Sample
  • A Higher Call

  • An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II
  • By: Adam Makos
  • Narrated by: Robertson Dean
  • Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (9,609 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

A Higher Call

By: Adam Makos
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.93

Buy for $18.93

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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 Devotion, now a Major Motion Picture.

Four days before Christmas in 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a twenty-one-year-old pilot. Half his crew lay wounded or dead. It was their first mission. Suddenly a sleek, dark shape pulled up on the bomber’s tail—a German Messerschmitt fighter. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber 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.

This is the true story of the two pilots whose lives collided in the skies that day—the American—Second Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a former farm boy from West Virginia who came to captain a B-17—and the German—Second Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II.

A Higher Call follows both Charlie and Franz’s harrowing missions. Charlie would face takeoffs in English fog over the flaming wreckage of his buddies’ planes, flak bursts so close they would light his cockpit, and packs of enemy fighters that would circle his plane like sharks. Franz would face sandstorms in the desert, a crash alone at sea, and the spectacle of one thousand bombers, each with eleven guns, waiting for his attack.

Ultimately, Charlie and Franz would stare across the frozen skies at one another. What happened between them, the American Eighth Air Force would later classify as top secret. It was an act that Franz could never mention without 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 for one another, a last mission that could change their lives forever.

©2012 Adam Makos (P)2013 Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic reviews

“This book grips you like a movie. It’s part Top Gun, part Valkyrie, and more!”(Marcus Brotherton, New York Times best-selling author
“It is often said that ‘war is hell’ - and it is - however, this story reveals how the human spirit can shine in the darkest hours. A Higher Call is an eye-opener.” (Col. Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII)
“‘Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?’ The author asks the question and delivers the answer. A powerful, haunting read.” (Chuck Tatum, author of Red Blood, Black Sand)

Featured Article: The 10 Best WWII Audiobooks for Every History Buff


World War II, although well-documented through various mediums, is the basis for a wide range of little-known stories from Europe and beyond that deserve to be heard. From firsthand accounts of soldiers on the front lines to stories of brave women behind the scenes, these are impactful stories of humans coming together in this time of global conflict. We’re sure you’ll find something captivating on our list of the best WWII audiobooks.

What listeners say about A Higher Call

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,487
  • 4 Stars
    886
  • 3 Stars
    182
  • 2 Stars
    28
  • 1 Stars
    26
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7,584
  • 4 Stars
    989
  • 3 Stars
    162
  • 2 Stars
    27
  • 1 Stars
    20
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7,969
  • 4 Stars
    622
  • 3 Stars
    140
  • 2 Stars
    27
  • 1 Stars
    16

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing story

this book should be required reading for any ww2 history class. it's an amazing story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An incredible testimony of two Soldiers life’s during war and afterwards.

I am amazed by this story of redemption and love during a wartorn era. The story of two complete strangers from different parts of the world, fighting for different causes. Yet through it all, they are two honorable men that do incredible things.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This should be heard by everyone

As an Air Force pilot now reading this and listening to this story should be required reading in school. It’s beautifully written and the story transcends borders, battles and time. The humanization of each person and especially the insight on Germany’s pilots during the war provided me a new perspective and appreciation for our adversaries in the sky and I hope that lesson of humanity can be continued on for future readers and listeners.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible WWII Story

The story was well narrated and the author did not take sides while telling a compelling story that should be remembered by all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Riveting!

I decided long ago that I'd read as much WWII military history as I could stand (I like to read some of what my son's are reading so we can connect over the books, but enough is enough). This book was so unlike all the rest. It even gave me a bit of a feeling for what it was like to be a German citizen who wasn't a Nazi. The book held my attention throughout and gives some food for thought about axes of evil and axes of resistance and the simple people who aren't in agreement with the ruling powers but who have so little say

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful and riveting

Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book and loved it! I especially appreciated both Charlie and Franz’s faith in God which which was the reason this book existed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely amazing!

Extremely well written and organized. Wonderful story about humanity! It’s hard to believe the story but it was written and lived and told over and over. It’s a beautiful sign that good people exist even in enemies.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Simply Outstanding!

A fascinating story very well written and wonderfully narrated. I highly recommend it to you, even if you're not a military history buff.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!!!

This is the most detailed account of the real soldiers on both sides of read. A must read for any history buff.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

History often forgets how many Christians were in Germany

Not only was this story surprising for its unusual events and inspiring for its tale of mercy, but it’s an incredible reminder that people are people no matter what side you’re on. It was a good reminder that not all German military was nazis and that there were devout Christians trying to make sense of their new government as well.
Overall, the research of the story was very good and the narrative compelling. Learned a lot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!