Book Blurb:
Fighting a war with milk, coal and candy bars....
In the second book of the Bridge to Tomorrow Series, the story continues where "Cold Peace" left off.
Berlin is under siege. More than two million civilians in Hitler's former capital will starve unless they receive food, medicine and more by air.
USAF Captain J.B. Baronowsky and RAF Flight Lieutenant Kit Moran once risked their lives to drop high explosives on Berlin. They are about to deliver milk, flour and children's shoes instead. Meanwhile, two women pilots are flying an air ambulance that carries malnourished and abandoned children to freedom in the West. Until General Winter deploys on the side of Russia....
Based on historical events, award-winning novelist Helena P. Schrader delivers an insightful, exciting and moving tale about how former enemies became friends in the face of Russian aggression -- and how close the Berlin Airlift came to failing under the assault of 'General Winter.'
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/zP9L
Author Bio:
Award-Winning Historical Novelist
Author of 24 Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction Titles, Winner of 55 literary accolades
“Helena Schrader’s in-depth stories, fantastic characters, and ability to write an unforgettable tale make her one of the best authors out there!” Feathered Quill
For readers tired of clichés and cartoons, award-winning novelist Helena P. Schrader offers nuanced insight into historical events and figures based on sound research and an understanding of human nature. Her complex and engaging characters bring history back to life as a means to better understand ourselves. Her motto is: Understanding ourselves by Understandig the Past. Helena’s chief areas of expertise are Aviation, the Second World War, Ancient Sparta, and the Crusader States.
Helena's current project in the three-part "The Bridge to Tomorrow Series," which shows how the West stopped Russian aggression without war during the Berlin Crisis of 1948/1949. The series goes beyond the political chess game and logistical achievements of the Berlin Airlift to explore the social and psychological impact of this pivotal historical event. The characters -- women and men, British, American, German and Ukrainian -- enable the reader to see the unfolding events through different perspectives. As the reader gets drawn into their lives, the historical tensions rise, and the trilogy accelerates the pace to that of a thriller. "The Bridge to Tomorrow Series" is about winning a war with milk, coal and candy bars.
The first book in the series, "Cold Peace," has already won four literary accolades including GOLD for Military Fiction in the Historical Fiction Company's 2023 Book Awards, Gold in the 2024 Feathered Quill Awards, runner-up for the Historical Fiction Company's prestigious BOOK OF THE YEAR award in 2023, an Indie BRAG medallion and a Maincrest Media Award. For an overview of all Helena's awards please visit her website.
Helena holds a PhD in history from the University of Hamburg, which she earned with a ground-breaking biography of a leader of the German Resistance to Hitler, and served as an American diplomat in Europe and Africa. She grew up sailing the Maine coast, was a passionate horsewoman, and is now retired and living with her husband and two dogs.
Editorial Review:
Cold War is an incredible historical fiction novel giving readers detailed insight into how life was like in postwar Germany. Readers are drawn in through intricate and multilayered storylines, relatable characters as well as through harrowing descriptions of the circumstances of that time period.
The novel is set in 1948 during which time the Soviet forces had placed the Western sectors of Berlin -- a city located more than 100 miles inside the Soviet Zone of Occupation -- under siege. The Western sectors were subsequently suffering from loss of electricity and food. The only way for the Western Allies to supply their garrisons and the people of West Berlin with food and other necessities was by air from Western Germany, and so an airlift was established. Although the airlift setup started off as a somewhat bungled operation with all sorts of errors and mistakes being made, these planes acted as a key lifeline for Germans residing in the West. Jakob Liebherr, the city councilor in East Germany, reflects on what the planes represent to the people, “For the moment, these dirty old cargo planes were like angels from heaven. It was not so much the flour, milk, and coal they were delivering, he reflected as he continued towards the unadorned building that housed the offices of the SPD. It was the message of hope that they carried on their wings: hope that the Western Allies would not abandon Berlin.” This represents how important hope is during troubled times and how it is just as necessary a sustenance as food and water.
Not only is hope a recurring theme within the novel but so is the notion of keeping faith in something greater than oneself in order to survive the horrors of the war and postwar struggles. There is no character with as much resilience as Jasha, the Polish cook to Robin Priestman, the Station Commander in the British Sector at Gatow. Her suffering has been immense and yet despite the unimaginable traumas she faced, she was still able to find joy in life. This is reflected perfectly within her inner reflections, “Between her husband’s arrest and the end of the war, she had lost her innocence, her youth, her honor, her trust in human kindness, and her faith in God’s benevolence. Yet, without understanding why, she had not lost her love of life itself. She had learned to close a door on the past, dismiss the future as irrelevant, and focus on the present. She loved the sunrise and the sunset. She loved the sound of birds calling and the lapping of waves on a beach. She loved the sight of Sammy bounding up the stairs to say good morning and the sight of sailing boats heeling in the wind on the glittering Havel.” Sometimes it is finding purpose in the small things and joy in the present moment that enables one to lead a good life despite the turbulence of the past and uncertainty of the future.
Throughout the novel, there is a distinctive sense of camaraderie and people coming together for the greater good. This sense of definiteness of purpose seems to be the reason why many people actually seemed to like the wartime atmosphere. It gave people a sense of purpose which was greater than themselves. This idea of being a part of a mission integral to helping others is apparent when J.B. is called to duty within the army to fly planes into Berlin. Not only does he have to cancel his wedding plans but has to live in conditions worse than when he was on duty during the war. Despite this he still feels the excitement of doing more than living an ordinary suburban life as is reflected in his thoughts, “For a second he felt a twinge of guilt. Patty was one heck of a beautiful and classy gal. He was lucky she’d agreed to have him, but the crisis in Berlin wasn’t going to last forever. They had the rest of their lives ahead of them. This airlift gig, on the other hand, was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It would feel good to be part of something bigger than himself again – and to do something more important than just make money.” During his first flight, his exhilaration is tangible when he reflects on how things have changed since the wartime flights, “Continuing inland, he noticed tiny, mellow lights scattered across the countryside and J.B. felt a different thrill. All his previous flights over the UK had been when a blackout was in effect. The sight of headlights from a car or a farmhouse exuding warm light as a farmer rose to milk his cows was elating. It encapsulated victory. The lights had gone on again – all over the world. It sent a chill of pride down his spine.”
Overall, Cold War was a powerful novel with many important themes addressed and interwoven throughout its pages. Although it was well-paced, there were a few sections where the technical details of flights and operations felt a bit overwhelming for someone without technical knowledge. Additionally, while the characters were easy to relate to, there were so many characters introduced that developing a deep connection with any one of them was somewhat inhibited. However, this would only affect reader enjoyment if they prefer more character driven novels rather than plot driven ones. There are many subplots within Cold War which keep readers gripped. It is also impressive how the author balances all the plots and characters and interconnects the lives of multiple characters in such natural and subtle ways.
Moreover, the detailed and specialized knowledge the author has is truly impressive. Readers are left not only feeling entertained but also with a much deeper understanding of World War II and its aftereffects. Through the character’s powerful stories, readers vicariously feel as if they have also experienced the challenges faced, even if only in a miniscule way. While there are many World War II based novels available, there are not so many postwar novels written. This is an important work filling in that gap. Postwar life tends to be overshadowed by the horrors of the wars themselves; however, this time period is just as important in shaping history and realities for individuals living through such times. Trude, Jakob’s wife, encapsulates this in a powerful statement, “Berlin has become a battleground. It may not be a shooting war yet, but this is a war zone nevertheless. This is a war in which the weapons are food and heat, and the targets – or at least those most likely to die – are not soldiers but these children. Regardless of who their parents were or what their parents did, these children should not be forced to live through another war – or die in an ideological conflict between East and West.” This leads one to question who the true victims of war are and what could possibly be the purpose of such immense violence when it is innocent children who seem to suffer most.
Books like Cold War honor the sufferings and perseverance of those who survived the brutality of war and continued to build a life out of the remains of what must have seemed a broken and divided world.
*****
“Cold War” by Helena P. Schrader receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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