When the Skies Rained Freedom

by

Annette Oppenlander

Suspense-filled historical drama featuring life during the Berlin airlifts.

When the Skies Rained Freedom is a thrilling work of historical fiction by award-winning author Annette Oppenlander and one of the most absorbing stories I've ever read. I was hooked from the very beginning. While many recent books have featured Germany in WWII, Oppenlander sets her highly immersive tale in Berlin immediately after Germany's surrender, highlighting the danger, depravity, and the Allies' efforts to keep the remaining parts of the city out of Stalin's hands. 

The main character, Lotte Berger, is only 19 or 20 years old when the fighting ceases, and the continued survival of her and her mother lands squarely on her shoulders after her mother is attacked in the Soviet-occupied section of Berlin. She's a strong young woman, having just come through the continual bombing of her hometown by Allied planes. Still, the aftermath of partitioning Berlin into sectors controlled by the victorious countries brought new terrors and hardships. Only through the kindness of strangers like Meg and Tilly can she and her mother eke out a minimal existence. Lieutenant Mitch Cameron is also tender-hearted and kind, quietly offering assistance with no strings attached, unlike some of his fellow pilots. Both Lotte and Mitch are conflicted characters. Are they still enemies, or what? They want to pursue their attraction while their previous relationships are on hold because of the war. 

The author does an amazing job placing the reader in the story with genuine characters and clearly depicted events and locations. The characters feel like real people, speaking authentic dialogue fitting the circumstances. Descriptions of bombed-out Berlin are so vivid I could almost feel the gritty desolation and the bitter winter cold, with not enough wood or coal. The introduction tells the reader that much of what follows is based on eyewitness accounts. Yet the wealth of detail suggests the author did extensive research. 

The Berlin airlifts were always relegated to a mere footnote in my American history classes, so the story's focus on this monumental mission was informative and awe-inspiring. Reading about this time period and what these people endured was riveting and horrifying. I thank the author for shedding light on these events. 

With its genuine personalities, authentic dialogue and experiences, I recommend WHEN THE SKIES RAINED FREEDOM to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in post-WWII Germany and the advent of the Cold War. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.