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  • Adventures in My Youth

  • A German Soldier on the Eastern Front 1941-45
  • By: Armin Scheiderbauer
  • Narrated by: James A. Gillies
  • Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (93 ratings)

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Adventures in My Youth cover art

Adventures in My Youth

By: Armin Scheiderbauer
Narrated by: James A. Gillies
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Publisher's Summary

The author could be described as a veteran in every sense of the word, even though he was only age 21 when the war ended. Armin Scheiderbauer served as an infantry officer with the 252nd Infantry Division, German army, and saw four years of bitter combat on the Eastern Front, being wounded six times.

This is an outstanding personal memoir, written with great thoughtfulness and honesty. Scheiderbauer joined his unit during the winter of 1941-42 and, during the following years, saw fierce combat in many of the largest battles on the Eastern Front. His experiences of the 1943-45 period are particularly noteworthy, including his recollections of the massive Soviet offensives of summer 1944 and January 1945. Participating in the bitter battles in East Prussia, he was captured by the Soviets and not released until 1947.

Adventures in My Youth is a unique memoir - the author originally wrote it only for his daughter. It has never been published in any language until now.

©2003 Helion and Company (P)2017 Tantor

What listeners say about Adventures in My Youth

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting if at times dry read

As an autobiography this is a fascinating account of an individual officer's service in the German army on the Eastern Front.
Although at times, particularly in the first half of the book, the author regurgitates some dry stats and large quotes from other books, his account of the last year of the war is particularly interesting.
Worth pushing past the dry bits.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting story

needs to translate German passages to English. part of what is good is lost because of confusion.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Soldier Poor Author

The Author was a fine soldier a gentleman who by the age of 24 had served 6 years in the German Army as a junior Officer, for the first half as a soldier on the Russian front for the second half as a P.O.W. Of the Soviets. The author writes in a clinical unemotional manner if you could imagine John Cleese from Monty Python sketch of the English Officer in battle with the Zulu clinical, reserved and gentlemanly the narrator delivered in the same manner. Yes a professional account but entertaining listening no, could send you to sleep.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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crap

what long boring load of hog wash .made me want to fall asleep it gave me depression

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Kept me hooked!

Great story and perspective from a different world view! Thanks for the insight! Not often you hear about the common officer ranks experiences!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Armin you did f**k all in the war.

Armin gives a unique account of an Army officer of a rifle company during the war. Sadly his accounts are mundane & boring he rarely saw action and when he did it was short, the only interesting parts of this book is in the middle to end when he was involved Operation Bagration & the retreat then again once he becomes a POW to the Soviets. This book narrator was excellent but the book itself isn't written like a novel but a military manual very dry to listen too and I can imagine worse reading.

You need patience for this book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Truly Amazing Story

I want to read the rest of his story now. This was well written and there are many humbling things to consider when reading this account.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A compelling story, well narrated.

I found the story and the narration made for a compelling listen. some other reviews have mentioned sections that have been copied from other books (e.g. regiment accounts) but I found these insightful in the way they provided more context.

Overall, the writing and perspective of Armin Scheiderbaur is a fascinating look into an 'ordinary' German soldier at the time. I would highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Compelling account

The young soldiers account of his war experiences and captivity are related objectively and almost without emotion... The story held my interest throughout, and the reader was often excited by the content.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I have nothing to complain about

A remarkable story from the eyes of the Germans on the eastern front. A great narration although a little fast paced at times. But an outrageously good read/listen.

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