Wilhelm's War

About the Book

Wilhelm's War is a World War II novel based on the experiences of its author, who, in December, 1944, fought in the so-called "Battle of the Bulge."

Corporal Jimmy Wilhelm, a boy of nineteen and proud of his German descent, hopes, in his nerdy, peace-loving way, to avoid injuring, least of all killing, a cousin or an uncle in the war. Shooting a fleeing German prisoner, he solves that dilemma on his first day at the front.

Combat and capture come just a few days later, followed by frozen feet, a starving belly and a boxcar ride across Germany to Stalag IIIB. Later, when the Russians approach the camp, he takes a week-long forced march across Germany to Stalag IIIA near Berlin.

Besides kicking up a "Bouncing Betty" mine that kills a buddy, his sergeant is lost when he helps Wilhelm off a barbwire fence during the bombing of Limburg. Wilhelm wonders if there is a God and why, if he is watching, he allows such wholesale slaughter.

Wilhelm's War is also a coming-of-age novel. It tells the story of a boy's transformation into a mature man and soldier who is capable of killing an enemy with his bare hands.

About the Author

Charles H. Stammer was born in Indianapolis, IN, on April 1, 1925. He joined the army in 1943, and after the war received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry. Now a Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia, he wrote Wilhelm?s War after retirement in 1990.