Sins of the Fathers

A Novel

By: Herbert J. Stern, Alan A. Winter

Narrated by: Adam Grupper

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Herman Wouk, author of Winds of War and War and Remembrance, the novel Sins of the Fathers is the thoroughly researched historical sequel to Wolf.

History hinged on a call as the German high command waited for Hitler’s order to invade Czechoslovakia. That was the signal that would launch their revolt to bring down the Reich.

Every detail of the coup was in place. Access roads to Berlin would be blocked. The city sealed. Communication centers taken. A commando squad―sixty hand-picked men―were ready to storm the Chancellery and seize Hitler. The only open question: to try Hitler as a traitor or execute him on the spot.

Sins of the Fathers is the eye-opening novel―based on historical facts―of the efforts of German military leaders, career civil servants, and clergy to solicit England’s assistance to bring down the tyrant in 1938. When Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain refused to meet with them, they turned to Winston Churchill, who secretly supported their cause. Armed with a strongly worded letter from the future prime minister, they waited for Hitler’s telephone call ordering German troops to invade Czechoslovakia―the signal for their uprising. But the call did not come. Instead, Prime Minister Chamberlain went to Hitler’s apartment in Munich only to bow to the dictator’s will. The invasion was over before it began―and with that, so was the coup. Flying home, Chamberlain announced he had obtained “peace for our times.”

Sins of the Fathers―the sequel to Wolf about Hitler’s rise to power―tells the dramatic true story of the foolish prime minister that undermined the coup to topple the regime, delivered Czechoslovakia to Hitler, saved the Führer’s life, and paved the road to World War II.

©2022 Herbert J. Stern, Alan A. Winter (P)2022 Skyhorse Publishing

Critic reviews

"[T]he authors’ command of the relevant historical information is simply extraordinary . . . this is a gripping work of historical fiction, authentic and captivating. An impressive blend of literary drama and historical commentary.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS

"[Sins of the Fathers] is a simply riveting read from first page to last and as a work of fiction nicely dramatizes the real people and the real event that has lapsed into historical history."—MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

"The suspense of Sins of the Fathers pulsates and persists."—DAVID L. CODEN, San Diego Union-Tribune

A well researched, well crafted plausible read.

The book details with an authority based on historical documentation how ruthless a rabidly fascist regime can become. The plight of the German society as a whole and more so selected members in particular is chillingly exposed. A love story woven into the fabric of the plot lightens the subject matter and illustrates that all Reich elite were not inhuman. The performance of the reader was nothing less than spectacular and the overall content so engaging that the book was listened to a second time.