We Came From Konigsberg by Max Overton

★★★★★

Brilliant!!!

This book is a personal account of a German family's journey through 2nd world war. I couldn't put it down. I met 'Kirk' and got talking to him both before and after reading the book. I am totally in awe of his Mother, the main character in their story. You have to read it!! Totally Fascinating, Totally true!!

Reviewed By: A. Mullen

★★★★★

Outstanding

I wasn't sure about this subject, but since it was written by Max I ordered the book. From the first page I was pulled into the lives of those sorely affected by war. I felt their pain, loss, but also felt the strength and courage it takes to survive.

Reviewed By: Sara Jane Sesay

★★★★★

I also came from Koenigsberg

I myself have come from Koenigsberg and the Book is a true History of the horrible crimes committed by the Russians to the East Prussian People.

This book brought back many painful memories. It is well told

Reviewed By: Karin Hechtle

★★★★★

A very good book

A very good book. I found it insightful and hard to put down. I'm glad to have found it.

Reviewed By: Chris

★★★★★

Five Stars

A saga!

Reviewed By: Silviu Nanu

★★★★★

A masterpiece

This is such a beautiful book.

The first thing to grab my attention was the beautiful, crystal clear writing. Not a word is wasted, sentences are easy to read so that the reader can focus in on the content, and the powerful emotions elicited in a subtle, understated way. This is writing from a position of empathy and compassion, and will get the reader to feel the same.

This content is well worth focusing on: a very real, very realistic tale of survival: one fine woman with intelligence and determination, walking with her five young children through the repeating hell of the advancing Red Army and the retreating Germans.

The narrative is mostly in the third person, but there are passages in which Elisabet speaks to us herself, and I found these to be the most illuminating about the culture she came from. People nowadays can't understand how the great mass of ordinary, decent German people could have supported Hitler. Her passages, written with sensitivity and insight, provide a window into their thinking, and this is very relevant for our times, because the same processes can take place any time, in any society.

You must read this book, and it's a keeper. You will want to read it again.

Reviewed By: Dr. Robert Rich

★★★★★

A Courageous Mother from Koenigsberg

Max Overton has again taken me on an adventure, this time in a more recent historical time than his Scarab series (which I loved), one that is filled with drama, but in the middle of the drama is a tale of a very courageous woman. Mr Overton's meticulous research into the events of WWII, and his descriptions of day to day life, puts you right there with Mutti and her five children as they flee from Koenigsberg to the West, in the midst of a freezing winter, no food, no shelter, only what can be found on the journey, and then the brutal atrocities unavoidable in war torn Europe . This story is based on real people, real events and comes from a different perspective than most stories set in WWII. The story is both heart wrenching and heart warming, and an impossible book to put down, until the emotional end. Loved it, recommend it, a must read. Thankyou again Mr Overton for taking me on a journey into the past.

Reviewed By: Amazon Customer

★★★★★

Great Read!

"We Came From Konigsberg" is the compelling story of a young German woman's escape from Prussia with her 5 small children.

Set in WWII, the book is obviously well researched yet the story is as gripping as any good novel. The author presents us with beautiful detail while providing insight as to how ordinary Germans may have viewed the proceeding war in Europe. It is sensitive and compassionate but at times also necessarily brutal. It is unfathomable to me how these people had the guts to go where they went; do what they did; and most of all, how they survived it.

My only criticism would be that I lost some sleep while reading this book as I just could not put it down.

Reviewed By: TreeChanged

★★★★★

so brilliantly portrayed, and a very moving story

So well researched, so brilliantly portrayed, and a very moving story. We need to keep on learning these lessons from history 'least we forget'!

Max Overton has an excellent writing style which kept us captivated and we both thoroughly enjoyed the book. (Hazel Nash and Fred Kahl)

Reviewed By: H Nash

★★★★☆

Will stay with you long after you have read the book

I am weeping for the lost land of Königsberg. Thoroughly enjoyed this book which gave a true insight into the suffering of the Germans during and after the war and an unbiased account of the treatment of the single mother and her children by the British, American and Soviet authorities. I would have liked to have seen photographs of the family, but I bought the Kindle version - I'm not sure whether photographs were included in the paperback version.

The only factor I wish was made clear was that for most refugees, Britain and America, to their shame, forcibly repatriated them to the east only for them to face harsh treatment or sent to gulags in Siberia. The book made it seem very easy for anyone who wished to stay in the west, but this was not true.

Reviewed By: clara6

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