First Blood — Leo Kessler

A compelling action-packed Second World War adventure series! Perfect for fans of David Beaty, Alan Evans, Derek Robinson and Max Hennessy. Raw recruits are thrown into action... August 1939 A mixed bunch of new young soldiers have been gathered from across the Reich to join the prestigious and proud 69th Infantry Regiment. The farm hands, city intellectuals and men hiding from the Gestapo, are full of ideals and heroism, ready to be whipped into shape and lead into war. The man doing the 'whipping' is the sadistic and brutal Sargeant-Major Bulle, or Bull as he is known to the soldier's he bullies and torments. Determined to keep an eye on the 'Bull' and turn his First Battalion into the best in the Regiment is Major von Dietz, a young aristocrat already sadly disillusioned by the savage cruelty of the new Nazi elite. War has not yet been officially declared but the 69th are ordered into action to take and defend the Jablunka Pass, the most obvious route for the German army to attack Poland. They are the distraction from the real threat, the Panzer tank division moving in with Warsaw in their sights. The Regiment are being sent to the slaughter... Who will be able to kill before they are killed? How far is the sadistic Sargeant-Major prepared to go? With the odds stacked against them, will anyone make it out alive? FIRST BLOOD is the first action-packed historical military adventure novel in the Russian series following the fortunes of the German soldiers of the 69th Infantry Regiment fighting in the Second World War. THE RUSSIAN SERIES: BOOK 1: First BloodBOOK 2: March on MoscowBOOK 3: Front Swine