Ten Lives Sold (review)
by Heinz G. Konsalik
The Plot
In the spring of 1944, the end of Germany is imminent. On the Eastern Front, the Red Army prepares the offensive that will take them to Berlin. Some officers of the Wehrmacht High Command believe that not all is lost and call back from the front ten men destined to change the course of history. The ten arrive from the front lines: Peter Radek, Berno von Ranowski, Elmar Solbreit, Baron Venno von Baldenow, Johann Poltmann, Detlev Adler, Asgard Kuehenberg, Dietrich Semper, Bodo von Labitz, Alexander Dalburg. They come from all over the German domains but share the knowledge of the language and coexistence with the Russians. The ten are placed under the command of Colonel Rennenberg, who at the Eberswalde riding school reveals their mission: to assassinate Stalin!
The operation is organized down to the smallest detail. It involves a parachute drop into ten different locations forming a circle around Moscow. From there, the German officers will reach the Soviet capital and infiltrate it, obtaining jobs that will allow them to get close to the Kremlin without raising suspicion.
Once the first part of the mission is completed, they are to meet at the apartment of the liaison agent Milda, where they will plan the strategy that will lay the foundation for Germany's rebirth.
At the end of their training, the officers are given new names, dressed according to local customs, and a mini transmitter hidden in the heel of their shoes.
The hour of the drop approaches, and the ten, gathered for the final preparations, regret their choice, knowing they will never see their beloved Germany again. The commando is parachuted into the designated locations: from that moment on, they are on their own. Will they be able to accomplish the mission before the Red Army crushes the already depleted Nazi armies? Will they ever return to embrace their loved ones? The race against time begins...
The Characters
Peter Radek (Piotr Mironovic Sepkin), 25 years old, Lieutenant.
Radek is not described in great detail in the book. Physically, he is known to be an expert in martial arts, unbeatable in hand-to-hand combat. His character can be deduced from his actions: Radek is intelligent, able to adapt to any situation; he does not expose his men to unnecessary dangers and has a strong sense of duty.
Berno von Ranowski (Ivan Petrovic Bunurian), 24 years old, Lieutenant.
Von Ranowski is easily mistaken for a Russian due to his thick blond hair. Among the ten generals, Ranowski is the most sensitive and humane.
Elmar Solbreit (Luka Ivanovic Petrovskij), 22 years old, Second Lieutenant.
Solbreit is the most charming and original character, always ready with a witty remark, never holding back, and capable of emerging unscathed from any danger.
Baron Venno von Baldenow (Leonid Germanovic Duskov), 26 years old, Captain.
Baron von Baldenow comes from a wealthy family settled in the Baltic States. The young officer strives to uphold the family tradition that requires the eldest to be decorated with the Iron Cross.
Johann Poltmann (Fedor Pantelievic Ivanov), 21 years old, Second Lieutenant.
Poltmann has beautiful blond curls that attract women like honey attracts ants; his companions tease him with the phrase: “We have to undress to conquer a woman, you just have to take off your cap!”
Detlev Adler (Aleksander Nikolaevic Kraskin), 25 years old, Lieutenant.
Adler is sometimes impulsive and reckless; this will lead to his death over a trivial matter. He is the least experienced in the group but has great abilities.
Asgard Kuehenberg (Kyrill Semenovic Boranov), 28 years old, Captain.
He is the group's grey eminence; he will be the one to return to Germany and recount the "wild geese" mission.
Dietrich Semper (Sergej Andreevic Tarsky), 22 years old, Second Lieutenant.
Particularly unlucky, Semper easily adapts and can give his best in any situation, even the most difficult.
Bodo von Labitz (Pavel Fedorovic Sassonov), 31 years old, Major.
A highly skilled strategist and the head of the mission. Fate has a surprise in store for him: in search of work, he encounters an old acquaintance who betrays him, handing him over to counterintelligence. Tortured, von Labitz decides not to hand over valuable information to the Soviets and dies, leaving behind a young wife and a newborn son.
Alexander Dallburg (Nikolai Antonovic Plejin), 20 years old, Ensign.
He is the youngest among the ten and is therefore treated like a son by his fellow adventurers. Dallburg is quiet and reserved, with great success among women.
Genre
"Ten Lives Sold" is a thriller novel.
Review
I highly recommend reading this book. The plot is fast-paced and original; the author alternates between long descriptions and moments of intense action. The twists follow each other at a rapid pace. The monologues are particularly effective, allowing the reader to empathize with the characters. The setting is well-described: the story unfolds over a few months, with the locations varying from the beaches of Normandy to the vast Russian plains to the bustling metropolis of Moscow. The book's author is Heinz G. Konsalik, the most renowned contemporary German writer worldwide.
The book is written in a precise and easily comprehensible language, with consistently appropriate terms.
Significant Pages
- p.129: The ten officers gathered in Eberswalde learn their crazy mission from Colonel Rennenberg: the order is to assassinate Stalin.
- p.130: Under Eisenhower's command, Allied troops land in Normandy.
- p.191: The first of the ten is parachuted into Russian territory: from that moment, the "Wild Geese" operation begins.
- p.238: Von Ranowski is killed by lumberjacks, an axe blow crushing his skull.
- p.268: During the journey to Moscow, hidden in a livestock carriage, Adler is crushed and killed by cows frightened by the noise of fighter planes.
- p.277: Discovered by the militia, Semper chooses to die by using the cyanide capsule hidden in a tooth.
- p.319: Unmasked, von Labitz is tortured and killed in the counterintelligence dungeons.
- p.439: The head of Russian counterintelligence realizes the mission's purpose and plans a response.
- p.475: The six survivors meet at the contact agent's home and plan Stalin's assassination.
- p.537: The attempt to assassinate Stalin fails.
- p.539: Poltmann falls into a counterintelligence trap, blowing himself up along with Stalin's double, believing him to be the Russian dictator.
- p.543: Dallburg, caught by his fiancée with a younger girl, is killed with a gunshot.
