Description
Who am I by Peter Plum is a poignant reflection on the experience of growing up in the chaotic and destructive final years of World War II. The author recounts his youth in Nazi Germany, where, despite the crumbling state of Europe, he was forced to join the Hitler Youth and later the German army. Through the lens of his personal story, Peter Plum offers a perspective on the brutality of war, the destruction it wreaks on individuals and societies, and the impact on young lives swept up in the conflict.
As a teenager, he was trained at the Wehrertüchtigungslager under the command of Oberstleutnant Erich Barenfanger, where he and others were prepared to become part of the future elite of Germany. Reflecting on the war’s aftermath, Plum writes that he has never met any of his comrades again and uses this book as a solemn reminder of the horrors of war and the importance of remembering the lives lost on all sides.
The narrative urges readers to oppose warmongers and to act sooner rather than later, emphasizing that an estimated 65 million lives were lost during the war—an irreplaceable loss for humanity. The book serves as a tribute to the fallen and a cautionary tale about the human cost of conflict.
