella does just that during WWII. Not only do we see influential factual places and times, but the exploration of what could have been creates an exciting story.

[Stefan Mitchell-Lauridsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an ok read but can be a bit dry and boring now and again.
It works well as a time killer and is one of the books you just have and read but soon will forget.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry...Very Dry. long winded too. At times parts were interesting , but I think the real issue is cultural. The writer is German and from that cultural perspective, the narrative attempts to accomplish something that is more accepted in Europe than in the USA. I've been told Europeans do not go to movies to see the whole thing. Its perfectly acceptable to come into the movie than leave, or come late and stay and scenes are encapsulated so they are themselves mini movies within the movie. Well, that's how this book read. Each part seems like it could stand alone. Very hard to see a cohesive line. Not a bad read, but not the best. Also had the audible. Narration made the story choppy. 3 stars....