LAST TRAIN FROM BERLIN

by George Blagowidow ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 3, 1977

How did Der FÃœhrer ever make it to 1945 with all those assassination attempts? This one's the handiwork of Oberschule student ""Heinz Hauptmann,"" who's really Polish Adam Leski, sole survivor of a Nazi group execution (papa Leski perished) and Hitler-hater nonpareil. Rescued from the mass grave by a priest and fitted out with an Aryan alias, ""Heinz"" botches his first effort--a clear crossbow shot at Berghof--and comes to the attention of both a pro-Himmler conspiracy (they'll help him hit Hitler) and a special protect-the-FÃœhrer Gestapo unit (they'll use him to finger the conspiracy). But first--and the only distinctive feature here--Heinz/Adam feels the pre-kamikazi urge to return to Poland and visit Jewish friends now hiding, fighting, or simply holding on. Blagowidow (a postwar Polish refugee who became a book-sales biggie) neatly sketches in the Warsaw ghetto on the eve of nightmare, just as he splashes confidently around in the oppressive Oberschule atmosphere. But Heinz earns only the most obvious sympathies (his fickle love-life's a problem), the competent narrative path is strewn with a few too many coincidences and kindly-brave supporters, and you never believe for eine kleine second that Adolf's in danger.

Pub Date: June 3, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1977

Categories: FICTION