Book Review: The Man with the Iron Heart

by Eyck Freymann

The Man with the Iron Heart by Harry Turtledove is a masterpiece of alternate history. It begins with SS Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich as his car moves through Prague. It is 1942, and Germany is still fighting well despite intial setbacks in Russia and elsewhere. Suddenly, assailants appear, firing at Heydrich and his driver. In the book (unlike in reality), the Gestapo #2 survives, wounded, and reaches Germany. He meets with his superior, Himmler, and arranges to head up a band of insurgents to protect Germany in the case of an Allied victory.

Three years later, the Americans have led the allies to victory. Berlin has been taken and a peace accord has been signed. But Americans are still being attacked. Car bombs are detonating and suicide bombers are a constant threat. An invisible German resistance has appeared, using guerilla tactics to wage a war of attrition against Russians and Americans. Losses mount and public support for the war falls. What can the allies do to fight the insurgents and stabilize Germany?

In a brilliant example of alternate history at its best, Turtledove's account raises many questions that are relevant to our conflicts in the Middle East today.