Location : Cleveland, OH
"Clemens Forell" was a German
paratrooper during World War II. He saw action in Rotterdam, Eben Emanel,
and Crete before he was wounded. After he recovered, he was sent, with
his team, to the Eastern Front, dropping in behind enemy lines in the Ural
Mountains. Captured, he was sent to a Siberian labor camp, where he was
sentenced to 25 years of labor in a lead mine. With a sentence like that,
in a very hostile environment, he had two choices; slowly die of lead poisoning
or escape. Forell chose the latter.
That decision created a three year odyssey for Forell, from the eastern most point of Russia to Munich, Germany. Along his 8.000 mile trek, he survived wolves, blizzards, criminals, and the fear of recapture.
Josef M. Bauer interviewed "Clemens Forell," a pseudonym, as the man behind the name was still afraid of Soviet reprisals, to create As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me. However, the book is not a dry, word-for-word retelling of the interviews. It reads more like a Jack London novel, full of drama, suspense, and humanity. While Forell's escape through one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth is incredible, equally impressive are the people that he meets along the way, people that take him in, feed him, and send him on his way with information and gear that will allow him to chance to survive. Not all of the people he meets have his best interests at heart, which raises the suspense and drama. Being an extremely resourceful individual, Forell is able to withstand those moments as well.
As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me is one of the best adventure's I've read. After following Forell for about 6,000 miles, the remaining miles are assumed to be successful. After all, he is interviewed in Munich. What isn't reported would have been as fascinating as that which came before. For example, what was the reaction Forell received from his wife, from his relatives, from his friends? How did feel to make it back to Munich after three long, torturous years? Bauer thoughtfully includes a map of Forell's journey, which is of great help to the reader and also provides a sense of scale to the book. Looking at the route, you are in awe of distances. As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me is an amazing story of will and perseverance. It will haunt you long after the last page is turned.
Disclosure:
Obtained from: A Friend
Payment: Borrowed
That decision created a three year odyssey for Forell, from the eastern most point of Russia to Munich, Germany. Along his 8.000 mile trek, he survived wolves, blizzards, criminals, and the fear of recapture.
Josef M. Bauer interviewed "Clemens Forell," a pseudonym, as the man behind the name was still afraid of Soviet reprisals, to create As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me. However, the book is not a dry, word-for-word retelling of the interviews. It reads more like a Jack London novel, full of drama, suspense, and humanity. While Forell's escape through one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth is incredible, equally impressive are the people that he meets along the way, people that take him in, feed him, and send him on his way with information and gear that will allow him to chance to survive. Not all of the people he meets have his best interests at heart, which raises the suspense and drama. Being an extremely resourceful individual, Forell is able to withstand those moments as well.
As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me is one of the best adventure's I've read. After following Forell for about 6,000 miles, the remaining miles are assumed to be successful. After all, he is interviewed in Munich. What isn't reported would have been as fascinating as that which came before. For example, what was the reaction Forell received from his wife, from his relatives, from his friends? How did feel to make it back to Munich after three long, torturous years? Bauer thoughtfully includes a map of Forell's journey, which is of great help to the reader and also provides a sense of scale to the book. Looking at the route, you are in awe of distances. As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me is an amazing story of will and perseverance. It will haunt you long after the last page is turned.
Disclosure:
Obtained from: A Friend
Payment: Borrowed
Comment posted by Simon Wells03/04/2012 11:29:25 AM
Homepage: http://www
Finished this book earlier in the year and was very moved by "story!" a brilliant tale! I used google earth to follow his footsteps and now have a much better geography of that part of the world. Am interested in ww2 particularly eastern front. Am frustrated by lack of info on Rost. There seems only limited info.......the same where ever I look. There are doubts about it's truth, tho want to believe. It's only half the tale tho.....reintegrating, relationships, state of mind, health etc. It's fantastic and wonderful story and ponder often if he could really have done it, any new info please email me, Si.
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