PILLBOX 17

A fine German autobiographical novel. Known as the ‘workman-poet,’ Karl Broger was one of the most quoted German authors of his day .In this powerful work, which is in some way a parallel to the English ‘Journey’s End’, we are given a realistic picture of the horrors of warfare in one of those artificial outposts on the Western Front. A number of men cooped up in a pillbox remain true unto death. It rains -unendingly – continuously – hopelessly. Shells burst overhead; an enemy plane flies over with devastating effect – one dead, three wounded. Two set forth on a quest for assistance, and we follow them in their exciting journey; but no help is possible till darkness has fallen. Meanwhile the pillbox falls in: the occupants are buried alive – thirst overpowers them – they try to open a way out – they try and they fail. At last help comes but too late – corpses are all that is to be found in Pillbox 17.This is the tale of true comradeship – a real war book, and a literary find.