Cross of Iron

Set during World War II, this novel presents a gritty portrayal of a German Army platoon stranded behind Russian lines on the Eastern Front. Drawing from the author's own harrowing experiences as a soldier in the 101st Jäger Division, the narrative offers a realistic depiction of the brutality and chaos of war. First published in English in 1956, it was later adapted into a film by Sam Peckinpah in 1977, further cementing its place in war literature.