Sniper Ace: from the Eastern Front to Siberia by Bruno Sutkus

Sniper Ace: from the Eastern Front to Siberia by Bruno Sutkus

Throughout World War II, German snipers were obliged to carry a 'Scharfshutzen Buch' which recorded every kill. Each success noted had to be verified by a witness and signed by a superior officer.The journal of Sutkus is one of only a few such books to have survived the war. It records more than 200 kills, placing him as one of the war's most successful snipers. A large part of his journal is reproduced for the first time here.As a Hitler Youth member his skill as a marksman was quickly noted and, in July 1943, aged 19, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht. A month later he was sent on a five month sniper's course in Wilna, after which he was posted to the Eastern Front. He was so successful that his superiors sent him to crucial positions. Despite his age, he was regarded as one of Germany's best snipers and in November 1944 he was awarded the Scharfshutzenabzeichen 3 Stufe - the highest award for a sniper.After being wounded in January 1945, Sutkus was given time to recuperate away from the Eastern Front. During this time he met a Red Cross nurse, to whom he gave all his journal.When the war finished, Sutkus was forced to join the Red Army. He deserted to join the Lithuanian resistance fighters. After being captured again he was tortured by the KGB and deported to Siberia to endure forced labour. It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Union that he was able return to Germany and find his journal, still in the hands of the same nurse.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781848325487
ISBN 10	1848325487
Title	Sniper Ace: from the Eastern Front to Siberia
Author	Bruno Sutkus
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Year published	2009-12-20
Number of pages	256
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.