Letter to My Descendants

I've never been a History buff--but I play bridge with this man and heard he'd been in the Danish Resistance in World War II. I'd also heard the book was good, so I checked it out of the library. It wasn't just good--it was FANTASTIC. Not only a beautifully written "guided tour" of the Danish culture, he innovately set up each Chapter to talk about what he was doing AND at the end was a little blerb about what Hitler was doing. I got to watch the rise and Fall of the Third Reich through the eyes of a man who actually lived it a few miles from the German Border. Good lord! I felt transported to a very scary and difficult time. AN EXCELLENT READ!

This work provides a unique look at the individuals involved in the Danish Resistance Movement during World War II. Most other works on the subject describe either the resistance as a whole or a few more public figures, but Skov describes the life and feelings of an individual trying to "put a prick in the German wehrmacht." His perspective is valuable, and he presents his narrative with insightful discussion on both the war and human nature.

I was fortunate to have Niels Skov as a professor and as an academic advisor some 20 years ago. When I learned he had written a book, I knew it would be well worth reading.This is as good as it gets in first person history. An honest and direct account with no particular axes to grind. I found the book hard to put down. Niels has included a wealth of fine detail on day-to-day life in the 30's and during the war, which makes his experiences very real, sometimes chillingly so.

I had the honor of taking a class from Dr. Skov, on "The Experience of War in 20th Century Europe". "Letter to my Descendents" was one of our texts. I'll admit, there are memoirs of resistance activities that I consider to be more interesting and better written. However, Skov's biting, dark sense of humor, combined with his unassuming sense of arrogance, make for a unique read.For me, "Letter" drives home the fact that each and every one of us is capable of resistance. The question is, will be accept this in ourselves?

I consider it an honor to have grown up with Dr. Skov's youngest child. Having known this gentle man my entire life, I knew that he had been involved in the war in some way but to finally read his words have given me a much greater respect for him as a person, as a father and as a teacher. I cannot relate what he is like to know, but to read of his trials during the war and his acceptance of sacrifice against terrible odds, we all become his descendants in part. My words don't do his justice, just read the book and be enriched by the experience. thank you Niels!