THIS account of the experiences of "ordinary" German and Japanese soldiers and civilians from the Second World War should be made compulsory reading for any blood-thirsty glory hunters.

There's precious little glory to be found in the first hand accounts of the horror, destruction, tragedy and despair which affected millions during the conflict. Reading the account of a schoolboy blasted at Hiroshima, the memoirs of a German tank destroyer ace or even an interview with Hitler's sister is especially sobering for any "Allied" citizen who believed he had God on his side. For with or without God's blessing the suffering is revealed to have been the same.