Les Bienveillantes [French] [Paperback]

This thick and engrossing volume aims to be an insider's look on the entrails of the machinery of death put in place by Nazi Germany in World War II in the east from 1941 through the demise of the 3rd Reich. The point of view and adventures of a former SS officer (Dr. Max Aue) seem at first sight merely technical artifacts to allow the reader the details of several aspects of the Nazi era and the author's thorough knowledge and research of specifics of the period. These range from the bureaucratic struggles and turf wars within the different power spheres within the Nazi regime, the role of police units in the east behind the front lines, Wehrmacht-SS disputes, the military operations in the Caucasus, the linguistic and migratory histories of the Caucasian peoples, the Red Army rampage in East Prussia and the bombing of the Reich, the debauchery in the closing days of the war, music and homosexuality through nazi ideology, the question of how far did society know or wish to know about the atrocities, among many other topics. The most striking aspect in the treatment of these issues is, however, the dark veil of Nazi ideology. The narrative seems to seek the proof that Nazism permeated almost every endeavor of military and social life in World War II Germany, and it succeeds doing so.

In parallel to these quasi-historical narratives flows the personal life of Dr. Aue. In these episodes the grip of the author is somewhat less convincing and blunter, implying that deep personal psychological disturbances have had to be at the root of the Nazi evil. The closing paragraph in the book provides a sharp and dramatic ending, putting treachery to the human spirit as the final driver of Nazi ideology.

Jonathan Littell's "Les Bienveillantes" takes the reader through all the circles of the 20th century Inferno of Eastern Europe during the second world war. It may be read on one level as the modernist version of Dante's masterpiece: an architecture of the darkest places in the modern soul. The anti-hero begins as an idealist; his idealism leads him step by step into becoming a monster. Alas, he has no wise Virgil to guide him through the tortured landscape in which he finds himself. Like de Sade, he challenges us to justify our ethics and principles in the face of their definitive negation. I have often wondered how normal everyday middle class Germans could have become cogs in the Nazi death machine; this book provides an explanation.

Hopefully, an English translation will be available soon. I highly recommend this book to those with a passable knowledge of French. The prose is not overly difficult for an intermediate-level student.

Book certainly deserves "Prix Goncourt"- most prestigious French literary award. Expect, when eventually translated to English, to evoke furor of prizes and indignation (we all like to see war in black and white).
It is both tempting and hart breaking project, for this reviewer, a survivor of Nazi concentration camp, to evaluate this book
Littell's prose flows with exclusive smoothness. Excellent researching on fine details - be it geography, ethnology, languages or jargon of concentration camps. Littell's historical accounts are well researched and far from fiction. In a way book resembles "War and peace", also a lengthy war story of real historical events and real historical actors with fictitious heroes
And now short summary of events and "coloring" of those events as narrated by hero.
Hero: ex high positioned SSman, concealed homosexual, living serenely incognito and while deriving his income in lace manufacturing, feels compelled to recount his war experiences. He writes for himself. He is well to do and needs, god forbid, no justifications for his past. He wants to tell that he and you, the reader, are just same human beings. After all, he concludes, "The only indispensable for human life is air, drink and excretion, and, oh yes, pursue of truth. The rest is facultatif".
And so, our hero after joining SS travels east across Russia with, at the beginning, victorious German troops. There is a lot of work to do and lot to improve. So many humans to be eliminated, so many technical problems - mowing (machine-gunning) Jews at the edge of pit turns to mess: some victims jump in, some just wounded squirming below. Good organization prevails. One orders those condemned to lay side by side, like sardines, and than machinegun them. Than top it with layer of soil, and with another human strata - ingenious. After the work it is time to relax, to have glass of cognac and listen to good music. Yes, our hero is knowledgeable music lover: SS captures young Jewish boy who plays piano as a genius. They advance him to be sort of a mascot who plays in their officers club. Boy plays Bach and Chopin and Mozart to applauses. Narrator, our SSman, befriends him, has talks and share enthusiasm and appreciation of music. He promises him to have notes of Couperin to be send from Paris. One day, boy attempts to help in repairing broken lorry. In the act, his hand is thorn. And so his fate is sealed. He is not of use. Narrator comforts him and than take him to Sturmfuhrer who will, in turn, conduct boy to execution. Before parting narrator begs Sturmfuhrer -"please be gentle with this boy". Couple of days afterward package with Couperin notes arrive.
As we advance into immenseness of Russia things are getting rough. Lousy ersatz cafe, limited food, frost bites, and those damn Russian partisans: Russian partisans (terrorists) make procedure of liberation and democratization of Russia by well wishing Germans difficult. In stead of appreciation (and flowers) there are daily attacks and sabotages. SS captures Russian partisan girl. She is beautiful and full of rage. She is led to be hanged. All witnessing officers line up by the gallows and, one by one, in line, approaches bound girl with a rope attached to her neck. One by one kiss her affectionately and gently. When all those in line passed by, stool under her feet is kicked out.
And finely battle for Stalingrad. Our hero receives bullet trough head. While in suspended mental consciousness he revives his dreams of only female, and incestuous, partner of his life - his sister. He survives, is decorated and promoted. As a convalescent returns to France visiting his mother and step father. Without ever realizing it he murders both . Back to work, this time in managing intricacies of concentration camps. He is rational, if not sympathetic, observer. He realizes needs for better food and hygiene of working prisoners as a prerequisite of efficient production. (In this section of book Author displays remarkable level of erudition and knowledge of intricacies of concentration camps). Russians are advancing. Our hero treks trough Pomeranian forest evading Russian tanks and joins his troops. Back in Berlin he witness, sort of "sinking Titanic" syndrome of partying. Cleverly and ruthlessly eliminating witnesses to his past return, under new name, to live as a successful lace manufacturer. And, for his own satisfaction, to write memoirs confined for the rest of his life to his desk drawer: The lonely and melancholic reflections on guilt and predetermination of life events.

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