This book was interesting and gives insight to this time period but it did not hook me like other books from this time period.

I love to read about WWII. I read, not for the military genius or the fighting and death, or the horror of the concentration camps, but for the candle in the darkness, the hope and love and humanity that refuses to be extinguished, no matter the odds.

I have never read a book that had the true perspective of a German officer. I wasn't avoiding it, I just never bumped into one and didn't actively seek it out. I didn't really think about it, to be honest. When I saw this offered on NetGalley, I was immediately intrigued and hit "request". That request was granted and I started to read.

The one thing that I always pick up from these books is that war is hell and horrible for all sides, and that even the "winners" lose. The next things that I picked up was that the subject of this biography wasn't perfect, he believed the rhetoric at the beginning of WWII. He proudly served in WWI and truly believed at first that Hitler was the answer to German's problems when Hitler started to come into power. He changed his mind after Hitler came into power, though not all at once. It's hard to let go of strongly held hopes and beliefs, even when the evidence is pointing to the contrary, but he was brave enough to look at what was happening and actually SEE and comprehend what it meant. And then he was brave enough to do what he could to help those around him, at great risk to himself.

He was human, he wasn't perfect, but he did what he could, which is more than many did then. He kept true to his Catholic center and treated all as humanely as possible, saving the lives of at least 30 or more people who were considered to be enemies of the Nazi Party for one reason or another.

I didn't realize before reading this book just how hard the Polish had it in WWII. First the Germans, then the Russians. It should be unbelievable the evil that humans can do to one another. What I found unbelievable was the human spirit to keep going against all odds, to ask for help and to fight, despite the long odds.

The end of this book is not an overly happy one for the subject of this book. Not a spoiler, it's mentioned a few times throughout the telling of his story, but it's very sad all the same.

I found it interesting that his letters, journal and his wife's letters to him were used to show their actual thoughts and words, no putting words into mouths that didn't belong there. The book also has parts of interviews with his family and those who knew him during the book's time frame.

I can't say that I enjoyed reading about WWII barbarity, but I did learn a lot from this book and the hope that is a strong theme throughout this book isn't the hope of one family affected by WWII, it's the hope of humanity, that no matter what, that candle will never go out. Be that candle.

5, incredibly important read, stars. Highly recommended to all.

My thanks to NetGalley and Star Bright Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.