The lost years

De: Helmut Tödter

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

This book is the gripping testimony of Lieutenant Helmut Tödter (1921 - 2003), a young officer from Düsseldorf, whose courage, determination and humanity led him through the turmoil of the Second World War and beyond the limits of his own ideas of duty and honour.

From Africa across the Italian Alps to the Rhineland

‘The Lost Years’ depicts Tödter's dramatic escape in May 1945 from Bolzano in South Tyrol over the rugged peaks of the Alps back to his homeland. At the age of just 24, he orchestrates a daring and life-threatening plan. However, his story begins much earlier, in the hot sands of Africa, where Tödter narrowly escapes the certain doom of the Afrika Corps. His flight in one of the last planes from Tunis, which landed safely in Sardinia despite a burning engine, marked the beginning of a series of fateful events.
The authenticity of this report from the Second World War, written by Tödter himself, is underpinned by original field post and photographs.

The escape

Back in Italy, Tödter, as a newly promoted lieutenant and commander of an anti-aircraft battery, is confronted with the disintegration of the German lines. In an act of desperation and courage, he blows up the guns on the Po to save his unit from destruction. This decision, which almost costs him his life, saves over 100 men from certain death or imprisonment.

The subsequent odyssey through war-torn Italy, past American tanks and through an SS checkpoint, is not only a story of fearlessness and despair, but also of humanity in the midst of horror. Tödter's decision to turn himself in to the German military command in Bolzano and what awaited him as a result bear witness to the end of the war, which was characterised by chaos and contradictions. Tödter decided to flee across the Alps, disguised in peasant costume and without any military insignia. The encounters with helpful locals and the nights spent in mountain huts emphasise the profound message of the book: even in the darkest times, humanity can be found.

The blurred distinction between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’

‘The Lost Years’ is more than an authentic war report; it is the portrait of a young man who repeatedly asks himself what is right and what is wrong in extreme situations. The reflection on the meaning of war, the rejection of an inhumane regime and the unconditional will to save the lives of his people make this book a powerful appeal to humanity. It is a valuable contribution to the history of the Second World War, inviting readers to think beyond the boundaries of good and evil, friend and foe. It challenges us to recognise the human dimension of war and to understand that history is made up of the stories of individuals whose courage and choices shape the world in small but significant ways. This book shows that in times of greatest need, humanity is the strongest bond that unites us.

Courage often lies in the ability to swim against the tide and decide in favour of what you believe deep down is right.