I’m in awe. That’s all I can say after reading this phenomenal historical study. It takes such guts to go against a tyrannical government so the actioI’m in awe. That’s all I can say after reading this phenomenal historical study. It takes such guts to go against a tyrannical government so the actions of these brave German women standing up for their Jewish husbands truly worth admiration! The sheer power of their love and desire to save their loved ones from imminent death made Rosenstraße protests the only successful protest during the Nazi government reign that resulted in victory. And the book resonates particularly strongly today, with the new war raging in Europe and dooming so many innocent people to suffering, starvation and, in worst cases, annihilation. Please, read these first accounts of the Rosenstraße protests’ survivors and let them serve us all as an inspiration to go against tyranny in any way we can. Love shall always prevail! Sometimes though, it needs fighting for....more
Once again Paulette Mahurin created a true historical fiction masterpiece that will stay with you long after the last page is turned. As with most of Once again Paulette Mahurin created a true historical fiction masterpiece that will stay with you long after the last page is turned. As with most of her previous books, it’s based on a true story of real heroes who risked their lives to save the lives of Jewish children. I don’t want to retell any of the plot so you can enjoy the story for yourself, so I’ll just sum up my impressions here. This book hits hard. It not only offers a meticulously researched glimpse into the past and reveals the nature of evil such as national socialism and similar movements, but also presents acts of kindness and self-sacrifice that will leave you breathless. Books like this should be on every school’s mandatory reading list so that we never forget about heroes of the past and aspire to follow the examples of their brave actions whenever we encounter bigotry, racism, and xenophobia in present day.
I truly can’t recommend this book highly enough to all fans of historical fiction. So incredibly emotional and so very relevant today, it’s a must read for everyone. Five huge stars!...more
A brilliant fictional biography! I think the author managed to capture Marlene Dietrich’s spirit perfectly - I actually felt like it was her narratingA brilliant fictional biography! I think the author managed to capture Marlene Dietrich’s spirit perfectly - I actually felt like it was her narrating the story. The descriptions, the characters, history itself - everything comes alive and creates an unforgettable impression. Reading this book is like watching a movie destined to become a classic. Fabulous!...more
“Beyond the Tracks” is an inspiring story of true friendship, bravery, and self-sacrifice that touched me in the most profound way. From the very firs“Beyond the Tracks” is an inspiring story of true friendship, bravery, and self-sacrifice that touched me in the most profound way. From the very first pages I found myself caring for the characters; in fact, rooting for them was easy precisely because they were so real and relatable, never failing to stand up for what is right and fighting for it to the end. Realistic, thoroughly researched, and an exceptionally well-written novel. Highly recommended to all fans of the genre!...more
Informative and riveting - thanks to a most talented narrator, I could easily visualize everything and everyone right before my eyes and couldn’t waitInformative and riveting - thanks to a most talented narrator, I could easily visualize everything and everyone right before my eyes and couldn’t wait to take my dogs out so I could listen to more of this spellbinding audiobook. Meticulously researched and wonderfully presented - I couldn’t get enough of it and recommend it highly!...more
I read this book for research purposes and I can only applaud Mr. Ohler for all the work he has put into this incredibly detailed and so very well-wriI read this book for research purposes and I can only applaud Mr. Ohler for all the work he has put into this incredibly detailed and so very well-written biography. Harro and Libertas Schulze-Boysen aren’t as well-known to the WWII history buffs as Claus von Stauffenberg for instance, and I think it’s a great pity as this couple did what few people managed to do - with their own example and passion they organized an entire resistance movement in the very heart of Germany and risked their own lives fighting for freedom from Hitler’s yoke and for the end of the blood-shedding war they both loathed. Their brave action and determination are truly worth applauding. Without any formal training (well, with minimal training in Harro’s case), they improvised and worked with what they had to spread their anti-Nazi message and get as many people on their side as possible, all the while knowing that they did so at the risk of their own freedom and life. I’m still in awe of their selfless, heroic sacrifice and I can only hope that their names will become more well-known in the future as they most certainly deserve it. Highly recommended to all history buffs! ...more
“When’s Mummy Coming” is an incredibly touching story about Kindertransports and the horror many German Jewish children had to go through, first in th“When’s Mummy Coming” is an incredibly touching story about Kindertransports and the horror many German Jewish children had to go through, first in their native Germany and later, in their new homes in Britain. My heart went out to Heinz and his little brother and sister - first, it was the trauma of the Kristallnacht, then - the terror of the Dachau (in Heinz’s case, at least), and then more abuse, but this time coming from the British people, who were supposed to help them. Sally won me over right away. Not everyone would be ready to open their doors to a stranger’s children, but she not only did that but treated them as her own children instead. Hardships, terror, prejudice, and hatred are opposed by much bigger forces - love and hope - in this wonderful story that should be on every history lover’s to-read list. Highly recommended! ...more
“Not Without My Sister” is a heartbreaking story of two sisters, Mindel and Rachel, who struggle to survive in a veritable hell on earth - the Bergen-“Not Without My Sister” is a heartbreaking story of two sisters, Mindel and Rachel, who struggle to survive in a veritable hell on earth - the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. After being separated from each other, both live only with one goal - to get reunited against all odds, and I couldn’t help but marvel at their resilience as the circumstances of their incarceration were indeed hellish. Mindel, a mere four-year-old child, had to grow up particularly fast if she wanted to survive. As you read the story, you’ll find it both appalling and incredible, how quickly children turned into little adults in such a place and how quickly they learned to adapt to the camp life and form alliances in order to survive another day. The most disturbing part for me personally was reading about the games they played - “the Jews and the SS” and “Who Will Die Next.” Everyone knows that children’s games always reflect their immediate reality, so one can only imagine how grim their everyday reality was for them to start playing such games.
Rachel’s plight as she slaved on the armament factory was no better by any means. Ms. Kummerow did a wonderful job in bringing to life the conditions in which the incarcerated women had to work - breathing in chemicals, having their hair and nails turn orange from the gradual poisoning their bodies had to endure. And if that wasn’t enough, constant harassment of the guards, daily beatings, neglect, and lack of food saw them turning from humans into mere shadows. And yet, both girls still refused to succumb to their fate. It’s that message of hope and resilience that makes “Not Without My Sister” such a powerful, important read. I truly can’t recommend it highly enough. One of Ms. Kummerow’s best works to date! ...more
I read this a few years ago for research purposes but as it turns out, I never wrote a review for it. This study is absolutely fundamental for understI read this a few years ago for research purposes but as it turns out, I never wrote a review for it. This study is absolutely fundamental for understanding the phenomena of medical killing and the psychology of the nazi doctors performing euthanasia and graduating to becoming the main perpetrators in the Auschwitz genocide. After conducting multiple interviews with the surviving nazi doctors, Dr. Lifton completed an unparalleled study that allows a rare glimpse into a psyche of a healer turned killer following the nazi indoctrination and succumbing to its pseudo-scientific goals and methods. By explaining how the idea of “healing” the German nation by turning it against “the enemy” - the Jews - gradually led to an experimental phase (euthanasia T4 program) and later, to the actual industrial scale annihilation of millions, Dr. Lifton paints a truly terrifying picture of a similar transformation that the nazi doctors were undergoing. Explaining their coping mechanisms from a psychiatrist’s POV, Dr. Lifton explains how seemingly decent men could turn into sadistic monsters experimenting on human beings as though they were guinea pigs and performing selections on the Auschwitz ramp under the pretext of the medical - and ideological - necessity. Some adapted astonishingly quickly and even thrived in the hell of Auschwitz (Dr. Mengele); the rare few refused to have anything to do with the atrocities and tried their best to remain healers. But each doctor underwent a similar transformation, the doubling as Dr. Lifton calls it, in order to preserve their psyche and protect it from self-destruction as the sense of guilt would be far too overwhelming. I could go on and on about this study, but you really should read it for yourself to truly appreciate its historical and scientific value. A must-read for anyone who wishes to understand the Holocaust and the doctors’ role in it. ...more
I’ve been a fan of Paulette Mahurin’s writing for a few years now and each time her new book comes out, I grab it right away. “Where Irises Never GrowI’ve been a fan of Paulette Mahurin’s writing for a few years now and each time her new book comes out, I grab it right away. “Where Irises Never Grow” is another fine example of Ms. Mahurin’s literary talent. From the opening chapters, in which an old newspaper cutting is found in a first edition of Aesop’s Fables, I was riveted to the plot that ultimately led to Nazi-occupied France and the mystery behind the two names on an old newspaper cutting. I won’t be retelling much of the plot to avoid spoilers, so I’ll just say this: if you’re looking for a meticulously researched French Resistance novel that will pull at your heartstrings and reveal not only love, sacrifice, and devotions, but also atrocities of Klaus Barbie, rightly nicknamed The Butcher of Lyon, search no further. “Where Irises Never Grow” is a stark reminder of a recent past, in which xenophobia and nationalistic hatred lead to the annihilation of millions of people; it is also a warning for our generation not to repeat the mistakes of our forefathers and apply our all to fight bigotry, racism, and dictators that inspire the ugliest sentiments in their followers. The story of Charlotte and Victor Legrand, the story of Agnès Eisenberg and her beloved Jaques is a must-read for sure. Just make sure to have a box of Kleenex ready - you’ll most likely need it. The ending in which we meet an elderly Holocaust survivor is so heartbreakingly beautiful, it’ll remain with you long after you close the book. A truly timeless novel that should be read by everyone. Highly recommended! ...more
“Anus Mundi” is one of those memoirs that are too vivid to be read just for research purposes. I tried to stay detached, but before long I was transpo“Anus Mundi” is one of those memoirs that are too vivid to be read just for research purposes. I tried to stay detached, but before long I was transported into the hellish world of Auschwitz where Mr. Kielar had to spend five excruciatingly long years and lived to tell the tale. His story is not for the weak-hearted. He doesn’t spare his reader and puts on paper all the pain, blood, and suffering, in all their vivid detail. In a dog-eat-dog world of an extermination camp, only the savviest, strongest, or the most unscrupulous survive and I couldn’t help but applaud the author for keeping his humanity in the conditions that drove many of his fellow sufferers to a near-animalistic state. But instead of succumbing to the Nazi-imposed hatred reigning freely around the camp, Mr. Kielar and his friends did their utmost to help each other survive. What I also appreciated was the fact that the author doesn’t portray himself as a hero; he admits on a few occasions that he acted like a coward, that he betrayed one of his barrack mates under torture and changed his mind about an escape plan he and his friend Edek Galinski had been entertaining for months. In the end, Edek and his beloved Mala were captured and hanged, and the survivor’s guilt is evident in Mr. Kielar’s prose. This memoir is as honest as they get and so remarkably well-written. Read it. It’s an eye-opening account of Auschwitz that will stay with you long after the last page is turned. ...more
In his memoir, Rudolf Vrba recounts a horrific story of his incarceration and eventual escape from the extermination camp Auschwitz and the consequencIn his memoir, Rudolf Vrba recounts a horrific story of his incarceration and eventual escape from the extermination camp Auschwitz and the consequences his report had on the so-called Hungarian Aktion. It’s definitely not for the faint of the heart. Vrba conceals nothing when he talks about his own experiences and experiences his fellow inmates had to go through. Savage beatings, the brutality of the Kapos, rare sympathetic SS guards (one of which actually did help one of the inmates escape with his brave action), the comradery and the betrayals - it all comes alive before one’s eyes with the most gut-wrenching honesty. In the dog-eat-dog world of Auschwitz, a young boy was forced to grow into a man under the most savage conditions and I couldn’t help but applaud his integrity, bravery, and desire to save others from the fate that millions of the perished had already shared. Unlike many others, Vrba didn’t run just to get away; he ran with a sole objective - to prevent the Hungarian Jews from allowing themselves to be tricked into boarding the dreaded cattle trains and die in the Auschwitz gas chambers. Risking his own life and freedom, he made it to the Jewish leaders and presented them with a detailed report of what was going on behind the barbed wire cordon of the sinister extermination facility. You’ll have to read to find out what happened next; I’ll just say, this memoir is definitely a must-read for everyone, not only people interested in the history of the Holocaust. The inhumanity of people treating others as inferiors due to the color of their skin or nationality is very much alive and we have to educate ourselves to prevent history from repeating itself. Read this book. You won’t regret it. ...more
If you’re interested in the history of the Holocaust, Kitty Hart’s memoir should definitely be on your to-read list. It’s a candid personal account thIf you’re interested in the history of the Holocaust, Kitty Hart’s memoir should definitely be on your to-read list. It’s a candid personal account that holds nothing back and offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a resourceful inmate who did anything possible and impossible to survive. What truly earned my utmost respect was the fact that Kitty had never lost her morals or stooped to the level of the SS collaborators (Kapos and block elders, for instance) in order to curry favor. She refused to steal from the living and only “organized” what could be “organized” from the dead or from the riches of the Kanada - a sorting detail where the inmates’ possessions were processed and disinfected before being shipped to Germany. Her loyalty to her friends and her refusal to lose her humanity even in such horrific circumstances is worth admiration, just like her resourcefulness and spirit. Kitty was fortunate enough to eventually land in a “privileged” detail where one could “organize” food, clothes, whatever daily items (such as toothbrushes or soap), where inmates had their own barracks that weren’t overcrowded and where there was real bedding; they had access to showers and were permitted to grow out their hair and wear “pretty dresses.” However, Kitty’s experiences before the Kanada and after can only be described as hellish. Through her frank account, the horrors of the extermination camp come alive: back-breaking work in the outside work detail, beatings, abuse, widespread disease, friends and relatives dying before one’s eyes, and hope slowly slipping away along with one’s strength. Kitty’s memoir is a reminder to all of us that hatred and nationalism has gone nowhere and is merely dormant, waiting for a chance to rear its ugly head if we don’t stay vigilant. For that reason, we constantly need to read more of such accounts and educate younger generations to ensure that the horrific past doesn’t repeat itself. ...more
A short but informative account. I wouldn’t call it a biography, but considering how little information is available concerning Irma Grese, this summaA short but informative account. I wouldn’t call it a biography, but considering how little information is available concerning Irma Grese, this summary is well worth reading. It’s mostly comprised of the survivors’ witness accounts, but through them, one can definitely draw a picture of depravity and sadism that Grese was certainly prone to. I would definitely classify her as a sociopath as even in her testimony given to the military tribunal she had not once expressed an ounce of remorse or even a shadow of genuine feeling. If you’re interested in the history of the Holocaust, I would certainly recommend it. ...more
I first read about the controversial Auschwitz Kommandant Liebehenschel in H. Langbein’s study, “People in Auschwitz.” According to Langbein’s personaI first read about the controversial Auschwitz Kommandant Liebehenschel in H. Langbein’s study, “People in Auschwitz.” According to Langbein’s personal observations and the testimonies he gathered from other inmates, Arthur Liebehenschel was “the humane Kommandant,” who immediately put a stop to the standing cells practice in Auschwitz, prohibited the beatings, actively fought with the camp’s political division, and tried to stop systematic gassings and selections. I need hardly add, I was intrigued. Naturally, as soon as I came across Liebehenschel’s daughter Barbara’s memoir/biography, I just knew I had to pick it up and I wasn’t disappointed.
Barbara’s memoir is basically a search for a father she never knew (he left his first wife and their four children in 1944 when Barabara was still a very small child and therefore, she has virtually no memories of him). It’s always a challenge for a family member, and particularly a child, to paint an objective picture of their parent and to her credit, Barbara did a great job in this respect. Meticulously piecing together the memories of her own siblings and Liebehenschel’s second wife whom she interviewed for this book, survivors’ witness testimonies, transcripts of interrogations, and Liebehenschel’s own journals, she paints a portrait of an essentially soft-hearted man who pledged his allegiance to the regime he had later grown severely disappointed in (just to name one incident: during a party given at his house, Liebehenschel got drunk and threw an empty glass of champagne at the portrait of Hitler in front of his guests - an act of defiance, for which he was later placed under house arrest by Himmler and later transferred to Auschwitz in punishment). It was actually uplifting to read about a Kommandant, who was firmly against beatings and torture and forbade the SS and Kapos to physically abuse the inmates while he was in charge; who personally tasted the soup in the kitchen and spoke to the inmates about the matters that concerned them the most and tried to help them as much as he could. He was eventually removed from his post for being too soft prior to the so-called Hungarian Aktion and replaced by Höss once again, who had no such qualms concerning the inmates or their extermination.
Was he an innocent man? Of course, not. But he is not your typical callous, brutal SS officer either. In the end, my personal opinion of him and his sentence is pretty much the same as Dr. Danimann’s, an Auschwitz survivor: “It is my belief that Arthur Liebehenschel’s death sentence was probably historically and legally a just verdict but because of his diverse and positive initiatives, which helped many prisoners, he should have been given an amnesty.”
I read it as part of the research for my own project but I would definitely recommend it to everyone interested in the history of WWII and the Holocaust. ...more
A short but fascinating account of the Holocaust. I watched many documentaries with Eva Mozes Kor and have always admired her for her strength and theA short but fascinating account of the Holocaust. I watched many documentaries with Eva Mozes Kor and have always admired her for her strength and the ability to forgive her tormentors. It was her biggest hope that “Surviving the Angel of Death” would be taught in schools so that the future generations would learn of the Nazi atrocities and hopefully prevent a new Holocaust from happening. It’s definitely a must-read for everyone, not just people interested in history. ...more
Once again I am reminded of why Erich Maria Remarque will always be one of my all-time favorite writers. Only he can write with such compassion, such Once again I am reminded of why Erich Maria Remarque will always be one of my all-time favorite writers. Only he can write with such compassion, such sensitivity to the subject, and such empathy for his characters. Some readers felt disappointed with “Flotsam” because technically speaking, there’s not much going on. Just two men who have lost their German citizenship sneaking across the border from one European country to another, dodging the police raids and making their living by peddling or working odd jobs that don’t require legal papers. The plot is eerily relevant today, isn’t it? I actually got chills reading certain parts; unfortunately, we, humanity, haven’t learned much from history if people are still deemed illegal and have to go through the same exact things as Steiner and Kern some eighty years ago.
Now, going back to my previous thought. There’s not much going on because it was precisely the author’s intent. An illegal immigrant’s life consists of things that seem almost trivial to anyone “legal,” such as finding a place to live (nearly all of them require at least some sort of identification), finding at least some sort of work to support oneself (which is even more difficult than finding a place to crash for the night), having to constantly watch one’s back for people who can denounce them, wondering if one’s beloved will survive after getting sick - really, nonexistent problems for regular people but a matter of life and death for a refugee. As it always is with all of Remarque’s books, there’s a whole spectrum of characters besides the central protagonists whom you will love and hate, respect for their bravery and curse for their ruthlessness and self-serving goals, admire and feel sorry for. “Flotsam” is indeed a timeless story and it should be read by absolutely everyone. ...more
“Born Survivors” is a must-read for everyone who is interested in the history of the Holocaust. But what sets it apart from many other books already w“Born Survivors” is a must-read for everyone who is interested in the history of the Holocaust. But what sets it apart from many other books already written about it is the fact that the narration centers around three unrelated women who end up pregnant in the most unsuitable place on earth for an expecting mother - Auschwitz. What follows is the incredible story of resilience that will truly shake you to the core and make you ask, how something of this sort could happen? How did we, the supposedly civilized humans, ended up treating our fellow men worse than cattle for slaughter?
“Born Survivors” is a very detailed and meticulously researched account that provides historical insights into the events leading up to what eventually turned into a Holocaust, provides eyewitness accounts wherever possible, and relies heavily on the stories either told by survivors themselves or their children, who were lucky to survive what few adults did. What I really appreciated was the fact that the author never glossed over any gory details and showed everything exactly how the survivors themselves must have seen it - that’s the way the Holocaust literature should be written to truly demonstrate the horror of it all in order for the same horror to never happen again.
A meticulously researched biography of a truly outstanding woman. I read it for research purposes and the further I read, the more I began to admire AA meticulously researched biography of a truly outstanding woman. I read it for research purposes and the further I read, the more I began to admire Alma’s strong personality and boldness. Not only was she a true pioneer in conducting a highly-successful female orchestra when the music scene still mostly belonged to men but managed the impossible in a place where all hope was lost - create a new women’s orchestra out of nothing and thus save multiple lives (almost all members of her orchestra survived the camp). Mr. Newman did an outstanding job with his research. By the time I finished this remarkable biography, I felt like I knew this brilliant woman personally, and not only her, but her entire family and the girls she shared the last months of her life with. By providing historical documents and eyewitness accounts, the author creates a vivid and objective portrait of a woman who refused to bow down to the new world order and remained an artist and a rebel till the very end. A biography I’d highly recommend to everyone! ...more
Just like it was with the first book in the series, I realized that I actually prefer Furst’s later books to his early ones. Don’t get me wrong, “DarkJust like it was with the first book in the series, I realized that I actually prefer Furst’s later books to his early ones. Don’t get me wrong, “Dark Star” is very well-written and has lots of well-researched historical information, but it’s just a bit much too long and overwritten. Sometimes the plot just drags and drags without anything going on, making the reader (at least this one) lose interest. And it definitely suffers from the lack of dialogue. But that’s the cons; as for the pros, the choice of the protagonist is marvelous and I really enjoyed getting to virtually know André Szara, a Soviet journalist who gets involved with an espionage network and finds out for himself what it feels like, to be a pawn in the higher-ups' games. He has a quick mind, good instincts, and a talent for observation - the qualities, which saved him quite a few times. As it is always the case with Furst’s thrillers, his settings are incredibly vivid and instantly spring to live with every new page turned. I felt like I was actually there, wandering around Parisian streets along with Szara, escaping the clutches of the enraged mob in a small town near Berlin, and narrowly avoiding being captured by the NKVD in Poland. Even though I personally prefer his later books in which plots are “tighter,” I’d definitely recommend “Dark Star” and the entire Night Soldiers series to all lovers of the genre. ...more
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