Watch on the Rhine

Not great literature but at times it can certainly be fun. I have done a complete 180 on John Ringo whatever problem I am have with his other books this book is gold. Yes the characters are never complicated but there are times when I prefer a simplistic story to all of this "conflicted villain" nonsense that has become vogue in Scifi in recent years. At least with Ringo you always know what you are going to get Humans are good and Posleen are bad, humans do whatever it takes to survive even rejuvenated Nazis and Posleen ignore common sense. You also need to remember that any human who talks about retreat or negotiation isn't going to last very long.

John Ringo and Tom Kratman's WATCH ON THE RHINE tells of evil invaders - the Posleen, a space-conquering horde with an insatiable appetite for aliens - and allies of Earth who give earthlings the rejuvenation key to limitless warriors to battle them. Whether this technology is friend or foe will be told in a desperate battle in this fast-paced adventure.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the 4 previous Posleen War novels, I thought that this parallel sequel was very entertaining. This tale leaves the Armored Combat Suits behind and deals exclusively with the European Posleen war. In desperation, Germany turns to rejuvenation of the despised Waffen S.S. veterans in nursing homes to turn the tide agaist the alien horde. Generally a well conceived and written book. Very good development of the central characters; i.e. Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) Hans Brasche, and Generalmajor Walter Muhlenkampf. Hopefully the forthcoming novels in the PosleenVerse will be as good! I waffled about giving this 5 stars or 4, but after realizing that I read this one three times--5 stars!

Redemption is a heady word and the goal of every sinner who regrets the sin. The SS of Nazi Germany propagated many sins in their time, that is thankfully over. But there were entire Waffen SS divisions who were not involved with the Holocaust, who were tarred with the same brush as those who did participate. To quote the book, "Soldiers the same as other soldiers." And when aliens come to devour all of humanity, Germany, in its most desperate hour, calls up those veterans of the SS to defend it. The bad SS are there, and the good ones too. And all of them band together to try to save Germany and eventually Europe from the Posleen horde. To read this book and enjoy it, you must have an open mind. If you cannot do that, then you will not like this book. There are vivid descriptions of violence and gore of all sorts.

If you haven't read John Ringo's A Hymn Before Battle and Gust Front, they set the background for the war in Watch On The Rhine. Reading the 3rd and 4th Ringo books in the Posleen war series aren't as necessary. In summary there's several waves of evil alien invasion coming, and some warning and technology from some supposedly friendly aliens is the only help we'll get. In WOTR, the German Chancellor views the aftermath of the bloody battles in Northern Virginia described in Gust Front. Realizing the brutal nature of the impending invasion, he decides with the reluctant support of his government to use alien rejuvenation technology used to recreate an SS combat unit. In this war no negotiation is possible and every tool available must be used. The story centers on a super-tank crew of 2 rejuvenated WW2 veterans and several young recruits. The tank commander names the Tiger III after his long dead Jewish wife. Several flashbacks occur throughout the book detailing his past history of WW2 combat, survival, love shared with a Jewish woman, and witnessing deathcamp horror. The story progresses through their training, friction with civilians violently opposed to a reinstated SS unit, and brutal combat with the aliens. This isn't a Walt Disney portrayal of good vs evil. This is more of a "use one evil to fight another evil". There are no magic pills or roads to military victory: their battlefield successes are the result of harsh, realistic training, close comradeship, cunning tactics, and careful weapon design influenced by early combat experience against the aliens. Unlike Disneyish entertainment, the SS veterans relish combat. They pass on their unique trade skills to their new recruits like parent wolves training their cubs. Similarly, they have no patience or compassion for soldiers or civilians who flee their duty or get in their way. Their ruthlessness will become necessary against the alien Posleen invaders who reveal a shocking new battlefield tactic. The research into both WW2 history and German language and culture is impressive. You can easily visualize the scarred veterans leading their recruits in verboten Third Reich marching songs and flaunting their black uniforms. At the same time the authors communicate well the pride of these soldiers in themselves and their brothers-in-arms. The story centers heavily on the super-tanks created for fighting the Aliens. If you liked reading Keith Laumer's Bolo books or Hammers Slammers by David Drake, you'll love this story. If you like military science fiction, written with a hard edge of reality of a desperate situation with characters both young/rejuvenated/old you can identify with, this is a very good read.