Born in 1932, Hermann Winter grew up in Augsburg, Germany during the turbulent years of World War II. Too young to join the Wehrmacht (German military), he instead experienced the war as an outsider, a keen observer of events and people as he enjoyed the many adventures common to young teenagers everywhere. From finding a long-desired train switch to a Marklin model train in the ruins of a toy store, to enjoying time with his grandparents in the old section of Augsburg, to facing the death of his grandmother in the bombardments, to hiding in basement corners during heavy air raids with pillows over his head for protection, Hermann recounts the adventures and terrors of his youth with remarkable clarity and honesty. By describing the effects of war on the civilians living through it, Hermann's Augsburg 1939-1945 is a fascinating illustration of the dichotomy between the ridiculousness and horrors of war and the almost humorous interactions of circumstances and individuals."