Soldier X is a very popular book among readers, and now they are curious about whether or not the story is based on real events. Thus, we shall break down all the facts for you guys. The book is written by Don Wulffson and serves as the genre of adult war drama.
It narrates the tale of a half-Russian and half-German lad whose name is Erik Brandt. The story is set during the second world war when it is seen that Erik joins Hitler’s army called Wehrmacht.
Now, we must have read a lot of books on the war and how this government or leader tried to overthrow that government or country, but Soldier X focuses on the war through the perspective of a nobody.
We do not know who Erik is or who he was before the book was published. We did not know his family or name at all. It is like reading about a huge event from the eyes of an ant, a certain someone who probably did not mean anything among these big world forces, and the book is quite refreshing if you ask me.
Soldier X – Plot Details
We see how Erik tries leading the life of both his heritages, that is, Russian and German. Ultimately, the story, all bound in a nice little package of Soldier X, tells us how war can affect the life of a common man.
And there were millions of common men involved in the war, so we can only imagine how their lives got ruined in ways we cannot even think of.
Critics have appreciated the book for how it portrayed the history that we all know from a new angle and showed us the horrors of war. Although, there were some criticisms drawn towards choosing a lead character for the book.
Given the fact that Erik was a Nazi soldier, he probably did more harm than good. But the book represents him in a sympathetic format which does not sit well with a lot of people.
Despite all of the sides, it is important to note that the book remains one of the most powerful documents to remind us about the cost that war takes away from everyone. But this raises the question of whether or not this book was true. Was Erik Brandt even real or just a fictional character to represent someone else? Well, here are your answers.
Is Soldier X Based on a True Story?
Yes, the Soldier X book is based on a true story. While Don Wulffson was writing the story and laying out his views, he personally got an interview from a German man who was enrolled in Hitler’s Army during the second world war. This man was none other than Erik Brandt, however old and fragile.
Erik was placed on the Russian front during this time. But well, some of the events and accounts in the books are fictionalized, where we read about how a young boy named Erik is forced to fight for the Germans. He placed them on the Russian front because of his ability to speak both languages.
The plot is set in the year 1944 when World War II was about to end. Erik Brandt was just 16 years of age at that time and was drafted into the German army for Hitler just because of his ability to speak Russian. After his training, he is sent to the Russian front on the Eastern side of the country to fight off against the same.
In the beginning, he is loyal to the German cause and is okay with fighting for them. But soon, Erik starts to realize the faults and questions the Nazi theory that is being imposed by Hitler on everyone.
Soon as Erik starts finding out more about these atrocities committed by the Nazi leaders, he starts to deflect toward his Russian side of the roots.
Later in his life, he gets injured during the war and is taken to a Russian hospital. He meets a nurse named Tamara, who tends to his wounds. They fall in love with each other, but their relationship cannot survive. After this, he joined the Russian army and fought against the Germans until the war was over.
Also Read: Here Before Ending Explained: A Close Look at the Plot and Resolution
