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Enemies Are Human
Tedesco e credente, Reinhold Pabel ha tratto le vicende di questo romanzo autobiografico dalle esperienze più tragiche che un uomo possa soffrire: la guerra combattuta in Ucraina e al Volturno; la prigionia in America, la coraggiosa evasione e il viaggio in autostop fino a Chicago alla ricerca di un lavoro e di una compagna di vita; infine l’esistenza tormentata dell’evaso costretto a vivere sotto falso nome in mezzo agli ex nemici; l’arresto da parte dell’FBI e il rimpatrio senza moglie e figlio.
Ma media e associazioni americane scatenano un sollevamento di cuori tale da concludere una volta per tutte i guai del buon cattolico, buon soldato e ormai buon americano Reinhold Pabel.
Come per miracolo, l’autore esce da queste tragiche vicende con rinnovata fede negli uomini.
La tesi di Pabel è infatti che proprio in guerra uomini di tutti i paesi ritrovino una fraternità perduta, che li aiuta a superare disagi, pericoli e soprattutto l’idea e l’attesa della morte.
Ma media e associazioni americane scatenano un sollevamento di cuori tale da concludere una volta per tutte i guai del buon cattolico, buon soldato e ormai buon americano Reinhold Pabel.
Come per miracolo, l’autore esce da queste tragiche vicende con rinnovata fede negli uomini.
La tesi di Pabel è infatti che proprio in guerra uomini di tutti i paesi ritrovino una fraternità perduta, che li aiuta a superare disagi, pericoli e soprattutto l’idea e l’attesa della morte.
- GenresMemoir
Unknown Binding
First published July 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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April 12, 2023I recently read this battered, strange book—a 1955 memoir by a German soldier who escaped from an American POW camp...and founded a bookstore in Chicago under an assumed name until his capture years later.
I was reminded of this book today because I was told Shiver was among many books just removed from Clay Co. libraries in Florida (other titles removed include BAN THIS BOOK, by Alan Gratz, WINTERGIRLS by Laure Halse Anderson, and WE ARE HERE TO STAY: VOICES OF UNDOCUMENTED AMERICANS). A single man nominated them for removal and assessment.
Pabel, the author of this memoir, was sent by the Nazis to "liberate" Ukraine on the Eastern Front, finding out how false the hero narrative was many months into the war. He spoke both Russian and German, and as a bibliophile, he visited libraries even in the countries he marched through. He wrote at length about the different ways both Germany and Russia censored books-sometimes by altering content, sometimes by simply limiting access. He also writes of how shocked he is to find Americans able to say and read anything they like, speaking against atrocities. Eventually, he became an American.
It's a hard, graphic memoir of war, obviously severely biased by the era and author, but it really drove home how censorship and book banning, no matter what you call it, is not about a particular political party: it is simply about consolidating power.
My kids are now about to turn 18 & 19 and both will tell you that I was a strict parent. But I never felt threatened by the contents of my school library, because I talked with my kids, read what they read, made sure the door was open for them to be curious and critical.
This openness is what made us a brilliant place to live; I sincerely hope we don't let fear shrink our world to a place we don't recognize.
I was reminded of this book today because I was told Shiver was among many books just removed from Clay Co. libraries in Florida (other titles removed include BAN THIS BOOK, by Alan Gratz, WINTERGIRLS by Laure Halse Anderson, and WE ARE HERE TO STAY: VOICES OF UNDOCUMENTED AMERICANS). A single man nominated them for removal and assessment.
Pabel, the author of this memoir, was sent by the Nazis to "liberate" Ukraine on the Eastern Front, finding out how false the hero narrative was many months into the war. He spoke both Russian and German, and as a bibliophile, he visited libraries even in the countries he marched through. He wrote at length about the different ways both Germany and Russia censored books-sometimes by altering content, sometimes by simply limiting access. He also writes of how shocked he is to find Americans able to say and read anything they like, speaking against atrocities. Eventually, he became an American.
It's a hard, graphic memoir of war, obviously severely biased by the era and author, but it really drove home how censorship and book banning, no matter what you call it, is not about a particular political party: it is simply about consolidating power.
My kids are now about to turn 18 & 19 and both will tell you that I was a strict parent. But I never felt threatened by the contents of my school library, because I talked with my kids, read what they read, made sure the door was open for them to be curious and critical.
This openness is what made us a brilliant place to live; I sincerely hope we don't let fear shrink our world to a place we don't recognize.
March 17, 2021
I've read about Reinhold Pabel in Arnold Krammer's non-fiction book on German POW's in the US, so I decided to request it from our public library.
Well, it's an interesting story. Pabel was one of 6 German POW's on the run in the US since 1945 (because they didn't want to be repatriated to Poland and parts of Germany which now belonged to Russia). Pabel was living under a faked name in Chicago and was even opening up his own little bookstore.
He married an American woman and they had two children. But for some reason he ended up living in Hamburg, Germany, from 1956 on. So I'll try to google his later life, maybe it will explain why he didn't stay in Chicago with his family.
Compared with Georg Gaertner I can only rate this autobiography 3 stars. It's not nearly as compelling as Gaertner's account of his life on the run for 40 years.
Well, it's an interesting story. Pabel was one of 6 German POW's on the run in the US since 1945 (because they didn't want to be repatriated to Poland and parts of Germany which now belonged to Russia). Pabel was living under a faked name in Chicago and was even opening up his own little bookstore.
He married an American woman and they had two children. But for some reason he ended up living in Hamburg, Germany, from 1956 on. So I'll try to google his later life, maybe it will explain why he didn't stay in Chicago with his family.
Compared with Georg Gaertner I can only rate this autobiography 3 stars. It's not nearly as compelling as Gaertner's account of his life on the run for 40 years.
April 26, 2013
I first read Enemies Are Human a long time ago. I've read it over and over, since. It's a fascinating personal account of life in Germany during the Hitler era, with many poignant and dangerous incidents. One of my favorites for many years.
November 21, 2021
Great read. Interesting to see America during WWII from a German perspective.
July 14, 2012
An excellent book, possibly the best I've read this year. It is the story of a German POW in World War II who escaped from a prison camp in Illinois, got a job in Chicago, married, started a family, started a new business, and was recaptured by the FBI. I found this 1955 First Edition at a library sale. Good luck in finding a copy!
March 14, 2019
Really interesting and his titled-theme is very important for people to know.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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