613 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


    • Chapter

      Fever

      Fever Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Fever" depicts Werner, a German soldier, grappling with illness and the brutal realities of war during the winter of 1943-1944. Stricken by a debilitating fever and diarrhea, he crouches behind a truck, feeling as though he is losing his last vestiges of humanity. His physical suffering mirrors the moral decay around him, as he declines offers of coffee and painkillers from his comrades. The passage highlights his isolation, underscored by his failure to write to his sister Jutta, whose…
    • Chapter

      The Third Stone

      The Third Stone Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter follows von Rumpel, a determined Nazi officer, as he searches for a legendary blue diamond in a château near Amiens. Believing the stone was hidden there by a museum official during the invasion of France, he meticulously explores the retired paleontologist's home. With the help of a skilled Gestapo safecracker, he uncovers a strongbox containing a velvet box. Inside, he finds what appears to be the prized pear-cut diamond, only to discover it is another expertly crafted fake, leaving him…
    • Chapter

      The Bridge

      The Bridge Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a tense scene in a French village where a German truck is blown up on a bridge, killing six soldiers. The local women fear brutal reprisals, whispering that the Germans will execute ten civilians for every soldier lost. Authorities force able-bodied men into labor to fortify the Atlantic Wall, while Etienne, armed with a doctor's note, stands frozen in fear at his doorway. The atmosphere is thick with dread as the occupation tightens its grip, and the villagers brace for violence.…
    • Chapter

      White City

      White City Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin In April 1944, Werner and his comrades arrive in a desolate Vienna, a once-grand city now marked by empty windows and decay. The group lodges in a dilapidated suite, surrounded by remnants of opulence overshadowed by war’s ravages. Werner reflects on Dr. Hauptmann, his former mentor, whose idealized Viennese youth contrasts sharply with the grim reality. The city commander ignores them, and their mission to locate resistance broadcasts in Leopoldstadt yields nothing but propaganda and desperate military…
    • Chapter

      East

      East Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "East" follows Werner, a young soldier, as he travels by train through war-torn landscapes, witnessing the devastation of cities like Lodz and Warsaw. The journey is marked by bleak surroundings—overturned railcars, endless plains, and a sunless sky. Soldiers around him sleep despite the harsh conditions, numbed by exhaustion or medication. Neumann Two, a fellow soldier, urinates off the train and takes pills, casually noting their arrival in Russia. The air reeks of steel, reinforcing the…
    • One Ordinary Loaf Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure and her great-uncle Etienne engage in a clandestine operation in their home, beginning with the retrieval of a hidden message from a loaf of bread. The excitement of the bakery visit lingers as Etienne extracts a tiny scroll containing cryptic numbers, which he interprets as potential radio frequencies and times. Their careful preparation underscores the tension of their secret mission, as they await nightfall to proceed. The scene is charged with anticipation, hinting at the risks involved in…
    • Chapter

      Volkheimer

      Volkheimer Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces a military unit led by Sergeant Volkheimer, a young but hardened leader, as they patrol war-torn landscapes in search of partisan radio transmissions. The team includes an engineer, Walter Bernd, and two drivers, Neumann One and Two, along with Werner Pfennig, a skilled technician tasked with detecting unauthorized radio activity. Despite their efforts, they find little evidence of partisan coordination, and Werner struggles with the futility of their mission. The group operates in a…
    • Chapter

      Fall

      Fall Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of Saint-Malo under a stormy sky, where German officers arrive in limousines to film along the ramparts. Etienne observes them from his window through a telescope, noting their casual demeanor despite the wartime setting. Across the street, laughter and light spill from Claude Levitte’s house, contrasting with the darkened block. The scene is punctuated by a shot glass tossed from a window, symbolizing the tension and unpredictability of life under occupation.…
    • Chapter

      Sunflowers

      Sunflowers Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Sunflowers" follows Werner and his military unit as they traverse a desolate Ukrainian landscape dominated by towering, dying sunflowers. The eerie setting is described as oppressive, with the sunflower heads resembling countless watching eyes. The team stops to set up radio equipment, with Werner tuning frequencies amidst crude banter between the Neumann brothers. The static-filled air feels ancient and ominous, heightening the tension as Werner scans for enemy transmissions. The scene…
    • Chapter

      Stones

      Stones Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Sergeant Major von Rumpel arrives at a heavily guarded warehouse outside Lodz, weakened from recent medical treatments. The facility is secured with razor wire, and von Rumpel is required to don a jumpsuit without pockets before entering. Inside, the windows are covered with plywood, and four enlisted men stand ready at stations equipped with jeweler’s lamps. The atmosphere is tense and militarized, emphasizing the secrecy and importance of the operation. Von Rumpel’s physical fragility contrasts with…
    Note