Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight’s Cross

Written by Albrecht Wacker

Narrated by Nigel Gair

Josef “Sepp” Allerberger was the second most successful sniper of the German Wehrmacht and one of the few private soldiers to be honored with the award of the Knight’s Cross.

An Austrian conscript, after qualifying as a machine gunner he was drafted to the southern sector of the Russian Front in July 1942. Wounded at Voroshilovsk, he experimented with a Russian sniper-rifle while convalescing and so impressed his superiors with his proficiency that he was returned to the front on his regiment’s only sniper specialist.

In this sometimes harrowing memoir, Allerberger provides an excellent introduction to the commitment in field craft, discipline and routine required of the sniper, a man apart. There was no place for chivalry on the Russian Front. Away from the film cameras, no prisoner survived long after surrendering. Russian snipers had used the illegal explosive bullet since 1941, and Hitler eventually authorized its issue in 1944. The result was a battlefield of horror.

Allerberger was a cold-blooded killer, but few will find a place in their hearts for the soldiers of the Red Army against whom he fought.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Release date: Feb 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781526763198

Reviews for Sniper on the Eastern Front

[Brandon Stana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Incredibly graphic and vivid detail of war at a gore level beyond what I’ve seen in non fiction. Would Recommend

[Robert Burris · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book was extremely intense and gave a side to the story that is never shown or told to the public.

[Bill Blazek · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great memoir of war. Listen/read to this story.

[Janelle Brady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story about a young man's struggle for survival in the chaos of war. Will definitely listen again.

[Thomas H. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent, brutally honest to the point of nauseating look at the harsh life of a German sniper on the Eastern front. Very much ”zoomed in” history, with very little time spent on the big strategy, but more looking at the daily challenges on the front line. By no means an audiobook for the faint of heart. Includes many horribly realistic descriptions of death, torture and the horrfic realities of war. The reader is good, even though occasionally sounds like he is running out breath.