From Gérard to Gerhard

From Gerard to Gerhard – In the Service of the SS

By Jacques Engels
Language: Dutch

Who was Gerard Beltz? For author Jacques Engels, he was little more than a name—an uncle shrouded in silence, long erased from family memory. In From Gerard to Gerhard – In the Service of the SS, Engels embarks on a personal journey to uncover the hidden life of a man who, during World War II, joined the ranks of the SS.

Using forty rediscovered letters from the Eastern Front and original documents from the German SS and Bundesarchiv, Engels reconstructs the short and tragic life of Gerard Beltz. A life shaped by a personal dream that ultimately led him down the destructive path of Nazi ideology.

More than just a personal investigation, this book offers a compelling historical perspective on the Beltz family dating back to 1850. A poignant, honest portrait of a forgotten relative, caught between ideals, propaganda, and brutal reality.

Please note: this book is written in Dutch.