WHAT I'M READING WEDNESDAY: "Cette Autre Vie" by Hannes Köhler

They say that history is written by the winners, and so far all the books that I have read about World War 2, were indeed written from the perspective of Americans, English, or French authors.

In my attempt to get out of my own echo chamber, I picked up a book about World War 2 from the German perspective, though translated into French.

It's the story of Franz, a man in his 80s, who decides to go back to the United States to revisit the work camps where he was a prisoner of war during the last year and a half of the war.

He brings along his grandson Martin, allowing Martin to see a whole new side of his grandfather, separate from the stories he grew up with from his mother about his cold, strict grandfather.

The novel interweaves the present day with Franz's memories from the war and brings to light all the experiences and choices that Franz had to make as a young man, that followed him as he made his way back to Germany after the war.

It's so interesting to hear the story from the "other side."

As a former history teacher, I knew that alongside the Japanese, the Americans also interned Germans and Italians throughout the war, though it is not often talked about.

If any of you are interested in the book for yourself, the German version is called Ein Mögliches Leben and the English version is One Possible Life.

Originally posted on LinkedIn with comments.
​​

Read Deeper Not Faster