Monte Cassino (Legion of the Damned Book 6)

I read all of the Sven Hassel books way back in the early 80's. I thought I would revisit them, as they are available as digital versions. They are still a good, if a little lightweight, read - even after all these years,Easy to read and get through reasonably quickly (I think my reading ability has vastly improved and sped up since I was 19 or 20 years old).I wouldn't take the entire story at face value, I would say that after the first book or two in the series that the author has taken some artistic license with the internal details and absolute historians would quibble over some of the scenarios.Don't let that put you off though; they are a great snapshot of the terrible time the world found itself in WW2, as well as an insight into the brutality of war and the obscene regime of the Nazi's.The book and the series would suit young men 18 years and over. The style and format lends itself well to start those who are not readers off and, hopefully, develop a thirst for more, and more complex, reads.

I've been working my through Hassel's books and this was one of the more enjoyable entries in the series, with a bit more action than some of the previous books. However I am subtracting a star for the more fabulist elements of the book (Marines with Katanas for example) which distract from the narrative. Otherwise highly recommended.

In 1978 I was on liberty in London and I bought the entire Seven Hassel collection. I have since lost or given them all away. I can read his books over and over again. The part about the U.S. Marines is untrue but other then that his books give a good feel of what it was like to be a German solder in WW II.

A good read. A bit graphic but... it is a novel written by soldier who was in a Wehrmacht Penal Panzer unit, from the losers POV, which is always more valuable that the POV of the winner, which is usually twisted into fiction.

It is a story of young comrades, with both tough and funny moments of the war. I have been an admirer of Sven's writing style.

Good gritty WWII novel about Monte Cassino. While does not cover entire battle gives good sense of the WWI type of fighting.

Read them all 30 years ago still a good read now

One of the best books in this series tells the story of the infamous defence of Monte Cassino where the stubbon defenders stopped the 8 th army cold

This author tells it the way it was. Because he was there.Another Classic from Sven. Mans barbarian ways against his fellow man knows no boundaries.

I was drawn to read a Sven Hassell book due to their popularity. I found it stilted and very formulaic. In particular, the “conversations” between the characters were poor. If you like military history, do your research as there are hundreds of much better accounts - both fiction and non fiction

Love these books. Realistically brings to life the brutality and senselessness of war and those times. Should be on everyone’s reading list to remind us why we should never repeat it.

I read most, if not all of Sven Hassell's books decades ago and thoroughly enjoyed them, aside from the graphic violence of war, I grew to love the collection of characters that made up the punishment battalion and enjoyed their adventures. This book then seemed a good choice for my first Kindle purchase, but I am afraid it left me pretty flat and to be honest it was almost a chore to get through. I guess it is true that nostalgia is not what it used to be.

The leading characters share comradeship and sometimes the hardships of war.