The Black March
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Products | Books |
The Black March is the memoir of Peter Neumann, a former member of the SS, released by Bantam Books. This work gathers significant journal entries penned by Neumann, who transitioned from the Hitler Youth into the ranks of the Schutzstaffel.
Publication timeline
- 1956 - First edition published in French by Éditions France-Empire under the title SS!
- 1958 - English version translated by Constantine Fitzgibbon, issued by Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd as Other Men's Graves: Diary of an SS Man
- 1959 - Initial American edition released by William Sloane Associates, titled The Black March: The Personal Story of an SS Man
- 1960, 1967 - Reprints issued by Bantam Books maintaining the same title
Summary
The diary opens in 1939, documenting Neumann’s involvement with the Hitler Youth and his ambitions to join the SS. Early reflections reveal a hopeful outlook. He details rigorous training that includes perilous exercises, some resulting in fatalities. His girlfriend discloses her Jewish identity, which he accepts without prejudice.
As the narrative progresses, Neumann conveys ambivalence toward his responsibilities and contempt for certain officers. He is awarded the Iron Cross second class after heroically eliminating a sniper’s nest equipped with RPGs, saving his battalions. Subsequent entries describe combat experiences on the Eastern Front and interactions with civilians who recount partisan activities and Nazi war crimes.
During leave, Neumann informs a family about their son’s death and discovers his girlfriend has been sent to a ghetto. While he expresses compassion for her plight, he remains indifferent toward other Jewish individuals. Discussions with personnel managing concentration camp crematoria expose grim operational details.
As German forces retreat, Neumann attains the rank of captain but becomes increasingly disillusioned with both the SS and civilians blaming them for Soviet reprisals. After being surrounded and wounded, he conceals himself among fallen soldiers and makes an unsuccessful suicide attempt. His concluding words convey profound despair: "Why couldn't they have killed me?"
Additional information
The narrative does not specify whether Peter Neumann was captured, killed, or managed to escape. The final journal entry is extensive, reflecting the interval before Soviet troops arrived; it suggests he may have disguised himself as a corpse. The closing page mentions his capture by Soviet forces, subsequent transfer to Warsaw, and imprisonment where he was compelled to assist in camp cleanup operations, noting the harshness of the "Soviet Guards."
Skepticism regarding the diary’s authenticity has arisen, with some proposing it was either ghostwritten or fictionalized. Nonetheless, Neumann’s testimony has undergone thorough historical validation since its initial release.
According to French publisher Éditions France-Empire, Neumann’s family—who supplied the journal—demanded that it remain unedited to preserve the original wartime writings without familial modifications.