Am trying to identify the title a fiction book for young
adults/children. The plot involves a German WWII veteran who becomes
the goalie for the German national soccer team. He has been accused of
commiting atrocities during the war and must deal with this situation
while leading his squad against the French national team in the first
football encounter after the war. I read the book while in middle
school in the late sixties/early seventies. Thanks for any help you
could provide.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 17 May 2004 10:06 PDT

Hello Reader101,

Do the following descriptions sound familiar?

The story is of a Nazi Officer the day before D-day in a little town
near the coast of Normandy. He is ordered to kill several of the
townsmen, and does. At the end of the war he is tried for war crimes
and convicted. After his lengthy sentence he plays soccer on the
German national team. In one game he must face the boy he taught to
play soccer who is also the son of one of men the Nazi officer killed.

This book is about a German war criminal playing soccer years after
World War II against a younger French boy who knew him during the
occupation.

This teen novel was published in 1967 and 1970.

If this is the book you have in mind, I can provide you with the title
of the book, the name of the author and information on where to
purchase this item.


Thanks,
Bobbie7

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Clarification of Question by reader101-ga on 17 May 2004 10:11 PDT

Yes, this is it. Due to the passage of time, my recollection of the
plot was not as clear as yours. Send along the information on the
title and where to purchase.

Many thanks, 
Reader 101

I?m glad that I found the correct book for you. The title of the book
is ?His Enemy, His Friend? by John Roberts Tunis.

This book is out of print but I found 15 used copies in very condition
available at Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/0688313922//002-4629304-8898406?condition=all


His Enemy, His Friend
by John Roberts Tunis 
Publisher: William Morrow; (July 1970) 
ASIN: 0688313922 
Availability: Usually ships within 1-2 business days 
15 used & new from $3.75
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688313922/ref%3Dnosim/bookssites-20/002-4629304-8898406


Bookfinders.org has one copy available for $8.00
Author Name: John R. Tunis 
Title: His Enemy, His Friend
Publisher:  New York William Morrow and Company 1967  
http://www.bookfinders.org/pi/44007.html



Description:

?I read this book in 9th grade for our Holocaust Unit. The story is of
a Nazi Officer the day before D-day in a little town near the coast of
Normandy. He is ordered to kill several of the townsmen, and does. At
the end of the war he is tried for war crimes and convicted. After his
lengthy sentence he plays soccer on the German national team. In one
game he must face the boy he taught to play soccer in that town,
Varin. Varin is also the son of one of men the Nazi officer killed.?
http://engineering-books-online.com/0688313922.html


?Tunis' own choice for his best book was 1967's His Enemy, His Friend,
about a German war criminal playing soccer years after World War II
against a younger French boy who knew him during the occupation.?
Denver Post 
http://www.johnhritter.com/DP_Article.sht



JOHN R TUNIS 
His Enemy, His Friend 
?WW2 FP 1967 Novel of Hans, a German sergeant, who kills six hostages
in a French village. Later, one of the victim's sons confronts him at
a soccer match.?
Bazillion Books
http://www.bazillionbooks.com/wwiigerman.html


?What to do if you are a German officer and feel compassion for the
people whose town the Nazis have occupied? In this skillfully crafted
novel for young teens, Tunis tells the story of a man faced with this
dilemma. The climax of the story comes after an explosive soccer game.
The officer, who often plays soccer with the young boys in the town,
must make a momentous decision.?
http://www.students.cs.uu.nl/people/rree/bookreport/his_enemy_his_friend.txt

Alibris has many copies available as well.
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qwork=2911493&qsort=r


Here are a few copies at Abe?s Books 
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?cmid=hp-search-form&imagefield.x=53&ph=2&bsi=30&tn=His+Enemy%2C+His+Friend&imagefield.y=15


Search criteria:
Book OR novel German Soccer Team WWII
Teen fiction WWII German soccer team

Best regards,
Bobbie7

Unbelievably quick and comprehensive. Thanks very much for your time
and effort. Will check back in with other questions!

Dear Reader101,

Thank you very much for your kind words, five star rating and tip!

Sincerely,
Bobbie7