The Edelweiss Pirates

The Edelweiss Pirates was a fantastic story. Dirk Reinhardt masterfully wove this tale with pieces of actual fact and really put one in the past, you truly feel for the characters. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to reread it. When my daughter is old enough, I think this is one that I will make sure that she gets to read as well.

The Edelweiss Pirates by Dirk Reinhardt explores the story of a nazi resistance group (The Edelweiss Pirates) that arose among youths during WWII. The main storyline is told through a diary format by a former member of the youth resistance group.

This story highlights a lesser known aspect of the Second World War, youth resistance, which gives the reader a fresh insight on how civilians in Germany were affected by the war and the regime. This premise is perfect for every history-nerd out there who are looking for a fresh take on the Second World War.

What I found to be very beautiful with this story was how the different relationships between people were portrayed: the relation between Daniel and Josef, the relation between Josef and his brother, and the relation between Josef and Tilly. I think my heart shattered during most of the conversations between Josef and his brother.

Thus, despite this story being about a well known historical event, the plot is laced with elements that are largely unknown by the general public. The book can best be summarized as a gripping tale about the adventures of teenage rebels.

A huge thanks to NetGalley for providing this advanced reader copy!

We don't know a lot about the internal German Resistance, only about The White Rose.
This is a story that mixes history with fiction and creates an exciting story about a group of teens who act against the Nazi regime.
A well plotted and gripping story, good storytelling and character development
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I have read quite a few fictionalized accounts of real stories in WW2, but this particular group was new to me. This is well-plotted and engaging. It introduced me to another group of ordinary Germans who would not accept what was happening around them. This mixes history with fiction to recreate the exciting and dangerous story of a group of teens who rebelled against the Nazi Regime. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this free arc. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fascinating piece of history, and for me, it was hard to categorize the Edelweiss Pirates. Initially I was unimpressed with them as resistance fighters and felt that they were not as important as other resistance figures in the war. The story between the boy and the author of the journal was a nice touch, and I especially appreciated the author's note at the end which detailed how history has struggled to define the Edelweiss Pirates and others like them. I think this is an interesting little-known part of WWII that would benefit readers of all ages.