Victory or Death!

As I posted back on May 30, I have been a reader of Tom Kratman's novels since 2003, when his first – A State of Disobedience – was published. Last week I read his novel (co-written with John Ringo) entitled Watch on the Rhine, a story set in the universe of a military science fiction series known as The Legacy of the Aldenata.

The story centers on three main characters – Hans Brasche, Walter Muhlenkampf, and Helmut Krueger – all of whom are veterans of the Waffen SS. The year is 2004 and Earth is facing an imminent massive invasion of an alien species known as the Posleen, a reptilian race that scours the planets it invades, eating (yes, eating) all who stand in their way. Fortunately for Earth, a Galactic Confederation (led by a species known as the Darhel, who have their own hidden agenda) has provided the human race with some advanced technology to prepare for the coming invasion; technology including a device that can regenerate the bodies of aged humans. Using this device, the Chancellor of Germany (over the strong objections of Socialists and Greens within his government) regenerates members of the Waffen SS in order to help rebuild Germany's once-formidable war machine for the purpose of resisting the Posleen invaders.

Over the following three years, Brasche, Muhlenkampf, and Krueger along with other regenerated SS veterans re-form the SS (officially renamed the 47^th Panzer Korps) within the context of a world seemingly gone mad. Krueger (an unrepentant Nazi) relishes the opportunity for mayhem that the coming crisis will offer. Muhlenkampf – the leader of the 47^th – approaches matters day-by-day with a cool military professionalism. Brasche, however, continues to seek expiation for his association with the World War II-era SS that his later service to the French Foreign Legion, Israeli Defense Forces, and marriage to an Israeli woman named Anna were unable to provide.

Thus, what Ringo and Kratman present to the reader is not simple-minded cheerleading for the Waffen SS – as Charles Stross has disingenuously characterized the novel – but rather a gripping tale of men faced with a seemingly hopeless situation wherein the entire human race faces extinction. Ringo and Kratman do a spectacular job of underlining the fact that empty pacifistic platitudes are simply useless against an enemy bent on carrying out the full extermination of all who oppose them.

While reading this novel, I was reminded of the defiant slogan with which Col. William Barrett Travis signed his last letter during the siege of the Alamo: "Victory or Death!" Ultimately, if a people are to survive any threats to their existence, they must first agree that some things are indeed worth fighting for. To most Americans (I hope), that salient fact should come across as a no-brainer. But in light of the topic I've covered in my two previous blog entries, a substantial number of people in the Western world have evidently come to a different conclusion.

So what becomes of humanity in Watch on the Rhine? Is mankind relegated to the ash-heap of history or do we live to fight another day? For that answer, dear reader, you will have to read this highly-recommended novel.