“Amazing read… Very exciting characters and a very interesting historical fiction .” – Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Inspired by true historical events, From the Ashes is the unforgettable story of a tortured man, torn between his ideals, the iron fist of Stalinism and the woman he loves.World War II is over, but another battle has just begun… begun…
Marlene has no love lost for the Soviet occupying forces, who turn out to be every bit as cruel as the Nazis were. Living in constant fear of the Russian soldiers, she works in a hospital to make ends meet, where she meets Werner, a cold-hearted career politician.
Werner, a German émigré to Moscow, returns to his hometown with the highest hopes for a better future. Sent by the communist party to bring freedom, wealth and happiness to the people, he’s soon caught in a moral conflict between loyalty to his party and his conscience.
When Marlene criticizes the communist regime, she becomes the target of powerful men. Oblivious to the danger for her own life, she refused to back down, and there’s only one thing Werner can do to save her life: defy the party line.
But will he be able to shed decades of indoctrination for the woman he loves? And what will become of him if he does? Because those who speak up against the regime, usually find themselves on a train to Siberia or worse.
From the bestselling author of the ‘War Girls Series’ comes this nail-biting story about Berlin sliding into the Cold War.
Readers who loved From the Ashes:
“Once again as with all of Marion Kummerow’s books this author has taken a moment in history which was pivotal in the geopolitical tensions of post-war Europe between the Soviet Union and the Western Powers.” – Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An excellent read! Gripped my imagination on the first page and never let go… The twists and turns of the narrative will surprise you as will the ending, and you definitely would want to learn what is in store for them and other not less interesting characters who populate this absorbing story in the next book promised by the author. I can’t recommend it highly enough.” – Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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This is only the first book in Ms. Kummerow’s new series and I’m already hooked! I really enjoyed that it focused not on the usual aspects of the war (which are plentifully represented in literature) but on a subject that isn’t much talked about and which should be – namely, how the Germans coped with losing the war and trying to rebuild their lives under a new administration. Through two main characters, Marlene and Werner (a regular citizen and a representative of the occupying force, respectively), the author shows with brutal honesty how difficult it was for someone to stand up for what is right. Werner was a particularly interesting character; both his inner conflicts and actual, physical conflicts he had to deal with daily while trying to do what’s right for the people, are wonderfully presented. Historical research was meticulous and showed perfectly the hypocrisy of the new occupants of the city, who were just as autocratic and ruthless as the Nazis even though their ideology was called differently. A truly fascinating historical fiction offering an intimate glimpse into post-war Berlin and its inhabitants. Highly recommended!
I’ve admired Marion Kummerow’s writing for a while. She takes great care with her characters and the story they tell. Her ability to get across the deepest human instincts is amazing.
“From the Ashes”, is Marion at her finest. At the end of WWII, Germany was occupied by several allied forces. The Germans were trying to find their way back to “normal” but had to capitulate to the forces that were occupying their country. Berlin is where this story unfolds. You will see the very best in humanity and the very worst. All living in the same city. It’s fascinating to get a glimpse into what motivated people to do what they do and how they will handle deplorable situations and conditions. As the college students fight against the Russians, the other Allies are being told to not ruffle the Russian’s feathers. This just emboldened them. Some of these students bowed to the Russian persuasion, others stood firm.
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next in this new series.
Berlin divided
The war has ended, the city of Berlin is divided into four sectors, the Soviets, The Americans, The French, and the British. Each country is in charge of their sector if Berlin.
In most sectors the German people have been liberated from war and are striving to put their lives back on track after the war. This is not so in the Soviet sector. The Soviets are not much better than the Nazi’s. Anyone in the Soviet sector that speaks out against the Russian propaganda or the Soviet Union is punished. The German people are starving and the housing situation is dire. The Soviet leader, however, have all the fancy foods and live in the fancy houses that the ordinary German people can only dream about.
An election is held and the Soviet backed party loses, but the new officials are not allowed to take office and are beaten when they show up at city hall. Although the German people have voted to free themselves from the Soviet party nothing changes and the Soviet grip only strengthens.
At the University the student council members decide to resist and write a protest against the Soviet propaganda in the classrooms. Georg, Marlene, Lottie, and Zara are all friends and students at the University. All but Lottie are in the student council. The director of the University Werner Bohm has feelings for Marlene. When he hears about the protest planned by the students and the action the Soviets plan to take against them he hides Marlene in a motel for the night. The other students involved are rounded up and arrested. Marlene’s friend Bruni helps Marlene so she is not arrested. Later Marlene calls Werner a coward and says she never wants to see him again.
Werner realizes the wrong that is being done to the German people by the Soviet’s and talks to the American commander and deflects to the west.
This book deals with a subject not often dealt with, and one that was part of history. What happened to the German people under the Soviet’s after the war was over. This was the very beginning of a west and east Germany and the beginning of what we call the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Marion has done a wonderful job of writing on this subject. I don’t think it was an easy subject to write about. I loved seeing the character of Lottie again from her War Girl series.
I would definitely recommend this book. I patiently await the next book in the series.
Thanks to Marion Kummerow for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of her book.
An excellent read!
Gripped my imagination on the first page and never let go.
With her intensely researched, quickly paced, suspenseful, and engrossing narrative, the author puts us in the post-war Germany under the occupation by four victorious forces. Most of the events unfold in the Soviet sector, bringing to light the accurate account of how Germans reacted to the forced Sovietization, the subject rarely touched in the modern literature.
Despite difficult life conditions, there is romance flourishing between two main characters, Marlene and Werner. Their feelings are perfectly interweaved with the then current situation in the country and will keep you turning pages to learn how one influenced each other under the dangerous and controversial circumstances. The twists and turns of the narrative will surprise you as will the ending, and you definitely would want to learn what is in store for them and other not less interesting characters who populate this absorbing story in the next book promised by the author. I can’t recommend it highly enough.