Germany, October 1945. World War II has come to an end and after narrowly surviving the fall of Berlin and the months afterward, Karl Veth is faced with new challenges. He must help his family survive in an impoverished country torn apart by war. Food is scarce but using the street-smarts he developed throughout the war, Karl is able to establish a trading network between local farmers and the US military to help provide for his family. Until his father puts an end to it.At 15 years old, Karl should have already left home and completed the first year of an apprenticeship in his chosen trade. With the war over, his father insists he behave like a responsible adult, leave home, and learn a trade so he can provide for himself. Uncertain of which direction to take, Karl accepts a position on a fishing vessel until he can decide on an honorable trade.A kind ship's captain and his friend, a retired master chef, come to Karl's aid and set him on a course that will change his life forever. Over the next few years, under the tutelage of a stern master, he will learn more, much more, than the required skills of his chosen craft. Author's Note: Karl Veth's story began in the Degree series. He is the main character in the books and after reading the series, fans wanted to learn more about his life after the war. Encouraged by readers and their desire to know more, the story of Karl's journey to America begins in Germany in Book 1 and will be completed in Book 2.
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 on a small ranch in Northern California.