Based on a true story. Spring 1948. It's been three years since the fall of Berlin and the end of the war for Germany, but a new war fraught with political and military tension is gripping the world. A silent and deadly war that will last for decades and Harold Kellner finds himself smack in the middle of it - in cold war Russia. Born in Germany in 1930, Harold Kellner was raised on Nazi propaganda and like all German boys his age, was forced to become a part of Hitler's war machine. As the war raged on and the tides turned, Harold and his best friend, Karl Veth, became disillusioned with Hitler and his war and their loyalty to the Fatherland waned. At fourteen years old, they saw no reason to fight to the death and planned a strategy to survive. They narrowly escaped death as Berlin fell and were eventually arrested by a Russian Political Kommissar who planned to use them for his own gains. They carried out secret missions for the Kommissar and over time he was not only impressed by their intelligence and resourcefulness - he developed a fondness for the boys as well. When Harold's dream of being reunited with his family was shattered, he accepted an offer by the Kommissar to be adopted and become his protégé. When he accepted the offer to be adopted, Harold knew of the Kommissar's political ambitions and that he would be expected to continue conducting clandestine operations for him. In the Spring of 1948, Harold is sent on a number of missions that not only pull him deeper into the world of Soviet intelligence, but also involve eliminating one of the Kommissar's political rivals. Armed with KGB credentials, his life is becoming more dangerous than it was during the war in Germany. Adept at learning new languages, Harold is sent to stay with a Swiss banker and his family between missions to further his language studies. The Kommissar has plans to infiltrate Stalin's ranks by sending Harold in as a translator, but Harold begins to develop plans of his own. Languages are not the only thing Harold is learning during his time with the Swiss banker as he begins to understand how the political and financial worlds truly operate. There are secrets the banker is willing to share with the protégé of a Russian Political Kommissar. Author's Note: Harold Kellner's story began in the Degree series. He was the best friend of Karl Veth, the main character in the books. After World War II ended, their lives took off in two completely different directions. Postwar Drifter is the first book in The Kellner Chronicles, a new series based on Harold's life. And, as with Karl's story in the Degree books, The Kellner Chronicles are based on a true story.
About the Author: Horst Christian was born in Berlin, Germany in 1930. His father, a mathematician and a banker, taught him to read and write before the age of 5. He discovered his love for writing by the time he was 10 years old and wrote vacation reports and several articles for the German school periodical "Hilf Mit." When Horst was 10, he entered the "Jungvolk," a subdivision of the Hitler Youth, which was mandatory in the Berlin school system. He then entered the Hitler Youth at the age of 14, also mandatory, and continued writing for the Hitler Youth periodicals "Der Pimpf" and "Die Deutsche Jugend Burg." His favorite pastime was playing in the U-Bahn (subway) tunnels. While other children played soccer, Horst, with a few other likeminded children, explored Berlin by riding the subway trains. Drafted to help defend Berlin against the Soviets at the age of 14 because of his unique knowledge of the subway system, he served as a guide for various SS demolition commandos. In the early 1950s, Horst immigrated to the United States and became a US citizen after the mandatory 5-year waiting period. He loves to travel and has visited all 50 states in the US, most of Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and some Central American countries. He now resides with his wife Jennifer in Northern California.