I too enjoyed it but felt it could / should have been longer.
No idea who the woman is who wrote the book, but I read his first book by Alan Rowlands.
It claims he was captured twice by the Russians and escaped twice, defying his officer who said they should remain captured and also he shot 'someone' in the woods when escaping (didnt know if t was a fellow German or a Rusky.... it was dark, he just shot and ran!).
Just felt it was rushed towards the end......... I wanted more..... very emotional programme, loved it....