Heartbreaking Account of Dutch Jews During Holocaust

 

TITLE: Discovering Twins; No Secret is Safe Forever

AUTHOR: Stella Ter Hart

PUBLISHER: Stella Ter Hart

PUBLICATION DATE: July 27, 2021

LENGTH: 280 Pages

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author is an award-winning choral and instrumental composer, casual author, and educator.
Stella Ter Hart was born in the small prairie town of Estevan, Saskatchewan, to Dutch immigrant parents. She now lives in rural Ontario with her husband, tending her heritage apple orchard.

Uncovering Family Secrets
"Twins run in the family, you know."

When the author was expecting her first child in 1982, her mother casually made a remark about twins running in the family. Stella had no knowledge of this fact and her mother had always been very secretive about her early life growing up in the Netherlands.

Once that first door into the author's past was opened to her, she needed to know the truth. She spent almost five years of deep genealogy diving and internet research. 

Stella discovered over 1,200 Dutch relatives that died in the Holocaust. The Jewish line in her mother's family had been residents in Amsterdam for over 400 years and they were wholly assimilated into Dutch society.

She discovered that her family had fifteen sets of twins out of approximately 550 births between 1832 and 1942. 

My Thoughts

We all know the story of Anne Frank and her family in Amsterdam. This book provides details about how other Dutch Jews were arrested, transported to concentration camps, and murdered by the Nazis.

Stella Ter Hart did an amazing job with her research and discovering stories that were passed down in her family. She was recently reunited with a distant cousin who was sent into hiding as a child and survived the war. This book includes photos of lost family members that are poignant and heartbreaking. 

The information in this book is shocking and sad. I really can't express my disgust in words. I hope the legacies of these innocent people will not be forgotten.

I did a little research of my own and discovered the following information:

• Between 75 and 80 percent of the Netherlands' Jews were killed during the war, the highest rate in Western Europe.
• Although about 150,00 Jews were living in the Netherlands in 1940, including about 25,000 German Jews who had come as refugees, only about 15,000 were counted during the postwar census of 1947.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please FOLLOW and share your thoughts in the COMMENTS section below.

The Radio Signal (Memoir) Depicts German Baptists in World War II

The Radio Signal

Author: Friedhelm Radandt

Publisher: Deep River Books

Publication Date: June 8, 2016

Length: 248 Pages










About the Author
Friedhelm Radandt served as a college president for a quarter of a century, first at Northwestern College in Iowa and then at The King's College in New York. After arriving from his native Germany as an immigrant, he earned graduate degrees at The University of Chicago and enjoyed a rewarding teaching career at that institution and at Lake Forest College.

The Tale of Two Families
Friedhelm and his wife, Elizabeth Job, share the childhood memories of their experiences in Poland and Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. During the war years, neither family knows of the other. Neither family knows that their paths will cross after the war and their families will be united forever.

The author shares some history of the Radandt and Job families. The families lived a pleasant, middle-class life in Germany and Poland in the years prior to the reign of Hitler and the beginning of World War II. They were both active in the German Baptist Church and community. The author believes the support that both families received from the church was an important aspect in their survival during the years they spent as refugees during the war. 

"Like his parents before him, Friedhelm began looking for a Baptist fellowship as soon as he arrived in Hamburg. This had, after all, been his family's saving grace: no matter where they settled they had never been truly alone, because they always established ties to the nearest Baptist community."

Friedhelm found fellowship and love at the Baptist Church in Hamburg. Elizabeth Job was a member of the youth group at the church and their friendship eventually grew to love and marriage.

My Thoughts
This is a riveting account from a child's point-of-view of the extreme conditions endured by ordinary families during World War II. These families faced the threats of arrest, hunger, homelessness, and death on a regular basis. Both families had to relocate several times and lost their homes and all of their material possessions. There were times when it seemed that Divine intervention was responsible for their safety and survival.

I belong to a Baptist Church and found the information about the German Baptists very interesting. In recent years, the German Baptists have come under criticism for not speaking out against Hitler and the terrible injustices and atrocities that occurred during the years the Nazi party was in power. In most cases, the Nazis allowed the Baptist Churches to remain open and continue to preach the Gospel within the church. So, the Baptists were happy to be left alone and did not want to make waves that would put their organization in jeopardy. 

After the war, the author did extensive research on the role of the Baptist Church and other Christian groups during the war. He immersed himself in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Ethics" and committed himself to teaching about the issue of resistance to Baptist young people's groups. He believed that dealing with the past would free the church to do God's work with integrity.

The memoir ends in 1960, when Friedhelm and Elizabeth immigrated to America, arriving in New York City aboard the SS United States. This is a book about war, but it is also about faith, hope and love. The author did an excellent job telling his story. Highly recommended!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free print copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please FOLLOW and share your thoughts in the COMMENTS SECTION below.

Book Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies: A Novel

Author: Isaac Marion

Publisher: Atria Books

Date:  April 26, 2011

Length: 256 Pages


This book review was written by guest blogger Cindy Phelps Thomas.

About The Author
Isaac Marion is an American writer. He is best known as the best-selling author of the "zombie romance" novel Warm Bodies.

Favorite Quotations
“You should always be taking pictures, if not with a camera then with your mind. Memories you capture on purpose are always more vivid than the ones you pick up by accident.”  

“What wonderful thing didn't start out scary?”  

“We are where we are, however we got here. What matters is where we go next.”  

“The past is made out of facts... I guess the future is just hope.”  

“Here it comes. My inevitable death, ignoring me all those years when I wished for it daily, arriving only after I've decided I want to live forever.”  

A Zombie Romance
R is a zombie. He lives in an abandoned airport with his fellow undead, zombies and boneys. He can’t help but think he’s different from the rest as they shuffle around all day without a thought.

R does have thoughts, but he’s not sure what they mean or why he has them since he has no recollection of his past life. He does go to town occasionally to feed with other zombies, one of which is M, his friend. While feeding, the zombies can experience memories of the human life they are taking.

On one occasion, while feeding, R experiences the memories of Perry. Perry’s memories all include Julie, his longtime friend and girlfriend. R feels something for Julie through these memories and concludes that he must save her from the other zombies that are feeding. He takes her back to the 747 plane that he lives in. She is scared and he cannot communicate well with her, but as the days pass they become friends.

Julie tells R that she needs to return home to prevent her father from looking for her and attacking the airport. R begins the journey to take her back but also feels the overwhelming desire to keep her with him to ensure that she is safe.  The boneys, the high order of the undead, have discovered that R is different and Julie is living. They are unhappy and start a fight to try to capture her and kill her.

R and Julie manage to make it away from them with a little help, but Julie escapes from R once they are further down the road.  She manages to return home safely, but R cannot be without her. R, M, and a few others who are all starting to experience thoughts and feelings that they don’t understand decide to leave and go to Julie. The boneys are angry and still looking for the group of them.

The feelings between R and Julie are growing, but will R make it out of this? Will the boneys conquer the humans and the zombies?

All they know is there are big changes in the future and the future is coming fast.
 
My Thoughts

Warm Bodies is an interesting tale of a zombie romance. The love of a zombie for a human which is normally considered hunter and prey. I enjoyed this book. It was my first experience with zombies and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. The book does have a considerable amount of adult language so I would not suggest it for children, but if you are looking to try something new, or this is the genre you usually look for, I definitely recommend this easy read.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

Thank you to Cindy for sharing this book review with us. Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Date: June 3, 2010

Movie Release: November 22, 2013



This book review was written by guest reviewer Cindy Phelps Thomas.

About The Author
Suzanne Collins has had a successful and prolific career writing for children's television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Collins made her mark in children's literature with the New York Times bestselling five-book series for middle-grade readers The Underland Chronicles.  In the award-winning The Hunger Games trilogy, Collins continues to explore the effects of war and violence on those coming of age. Collins lives with her family in Connecticut.

Katniss And Peeta Are Back
In this sequel to The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen is back. Katniss and Peeta managed to outsmart the Capital once, but the Capital is not happy about it. Katniss and Peeta were living happily, pretending to be in love whenever the cameras were on them. 

Katniss and Peeta were paraded through the Districts making appearances and giving speeches when Katniss noticed there was something strange going on in some districts. Katniss got word there may be rebellions starting, threatening to overthrow the Capital. The Districts were looking to Katniss as their guide and a symbol of peace for the Districts. She never intended to have this kind of influence on the people of Panem. This made her more fearful for her life than ever.

The news of the Quarter Quell approaching had everyone a bit nervous. Every 25 years the Quarter Quell took place. There was a different type of Hunger Games every time.

The Districts all gathered as the news reported the players in this year’s Quell would be a male and female victor from each of the 12 Districts and they must appear in the Hunger Games. Katniss was the sole female victor for District 12. She never dreamed she would have to survive two games! She knew her male counterpart would be Peeta or her mentor Haymitch, both scenarios made her ill.

In Catching Fire, Katniss entered into the arena for a second time, knowing that this would be her last.

Can Katniss help her partner survive or will this be the end for them both? 

Will there be another victor from District 12?

With 24 players in the arena, this is another action packed tale of survival of the fittest that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you Cindy for this book review! Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Children's Book Review: I Will Come Back For You; A Family In Hiding During World War II

I Will Come Back For You: A Family in Hiding During World War II

Author: Marisabina Russo

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

Date: September 27, 2011



About The Author
Marisabina Russo is the author and illustrator of numerous books for children. Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived World War II, based on the experiences of her grandmother's family during the Holocaust, was named an ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book.

A Jewish Family In Italy
A grandmother uses her charm bracelet to tell the story of her life in Italy during World War II.

The first charm is a donkey. The donkey represents the happy times that Jacob, Sabina and their children had in Rome before the war. They would often go to the park and ride on the backs of gentle donkeys.

The second charm is a piano. Jacob would play the piano and sing to his family each night when he got home from work. One day, Jacob learned that he and all Jewish men had to move to a small village up in the mountains. The music ended and the family missed Jacob very much.

The third charm is a bicycle. Jacob learned that the Germans were coming to the village and all the Jewish detainees would be moved to a concentration camp. Jacob ran away and hid in the mountains. A friendly farmer carried Sabina on the handlebars of his bicycle to a safer hiding place higher in the mountains. The children were left behind but hoped to be reunited with their parents as soon as it was safe.

The fourth charm is a pig. The children hid in baskets of live piglets and were carried high into the mountains on the back of a donkey. They were reunited with Sabina and lived with her on a farm until the war ended.

The next two charms are a barn and a spinning wheel. These charms represent the time that Sabina and the children lived on the farm. Sabina worked in the fields and even learned to spin yarn from sheep's wool. They looked like part of the farmer's family so no one suspected that they were Jews.

The Last charm is an ocean liner. Sabina learned that Jacob had joined the partigiani, a group of people who were fighting against the Germans. He was killed by Nazi solders who found his hideout. After the war, Sabina and her children sailed to America where they started a new life.

My Thoughts
When I was a child, I loved to read biographies and books about history. I read very little fiction, I always wanted a "true" book. I majored in social studies/history when I went to college. I love to learn about the history of my country and the world.

The subject of the Holocaust is difficult to explain to children. This fictionalized story based on the author's real-life experience deals with the subject in a sensitive and appropriate manner.

I really love the way the charm bracelet was used to represent each part of the story. The author gives more information about her family in the "Afterword" section of the book. Incredibly, about 85% of the Jews in Italy survived the war, more than in almost any other European country.

This is an excellent resource to teach children about war, evil, bravery and kindness in the face of danger. Highly recommended for children in early elementary grades and up. (The book jacket says ages 5 - 9 but I think it could  be used with older students.)

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I checked-out this book from the public library.

I would love for you to FOLLOW this blog. You may use either the Google Friend Connect or the Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Memorial Day - A Poem by Edgar A. Guest

WWI Era Picture Postcard

Memorial Day

A Poem by Edgar A. Guest

From "Collected Verse of Edgar A. Guest"

Copyright 1934

The finest tribute we can pay

Unto our hero dead to-day,

Is not a rose wreath, white and red,

In memory of the blood they shed;

It is to stand beside each mound,

Each couch of consecrated ground,

And pledge ourselves as warriors true

Unto the work they died to do.

Into God's valleys where they lie
At rest, beneath the open sky,

Triumphant now, o'er every foe,

As living tributes let us go.

No wreath of rose or immortelles

Or spoken word or tolling bells

Will do to-day, unless we give

Our pledge that liberty shall live.

Our hearts must be the roses red

We place above our hero dead;

To-day beside their graves we must

Renew allegiance to their trust;

Must bare our heads and humbly say

We hold the Flag as dear as they,

And stand, as once they stood, to die

To keep the Stars and Stripes on high.

The finest tribute we can pay

Unto our hero dead to-day

Is not of speech or roses red,

But living, throbbing hearts instead

That shall renew the pledge they sealed

With death upon the battlefield:

That freedom's flag shall bear no stain

And free men wear no tyrant's chain.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

War

Today is Veteran's Day.  The picture above is a postcard that was issued during World War I.  This poem is dedicated to all who have served our country.

War

War is a performance staged by the "Angel of Sin"
When he opens his theater and invites everyone in;
The chief actors engaged are "Power" and "Greed"
Which have flourished for years on a poor people's need.

A great many characters must put on this play,
"Selfishness" first has a long prologue to say,
Then bold "Authority" rushes out to be shown
And "Hatred" springs up, by evil tongues sown.

In the tragedy, "Beauty" alone has no place,
And "Truth," despairing, stands hiding her face,
While "Hope," "Love" and "Charity" are striving, each one,
With the players to see that the "Right Thing" is done.

The scenery used is fair places laid waste,
Homes broken up in disaster and haste,
Children dying of hunger, mothers frantic with fears,
A background of sorrow, of blood and of tears.

The stage is the "World", and millions of men
Are engaged in the cast, and none can tell when
The performance will end, the curtain rung down
On the "Angel of Sin" with his reign overthrown.

Oh! May the time come and may it come soon,
That, the tragedy over, we are granted the boon
Of "Security" and "Peace" which "Victory" has won,
Then "Hope" will abide because "Justice" was done.

Poem by Lavina M. Bodley (Wandering And Wondering, 1932)