As of to day, September 22, 2013, I finished 7 chapters. We are still not sure about the title because the title should indicate what the book is about.
Not that easy to do when you consider that the book will not only follow “Karl” from 1940 to the end of 1944, it will also describe the educational methods.
The schools in Berlin had to double up and triple up the number of students per class. Female teachers (some of them wearing lipstick) (and you have no idea what that meant in 1942 ) were introduced in all boys schools. Shortage of teachers and facilities caused the introduction of a morning shift and an afternoon shift. To even it out the classes rotated every week.
The mandatory Junkvolk demanded two afternoon sessions each week. Some parents embraced it, others not.
The list goes on and on and I am trying to write the book without sounding boring. But these details are important because in one of the reviews of Loyal to a degree, a reviewer opinionated that “Karl” might have been “cleaned up”. Well, it cannot be denied that there was a highly concentrated effort by the Nazis to instill the Nazi doctrine into the minds of the children. It worked to their advantage that the children at that time were products of the Prussian upbringing, meaning unquestionable obedience. But not all of us were numbed by it. Some of us had grandparents which were also influential on our developing minds.
Anyhow, I am getting ahead of myself. All I wanted to say was that I am still thinking about the title.
If I don’t experience too many interruptions, I hope to have the book published during the month of October.
In the meantime I like to thank my readers who bought “Trust to a degree”. I hope that you are enjoying it.
Don’t hesitate, if you have any questions about it, to leave a comment.
Hello Mr. Christian,
You are the first and only author I have had a desire to contact. This is because I usually read fiction and do not reflect upon characters that are of the imagination (I mean, what is there to know). Your books caught me for some reason, possibly because I have never had a view of German life, these children’s lives, in such a clear form. I realize that your prequel is about Karl before Loyal and Trust to a Degree, but I am very interested about Karl when he is united with his father…do they find his mother and siblings…how does life go on for Karl?
I will certainly never forget Karl or Harold or Alex. I feel that you books are the first true nonfiction writings I have ever read. My personal studies of American history begin with George Washington and stop just short WW1. Of course I have read the usual history books about WW1 & 2 but they have never “hooked ” me.
Thank you for writing your novels and being so honest. I might even try to read other nonfiction novels, BUT, they must be as convincing as yours or I will just archive them on my Kindle and never see them again.
Thank You,
Janet Patton, (a retired science teacher who loves history)
Hi Janet,
Wow, this is quiet a compliment you gave me and coming from a retired science teacher I feel truly honored. It makes me feel good to read that I accomplished what I set out to do.
This is to give a voice to all my friends who did not survived. We lived in truly ugly times and our lives and experiences were vastly different from today.
In regard to your questions: Karl united with his father….Yes, I am presently writing ‘Partners to a degree’ which will cover this subject. (For your information: All went fine for us.)
However, I plan to continue the series with Harold as the main character as he cooperated with Godunov. For many many years. In this time span he not only revenged his mother but also served Godunov in many different capacities. He led an interesting life and we stayed friends until he died in his seventies. My writing of his life will be based upon our many meetings in which he brought me up to date and upon the letters and notes he left me. We had an agreement that whoever outlived the other one was supposed to write a book. When I turned 82 I made good on my promise and started to write “Loyal to a degree”
I did not know at that time that I would receive encouraging reviews. So, now, at nearly 84 I decided to write more about Harold’s life which was decidedly more interesting than mine.
Thanks again for your comment, Janet. I will treasure it.
Horst