Growing Up Under the Third Reich Series

A World War Two Historical Fiction Novel Based On A True Story   A true story about a young boy growing up under the Third Reich.   Karl Veth, the eldest of three children, was born in Berlin, Germany in 1930. By the time he was old enough to start school and begin his education, Hitler had established a firm death-grip on the country. Children were fed a steady diet of Nazi propaganda and were often encouraged to turn on their family and friends; however, contrary to popular belief, not all of them bought into it.   Karl is an intelligent young boy who strives to excel in his studies, but he questions everything. Dangerous questions during a time when people are closely monitored. Karl's father and grandfather are not blind followers and they have their own opinions about Hitler and his regime. The lessons they teach Karl often contradict what he is taught in school, yet they also inspire him to think on his own and form his own opinions.   German law mandates all children must become members of the Hitler Youth and at the age of 10, Karl enters the Jungvolk, the junior branch of the Hitler Youth. He must wade through the propaganda and everything he is taught to decide for himself what is right and what it wrong. Little does he know at the time, many of his grandfather's predictions about the future of the Third Reich will eventually come to pass. The lessons he learns now and the opinions he forms will determine his fate in dangerous times ahead.   Books In The Series: Children To A Degree Loyal To A Degree Trust To A Degree Partners To A Degree

A World War Two Historical Fiction Novel Based On A True Story  A young boy in Nazi Germany is forced to become a man well before his time, or perish. As 14-year-old Karl Veth listens to the German special OKW report, the news he has feared and anticipated becomes a reality. Russian tanks have broken through the German defense lines east of the KLV evacuation camp in Poland where he and 120 other German boys are living. The time has come to leave the camp and return to Berlin. Despite his young age, Karl is a trained member of the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth) and assistant to KLV camp leader. Due to injuries sustained in battle, the camp leader is handicapped and unable to see to the evacuation of the boys from the camp. The job falls squarely on Karl's shoulders as orders come from headquarters putting him in command of the mission. He must refine and execute an evacuation plan that will reunite the boys with their families and he must do it on his own. Berlin has no soldiers to spare. Once back in Berlin, Karl is reunited with his good friend and fellow Hitler Jugend member, Harold. The two boys are close and share a common bond – they are both "subway rats." They earned the nickname because of the time they spent playing in and exploring the subway tunnels under Berlin when they were younger. They are experts when it comes to the subway system but little do they know, their unique knowledge of the tunnels will put them in grave danger. When SS leaders learn Karl is a subway rat, they take advantage of his knowledge and order him to act as a guide for SS demolition commandos in the tunnels. Having been relieved of his previous post, Harold is ordered to assist Karl. The SS cannot be trusted and Karl walks a fine line between life and death as he follows orders while working on a secret plan with Harold. The fall of Berlin is imminent and it's only a matter of time before the Russians take over the city. Facing death at every turn, Karl must use his wits simply to stay alive. As the chain of command breaks down, the SS starts conducting courts-martial on the fly, executing anyone with a single bullet in their pocket. Meanwhile, the nightly air raids continue, scorching the city and leaving the stench of death in the air. Chaos reigns as the Russian Army moves closer and closer. As a member of the Hitler Youth growing up, Karl has been taught that loyalty to the Fatherland comes first, yet he is fighting for a cause he does not understand. In the final days before Berlin falls, Karl finds himself hungry, scared, and completely disillusioned with the war. He also realizes that he can only afford to be loyal to a degree as he is forced to make a crucial decision – live or die. Books In The Series: Children To A Degree Loyal To A Degree Trust To A Degree Partners To A Degree

A World War Two Historical Fiction Novel Based On A True Story On May 3, 1945, Karl Veth is kicked awake by Soviet soldiers and put under arrest. He and his friend, Harold, had narrowly escaped death during the fall of Berlin by taking refuge in the subway tunnels under the city. As members of the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth), the two 14-year-old boys had been ordered to fight to the death; however, they defied Hitler's orders and chose to live. Hearing the announcement the day before that Berlin had surrendered, they left their subway shelter to seek out friends where they thought they would be safe. Somehow, the Soviets had found them. But what did they want with them? After being transported to an interrogation center and brought before a Russian political Kommissar, Karl soon finds the answers to his questions. Once again, he is going to be used by a high-ranking official due to his unique knowledge of the Berlin subway system. He must agree to help the Kommissar or risk being shipped off to the Russian labor camps along with the rest of the German prisoners. When Karl learns that Harold has also been arrested and given the same choice, the two agree to assist the Kommissar. The boys work with the Kommissar and when the last mission is completed, Karl hopes to be released so he can search for his family. Unfortunately, the final mission ends with a twist and Karl is once again forced to make a life or death decision. This time, however, the life hanging in the balance is not his own, but that of someone very close to him. To save the life of the person he holds dear, Karl must decide whether or not he will follow orders and do the one thing he has never done before - take the life of another. Books In The Series: Children To A Degree Loyal To A Degree Trust To A Degree Partners To A Degree

World War Two Historical Fiction Novels Based On True Stories LOYAL TO A DEGREE: BOOK 2 As 14-year-old Karl Veth listens to the German special OKW report, the news he has feared and anticipated becomes a reality. Russian tanks have broken through the German defense lines east of the KLV evacuation camp in Poland where he and 120 other German boys are living. The time has come to leave the camp and return to Berlin. Despite his young age, Karl is a trained member of the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth) and assistant to KLV camp leader. After returning to Berlin, SS leaders learn that Karl, as well as his best friend Harold, are subway rats, and the SS takes advantage of the boys' knowledge and orders them to act as guides for SS demolition commandos in the subway tunnels. The SS cannot be trusted and the boys walk a fine line between life and death, as they work together on a secret plan. As members of the Hitler Youth, Karl and Harold have been taught that loyalty to the Fatherland comes first, yet they are fighting for a cause they do not understand. Hungry, scared, and completely disillusioned with the war, they realize they can only be loyal to a degree, and are forced to make a crucial decision – live or die. TRUST TO A DEGREE: BOOK 3 On May 3, 1945, Karl Veth is kicked awake by Soviet soldiers and arrested. He and Harold had narrowly escaped death during the fall of Berlin by taking refuge in the subway tunnels under the city. Hearing the announcement the day before that Berlin had surrendered, they left their subway shelter to seek out friends where they thought they would be safe. Somehow, the Soviets had found them. But what did they want with them? After being transported to an interrogation center and brought before a Russian Political Kommissar, Karl soon finds the answers to his questions. Once again, he is going to be used by a high-ranking official due to his unique knowledge of the Berlin subway system. He must agree to help the Kommissar or risk being shipped off to the Russian labor camps along with the rest of the German prisoners. When Karl learns that Harold has also been arrested and given the same choice, the two agree to assist the Kommissar. The boys work with the Kommissar and when the last mission is completed, Karl hopes to be released so he can search for his family. Unfortunately, the final mission ends with a twist and Karl is once again forced to make a life-or-death decision. This time, however, the life hanging in the balance is not his own, but that of someone very close to him. To save the life of the person he holds dear, Karl must decide whether or not he will follow orders and do the one thing he has never done before – take the life of another. PARTNERS TO A DEGREE: BOOK 4 While Karl wrestles with the final order from the Kommissar, Harold devises a secret plan to help his friend. Meanwhile, the Kommissar, continually surprised by Karl and Harold's ingenuity and resourcefulness as they complete each mission, develops a fondness for the boys. He offers to adopt them both and take them to Russia with him when he returns. Holding out hope they will eventually be reunited with their families, they refuse the Kommissar's offer. Unfortunately, only one boy's dream of being with his family again will come true. The ravages of war dramatically changed their lives and while both have suffered the loss of loved ones – one has lost more than the other. One boy will struggle to put his life back on track and the other will embark on a path of revenge – fueled by grief and anger at the lies that caused his loss and the destruction of his homeland.

A World War Two Historical Fiction Novel Based On A True Story As World War II comes to an end for Germany, 14-year-old Karl Veth and his best friend, Harold Kellner, narrowly survive the fall of Berlin. Their knowledge of the city's subway system plays a key role in their survival during the battle of Berlin and will do so again in the days that follow as the Soviets control the city. After being arrested by a Russian Political Kommissar, Karl and Harold are given the option of being shipped off to Russian labor camps or completing missions for the Kommissar and earning their freedom. The promise of freedom and the possibility of receiving information about the fate of their families is more than enough to ensure their cooperation. The Kommissar is continually surprised by Karl and Harold's ingenuity and resourcefulness as they complete each mission. He develops a fondness for the boys and offers to adopt them and take them back to Russia with him when he returns. Holding out hope they will eventually be reunited with their families, they refuse the Kommissar's offer. Unfortunately, only one boy's dream of seeing his family again will come true. The ravages of war dramatically changed their lives and while Karl and Harold have each suffered the loss of loved ones – one has lost more than the other. One boy will struggle to put his life back on track and the other will embark on a path of revenge – fueled by grief and anger at the lies that caused his loss and the destruction of his homeland. One boy's story comes to an end, while the other's is just beginning. Books In The Series: Children To A Degree Loyal To A Degree Trust To A Degree Partners To A Degree