Staying Human
The Story of a Quiet WWII Hero
Nonfiction, History, Jewish, Military, World War II, Biography & Memoir, Political
| Author: | Katharina Stegelmann | ISBN: | 9781632201355 |
| Publisher: | Skyhorse Publishing | Publication: | January 6, 2015 |
| Imprint: | Skyhorse Publishing | Language: | English |
| Author: | Katharina Stegelmann |
| ISBN: | 9781632201355 |
| Publisher: | Skyhorse Publishing |
| Publication: | January 6, 2015 |
| Imprint: | Skyhorse Publishing |
| Language: | English |
The incredible true story of a German soldier in WWII who defied his own country to save the lives of Jews and Russian soldiers.
The son of ardent anti-Nazis, Heinz Drossel had never wanted to kill anyone. But when he was drafted into the German Army at the outbreak of World War II, he had little choice. All he could do was try to help the vulnerbable whenever possible.
While serving on the Eastern Front, he secretly released prisoners of war who were set to be executed, telling one lucky officer as he sent him towards the Russian lines, “I am no killer. I am a human being.”
Then, while recovering from illness in Berlin, he stopped a terrified young Jewish woman from jumping off a bridge, instead giving her money and a safe place to stay until the end of the war. It was an act of courage he would repeat, rescuing Jews from the death camps.
As for the woman he saved? He would meet her again after the war, and marry her.
This is the inspiring story of a man placed in an impossible position, yet simply refused to join in his homeland’s hateful madness, risking his own life repeatedly for others in the name of decency and humanity.
The incredible true story of a German soldier in WWII who defied his own country to save the lives of Jews and Russian soldiers.
The son of ardent anti-Nazis, Heinz Drossel had never wanted to kill anyone. But when he was drafted into the German Army at the outbreak of World War II, he had little choice. All he could do was try to help the vulnerbable whenever possible.
While serving on the Eastern Front, he secretly released prisoners of war who were set to be executed, telling one lucky officer as he sent him towards the Russian lines, “I am no killer. I am a human being.”
Then, while recovering from illness in Berlin, he stopped a terrified young Jewish woman from jumping off a bridge, instead giving her money and a safe place to stay until the end of the war. It was an act of courage he would repeat, rescuing Jews from the death camps.
As for the woman he saved? He would meet her again after the war, and marry her.
This is the inspiring story of a man placed in an impossible position, yet simply refused to join in his homeland’s hateful madness, risking his own life repeatedly for others in the name of decency and humanity.
