The Gathering Storm (The Sturmtaucher Trilogy Book One) by Alan Jones

Book Blurb
Kiel, Northern Germany, 1933. A naval city, the base for the German Baltic fleet, and the centre for German sailing, the venue for the upcoming Olympic regatta in 1936.

The Kästners, a prominent Military family, are part of the fabric of the city, and its social, naval and yachting circles. The Nussbaums are the second generation of their family to be in service with the Kästners as domestic staff, but the two households have a closer bond than most.

As Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist Party claw their way to power in 1933, life has never looked better for families like the Kästners. There is only one problem.

The Nussbaums are Jews.

The Sturmtaucher Trilogy documents the devastating effect on both families of the Nazis’ hateful ideology and the insidious erosion of the rights of Germany’s Jews.

When Germany descends ever deeper into dictatorship, General Erich Kästner tries desperately to protect his employees, and to spirit them to safety.

As the country tears itself apart, the darkness which envelops a nation threatens not only to destroy two families, but to plunge an entire continent into war.’

My Review

Historical fiction has always been my favourite genre, going back in time and learning about the periods covered. I do normally read historical fiction based in the long past, but I really shoud read more recent history. The Gathering Storm has reignited my curiosity of World War II, especially the build up and the events that led to Britain declare war on Germany. The Gathering Storm is a very apt title for this book, as it is starts in 1933 and tells the story of the lead up to the war and the holocaust.

Alan Jones uses two families, the Kästners and the Nussbaums, to tell the story of this period, one German the other Jewish. General Kästner is recently retired from the army when he is offered a position to lease with the army and navy and be part of the Anbwher, military intelligence. This position gives him access to the changes that are going on politically and militarily in Germany, especially in relation to the growing military presence against the Treaty of Versailles signed after the First World War.

Yosef and Miriam Nussbaum work for the General and his family, and to the Kästner’s they are family, their children growing up together, and Yosef and the General being friend’s for many years. It is through the realionship between the Kästners and the Nussbaums that Alan Jones tells the story of the build up of the war. We see the gradual rise of the Naional Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP), and the rise of Hitler, from Chancellor to dictator, and the restrictions slowly placed on the Jewish community over six years.

I really enjoyed Alan Jones’s wtiting style and methods, using memos and reports between the General and the Abwher, articles in the local paper and of course the personal stories of the Nussbaums and others from the Jewish community. Alan’s research is exceptional and shines through in the historcal detail of this book, and I felt I learned a lot from reading this book. Of course it is shocking and tragic to read, the small changes in the laws that over the years built up into this persucution and death of so many people, and ultimately to the Holocaust. It also shows that there were many Germans who disagreed with what Hitler was doing to the Jewish people, and tried to help them where possible, especially in relation the the General and Yosef. I should point out that this is an epic read, in subject matter and length, with the word count being over a million. Please don’t let this put you off reading this remarkable book, every word is important, every word is there for a reason and once you start this book you will forget about how long it is and just become immersed in this amazing book.

After reading The Gathering Storm I felt lost, bereft at knowing some of the history and what what is to come but at the same time I am really exited about reading the next two books in this trilogy. I really can’t praise this book enough, it is a phenomenal read and should be in every bookstore in the country. The writing and historical detail is outstanding, the characters become friends that I cared about and once started this is a book you won’t be able to put down. If you love historical fiction then you have to read this book and then tell your friend’s about it, it really is that good.