THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER: “Beautifully told.”—CNN • “A remarkable story…worth retelling and celebrating.”—USA Today • “Oh, it’s a good one!”—Fox News A “beautiful story of a brotherhood between enemies” emerges from the horrors of World War II in this New York Times bestseller by the author of Spearhead. December, 1943: A badly damaged American bomber struggles to fly over wartime Germany. … Spearhead.
December, 1943: A badly damaged American bomber struggles to fly over wartime Germany. At the controls is twenty-one-year-old Second Lieutenant Charlie Brown. Half his crew lay wounded or dead on this, their first mission. Suddenly, a Messerschmitt fighter pulls up on the bomber’s tail. The pilot is German ace Franz Stigler—and he can destroy the young American crew with the squeeze of a trigger…
What happened next would defy imagination and later be called “the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.”
The U.S. 8th Air Force would later classify what happened between them as “top secret.” It was an act that Franz could never mention for fear of facing a firing squad. It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search the world for each other, a last mission that could change their lives forever.
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It gave insights about WWII which I hadn’t known. It included a human element to both sides of the War which was very touching.
Awesome read. One of the great untold stories of WW II. Inspired me to want to read more about WW II. Highly recommended.
This is a true story of an encounter an American fighter pilot and German fighter pilot had over Germany during WW2. The German pilot saw the severely battered plane of the American pilot. The German escorted the American plane past areas of ground fire to encourage the pilot to struggle to Sweden and safety. The American pilot is confused as to why this “enemy” is not going in for the kill. This story explores the lives of these two pilots and the meaning of being honorable. This is an uplifting story. Long after the encounter, the two pilots meet and discuss the event. This is a story that looks at both sides of war and the decisions soldiers face.
This is an excellent book that has the WW II aerial war told from the German and American point of view. It was hard to put this book down and the stories of these two pilots interaction during the war then their meeting years after the war which led to a long lasting friendship until their deaths. I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in war history.
Good history. First time I had read history from the point of view of the enemy. I learned a lot and realize now that many of the Germans in World War II were really good people and did not support Hitler.
“A Higher Call” gave a new prospective of WWII. How interesting to see the German air force doing what was expected of them…… to a point.
Excellent book about a little-known true fact in history. A German pilot escorting a badly damaged American plane out of Germany. Strong in-depth character development gives the reader an understanding of why that incident was true to the nature of the German pilot. A great read even for someone who doesn’t care for most history books.
This book is one of the very best I have ever read. It is a true story of honor, daring, and brought tears to my eyes. It dispels the false notion that all Germans, during WW2 were Nazis and knew about the Holocaust. It should be required reading for students to help them understand human nature, the brave, good, and the bad and evil.
Good true story about World War II
I normally read mysteries but this book was great. Kept my interest from beginning to end.
War can bring out the worst of people and many times the best in people.
A great story about what was a little known event during WW II.
Humanity at the personal level outweighs the political agenda of any nation. This was a very touching true story and needs to be told to remind us all of the basic human qualities of us all. The recall was interesting for all of these very young men and women caught up in war across the Atlantic but with common human feelings. The story telling quality was good.
Excellent book. Shows genuine people in hard circumstances making amazing decisions.
This book was very interesting – a real page-turner, and I was delighted to see a dear friend who met the author. I really enjoy true stories from a historical angle, and this was one of the best I have read in a long time – and I an avid reader. I highly recommend this well written delightful account of a fascinating event in our history.
I thought it was wonderfully human at a time of great inhumanity
A moving personal story of what it was like to be a young American bomber pilot and a young German fighter pilot in wwii, and how respect and compassion were demonstrated when their paths crossed.
How Humane Enemies could be to each other,even in danger zones.But then People don’t start wars,only old and cranky men send the young Men to be
Slaughter. R.H.
It is a compelling book, full of human interest, true to history, and full of real people. The story is well told, and even though you know the end, mostly, it is still a gripping read. lt is a tale of war but also of character. Franz and Charlie are brought to life by Adam Makos in this book. Truth is stranger than fiction.
This was a fascinating story. The family histories and how the book came about are incredible!