Legion of the Damned cover art

Legion of the Damned

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Legion of the Damned

By: Sven Hassel
Narrated by: Rupert Degas
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About this listen

Convicted of deserting the German army, Sven Hassel is sent to a penal regiment on the Russian Front. He and his comrades are regarded as expendable, cannon fodder in the battle against the implacable Red Army. Outnumbered and outgunned, they fight their way across the frozen steppe....

This iconic anti-war novel is a testament to the atrocities suffered by the lone soldier in the fight for survival. Sven Hassel's unflinching narrative is based on his own experiences in the German Army. He began writing his first novel, Legion of the Damned, in a prisoner of war camp at the end of the Second World War. Read by Rupert Degas.

©1957 Sven Hassel (P)2014 Orion Publishing Group Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction War & Military War Military Red army

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Editor reviews

"An extraordinary book, which has captured the attention of all of Europe" ( New York Times)
" Legion of the Damned is an incredible picture of totalitarianism, of stupefying injustice... He is graphic, at times brilliantly so, but never brutal or bitter. He is, too, a first-rate storyteller" ( Washington Post)
All stars
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Love all his books could do with the rest of them on here in English too

Last one

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This is a great book, probobly best in the series as is a real life account of the writers experiances. Brutal, Honest and sometimes a tough read.

Gritty Real life account

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This is a powerful account of the madness and dehumanisation of war. It is quite old fashioned, written in a very telling and sometimes passive style, but it is very moving, especially when the protagonist returns to the front after hospital. I don't care how much of it is true, the anti-war message is strong and it is not the boys own adventure I thought it would be for all those years.

A revelation.

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How wonderful to listen to books by my favourite author. Having read all his books in my younger days whilst serving in the army, it is great to be able to listen to whilst on my treadmill.

Fantastic story telling

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Absolutely gripped from start to finish. The narration was perfect, the story harrowing. Very much looking forward to the next in the series

Fantastic tale, superb narration

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best voice and accent ever. i can sleep like a baby while i listen the narrator voice

the voice

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an honest and harrowing real recount of war time and the effects it has on any human being

narrated really well

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If you could sum up Legion of the Damned in three words, what would they be?

Brutal Honest Shocking

What was one of the most memorable moments of Legion of the Damned?

Close quarter bayonet fighting with the Russians.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I Particularly enjoyed the minefield sabotage scene.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes the 1st chapter to the last.

Any additional comments?

Brilliant book for an honest insight into the German army some parts do feel slightly far fetched but war is war I suppose. It also has to be said that Rupert Degas is fantastic in his narration of this book.

Breathtaking !!!!!!

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Such great detail of what happened to him! and his opinions of the world at that time.

Great book!

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I read the authors books during the 70’s and I thought I would revisit via Audible. As soon as I started Legion of the Damned, I was transported back into the world of Porter, the Old Un, Pluto etc I’m going to go through as many as there are on Audible. The books are a hard read and not full of puppies and kittens but it’s the realities of war. Well narrated.

Brilliant

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