The Nazi Officer's Wife - Edith Hahn Beer, Susan Dworkin

..."The Nazi Officer's Wife" from the charity book list at work (books for 25p) knowing that it was an autobiographical account of 'How one Jewish woman survived the Holocaust' (subtitle of the book), an area of history which I'm interested in. I think it's important that we learn about what happened, not just because it's so important that we remember, but because it makes all our own little worries (and even the bigger worries) seem that ...
...The Book == My copy of the book is a yellowy brown colour with a picture of Edith on the front. As far as covers go, it isn't eye catching, but I don't think it wants to be. Of course the title itself is designed to draw the reader in, perhaps it is in a way slightly misleading as this (in my opinion) isn't really the most important part of the book - but then I've done that too in the title of this review. The book is 305 pages with 16 extra pages ... more

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Intro

I bought "The Nazi Officer's Wife" from the charity book list at work (books for 25p) knowing that it was an autobiographical account of 'How one Jewish woman survived the Holocaust' (subtitle of the book), an area of history which I'm interested in. I think it's important that we learn about what happened, not just because it's so important that we remember, but because it makes all our own little worries (and even the bigger worries) seem that much more bearable.

The Book

My copy of the book is a yellowy brown colour with a picture of Edith on the front. As far as covers go, it isn't eye catching, but I don't think it wants to be. Of course the title itself is designed to draw the reader in, perhaps it is in a way slightly misleading as this (in my opinion) isn't really the most important part of the book - but then I've done that too in the title of this review. The book is 305 pages with 16 extra pages of black and white photos (of Edith, her family and documents/letters from the war) and has an RRP of £9.99 but can be found for less.

"The Nazi Officer's Wife" was written with Susan Dworkins, and while that can often put me off autobiographies (having a co-writer), I still felt throughout reading that it was Edith talking. In the preface Edith talks about why she has told her story after so long (written in 1999), which is because her daughter Angela asked her to. The book is dedicated to Edith's mother, Klothilde Hahn.

The Story and some thoughts along the way

We begin with a snapshot of life in 1943, during the war and at a time where Edith was working for the Red Cross, an undercover (U boat) Jew, married to a Nazi party member (soon to be officer).

Then we return to the beginning of Edith's story. Born in Vienna in 1914, Edith and her 2 sisters had on the whole a happy childhood, with her father owning a restaurant. Although Jewish, the children weren't really taught about religion, and it was not a big part of their lives (although her father said that she may never marry a Christian). An intelligent child, Edith was allowed to stay on to High School, and then went onto read Law at University, meanwhile developing a relationship with a young man, Pepi. In 1936 Edith's father died suddenly, which meant that life became more of a struggle. But then as the war approached life began to change beyond all recognition, for everyone.

Edith and her mother were sent to live in a ghetto in 1939. Then in 1941 Edith was sent to a labour camp, where she tells us about the backbreaking physical labour (which makes me feel quite guilty for moaning about my job). What really struck me was the sheer strength and perseverance of the women working in these camps, and their optimism during such terrible times.

When she returned from the labour camp her mother had been deported (sent to a concentration camp) - losing contact with her mother is the thing which Edith found hardest of all. Having few options she went underground taking on a completely new identity (thanks to a friend). This eventually led to her meeting and falling for a Nazi party member, Werner Vetter, marrying him and having his child.

This all sounds quite shocking, a Jew marrying a Nazi during the war. Of course it was all shocking, but the really shocking thing is the lengths that people went to, to survive.

To find out the details about how and why a Jew could marry a Nazi during the war, then you're going to have to read this book, I've said quite enough on the plot. Obviously since it's an autobiography we know that Edith survived, but what about the others - her family and friends? Of course when the war ended things didn't suddenly go back to normal - nothing was ever going to be the same again. Edith talks about her struggles of coming to terms with life after the war (not to mention going back to her old identity after pretending to be someone else for so long), and coming to terms with who she became.

More Thoughts

One theme which shone through the book I felt was the generosity of people, and how they pulled together for survival. For instance the sending of food parcels when they had so little themselves. People putting their lives in danger for the sake of others, but also the huge impact that simple gestures of kindness can have.

Then of course there's the issue which we probably all struggle with. How could normal everyday people show such hatred towards the Jews? However, Edith does not dwell on this (or on bitter thoughts), and she also shows the side of those non-Jews who were instrumental in her survival. What really is quite shocking is how unaware people really were of what was going on in the concentration camps.

Obviously the book is hardgoing at times, and I'll admit to a tear or two along the way, particularly at the end when I had a chance to reflect on things. I really warmed to Edith - she writes with no self-pity whatsoever, where someone who has been through so much, so easily could be. As I read the book I felt that I really got the sense of some of her emotions (although of course no one can actually understand unless they were there) - in particular the fear of being in hiding (and of being caught - constantly), her guilt of being in hiding while others were going through worse than her, but mainly just her sheer strength and determination, and her love for her daughter Angela.

Final Thoughts

I have read a lot of these modern 'sob story' autobiographies, and while they are all harrowing in their own ways, I feel that there is very little that compares with the horrors of the Holocaust. I think more than anything, it's the sheer scale of the suffering that makes it so horrific. Therefore I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Holocaust and in autobiographies.

Edith Hahn died in March this year (2009). I am glad that she chose to share her story with the world - to say it was interesting might sound a bit insensitive, but it was certainly thought-provoking. I have found online that the book was made into a film in 2003 - I will make a point of looking out for it!

I just want to finish with this particular line which stayed with my after I had read the book - it just goes to show the lasting impact of such a terrible time:
"What you see is a mask of calm and civility. Inside, always, forever, I am still weeping." (p.280)

 

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