The Cross of Iron by Heinrich, Willi - 1956

Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1956. Translated from the German by Richard and Clara Winston First American Edition 8vo size blue clothbound hardcover with dust jacket; 456 toned, deckle edged pages. Originally published in German as Das Geduldige Fleisch (The Willing Flesh.) The book is historical fiction based, in part, on the author's experiences as a German solider on the Eastern front with the 101st Jager Division. From jacket: "Here is the big controversial German novel about World War II, in which a previously unknown ex-soldier of the German Wehrmacht tells the story which the world has not previously heard: the story of the German solider as he really saw himself, his officers, his enemies, his high command.... The story centers on a German infantry platoon in Russia and its leader, Corporal Steiner. The opening section alone - the platoon isolated behind the Russian lines; their incredible adventures as they march across the Russian marshes; the weird encounter with Russian women soldiers; rape and its frightful punishment; and finally, the hair-raising break to safety back in the German lines..." The 1977 movie, Cross of Iron, directed by Sam Peckinpah, is based on the book. Dust jacket is missing two large chips on the front and is split into two pieces along back flap seam. Head and heel of spine and front bottom corner are bumped and worn. There is a spot on top of the book which appears on the very top margin on some pages above the text.. First American. Cloth. Good/Fair. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.