A great German WW2 novel is 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. It shows the brutal reality of war for the common German soldier. It was very influential as it countered the glorified view of war often presented at that time. 'The Man Without Qualities' by Robert Musil, while not strictly a WW2 novel as it was written before the war, it provides important insights into the pre - war Austrian - German society which was a breeding ground for the events of WW2. And 'Suite Française' by Irène Némirovsky (although the author was French, it has a lot to say about the German occupation) gives a view of what it was like during the German occupation from the perspective of those under it.
Yes. The story of the haunted concentration camps is quite famous. People claim to feel an overwhelming sense of dread and see the ghosts of the victims. There are also reports of the ghosts of SS officers in some of the old barracks where they used to be stationed.
One well - known German WW2 ghost story is about the ghosts of soldiers in the bunkers along the Atlantic Wall. Locals claim to have seen shadowy figures of soldiers still on guard duty. Another involves a haunted castle that was used as a military base during the war. People say they hear strange noises and see apparitions of soldiers in the castle corridors.
There are stories of haunted castles in Germany that were used during WW2. For instance, a certain castle that was a military outpost. Locals would later tell of hearing unexplained noises, like the clanking of military equipment and the moans of the wounded. It was believed that the spirits of those who died there during the war were trapped. Maybe it was because of the sudden and violent deaths that occurred within its walls.
However, it's important to note that Germany was the aggressor in World War II. While there may be individual acts of heroism, they are overshadowed by the overall immoral actions of the Nazi regime, such as the Holocaust. So, the concept of 'heroic' German war stories is complex and controversial.
Some might consider the story of Rommel in North Africa heroic. Rommel was known as the 'Desert Fox'. He led his troops with great skill and managed to achieve several victories against the Allies in the deserts of North Africa. His tactical maneuvers were often brilliant, and he was respected by both his own men and his enemies.
The story of the German U - boats in the Atlantic is also captivating. These submarines hunted Allied shipping. At first, they were very successful, sinking numerous ships. However, as the Allies developed better anti - submarine warfare techniques, like sonar and convoys, the U - boats faced increasing difficulties. The U - boat crews had to deal with cramped conditions, long patrols, and the ever - present danger of being depth - charged.
Some German detective novels from the WW2 period might not be as well - known globally as their counterparts from other countries. This is due in part to the post - war stigma associated with German literature from that era. But there were surely works that delved into the darker aspects of society during the war, using detective - style plots to uncover secrets and crimes. Authors may have used these stories as a way to comment on the chaos and moral ambiguity of the times, but much of this literature remains relatively unexplored in the international literary community.
I'm not sure about many specifically 'WW2 German romance novels' off the top of my head. However, we can consider that during the war, there were likely many personal stories of love that were written down. Some of these might have been incorporated into memoir - like novels. For example, there could have been stories of soldiers falling in love with local women in Germany or vice versa. But without more in - depth research, it's difficult to name a whole bunch of them.
I would also say 'The Tin Drum' by Günter Grass. It's a very imaginative and unique take on the period, with the main character having some extraordinary experiences during the war - torn times.