Saving My Enemy

How Two WWII Soldiers Fought Against Each Other and Later Forged a Friendship that Saved Their Lives

By: Bob Welch

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Saving My Enemy is a Band of Brothers sequel like no other.

Guilt nearly killed one of the celebrated Band of Brothers members, Sgt. Don Malarkey. He was a hero for his service in World War II, especially in the Battle of the Bulge, yet he came to the brink of suicide, haunted by the memories of the German soldiers he killed.

Across the ocean, Fritz Engelbert was shackled in shame for having been a pawn of Hitler - he, too, had fought in the Battle of the Bulge - but for the Germans. He could not find peace.

Saving My Enemy is the touching true story of two soldiers on opposite sides of WWII whose unlikely friendship, forged in their 80s, dissolves six decades of guilt and shame that had pushed both men to despair.

“I contend that every vet crying over his beer in some American Legion hall about something that happened 70 years ago is doing so not because of lost buddies, but because of lost honor, of shame. Long after World War II was over, Don helped restore that honor in Fritz. And Fritz did the same for Don. I was gripped by this story.” (Jeff Struecker, a former US Army Ranger who heard this story directly from the men’s families)

Malarkey and Engelbert had completely different backgrounds, but their stories collided amid the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the USA in WWII - the Battle of the Bulge. Beneath blankets of snow, the earth was hardened like iron. With temperatures dipping below zero degrees Fahrenheit, the conditions were as brutal as any in the history of warfare. This was Germany’s last hope to stop the Allies, and they were desperate for victory.

Fritz, 19, a private in the Panzer-Lerh-Division, had the chief duty of being a krad messenger (on a military motorcycle). Don, 23, is a sergeant in E Company, 506th Regiment, and is living in a foxhole in the woods overlooking villages below where Fritz and other German soldiers are awaiting the fight. Both men took quiet moments of introspection. Fritz remembered a dead American soldier he saw alongside the road and he “thought of his parents who would miss him dearly” and felt a certain “brotherhood with the enemy”. Two weeks later, as Easy Company pushed Germany back, Don had a similar experience - he had just shot and killed a German soldier and was shocked to find he was only 16. “I looked at his face, eyes fixed forever. A face that I wouldn’t forget. Not the next day. Not the next month. Not ever.”

Welch gives intimate glimpses into these men’s souls as they fought each other during the war, lived in despair and guilt in the decades that followed, and finally found forgiveness and peace through each other. Don and Fritz’s story is one of hope and inspiration that will not be forgotten.

©2021 Bob Welch (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

I loved it. It exceeded my expectations.

I listened to the audiobook and loved every minute. Bob Welch writes in an easy and compelling
style and Grover Gardner is the best reader in the audiobook industry. I think the story telling and the reading were done almost perfectly. The story is captivating and I found myself tearing up on a few occasions as the meeting between Don and Fritz was described. I also enjoyed learning about Don’s life after his terrific biography was written, and about his personality as described by his family. I’m thankful to Don and Fritz’s children who made this book possible. It has given me a sense of closure now that there are sadly only a couple of Easy Company veterans remaining.

Cutting off Words

The audio cuts out at certain points. Usually at the beginning of chapters. Instead of hearing the word “forgiveness” you hear “giveness”. Either the narrator is reading as soo as he hits “record” or it’s an issue within audible.

Bob Welch always delivers

Bob Welch is one of the best to find the most inspirational and heart warming stories, along with Marcus Brotherton, and a few others. And the way this story weaves together is like a fine tapestry. Both Don and Fritz have more similarities than differences and the idea that they became friends was nothing short of a miracle. This is one that won’t soon be forgotten. Grover Gardner is always the perfect narrator,

Beautifully written

An excellently described recount of two men, their experiences and their families lives. I’m so glad I listened.

A touching story

I was genuinely touched by this story and how it was told. I, like so many others, have watched, read and consumed everything I could find about the Band of Brothers. This book tells a side of the story I had never heard nor thought about. There is a lesson in these men’s lives about forgiveness we should all take to heart. Well written and superbly read.

Wonderful listen.

I did not want this book to end. There are many lessons to be learned as we go through this life. Forgiveness is the biggest by far. May Dons and Fritzs example be our courage.
The narration was outstanding.

Each generation‘s work to do

Is generation has some work to do when it comes to either forgiving war or what happened in war. The great war, the good war of World War II had a defined purpose unlike Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq Somalia we’re Nara. There was no good war was a good ending. yes after the golf, for the public part of the backs of a geyser came back, but still they are forgotten. I don’t believe there’s any going back to any of those other places we have fought and killed in to be able to find forgiveness from an enemy that lives in a cave that lives in a jungle just not the same pain it’s just as bad or maybe even worse, so we all have to find forgiveness for ourselves and sometimes that’s hard to do

Saving My Enemy

A powerful story that lends real meaning to the experience of ordinary soldiers in WW2 - who were so, so young.

Our story!

We, the Malarkey family and the Engelbert family hope you enjoy our new book! We are excited to share our story of our father’s forgiveness to each other. Life is short don’t carry around negative feelings. This is what the world needs now! Peace, Love and Forgiveness! We look forward to hearing from you! ❤️

Beautiful story, great narration

I loved the flow back and forth between Fritz and Don throughout the book. It helped show how alike these men were and loved the quote from Powers highlighting “my and that fellow might’ve been good friends”

It’s amazing what time can do to perspective of the enemy and I’m glad both these men got their stories out and that they were able to know peace before they died