As World War II approaches, two families run for their lives – and for the future of all they hold dear.1930: As raids and violent arrests sweep through their Crimean village, two families are forced to make desperate choices in order to keep themselves—and their hope—alive.The Pfeiffers get out as quickly as they can, braving a last-minute escape in the dead of night. Their friends the Scholzes … Their friends the Scholzes are less lucky. Captured and transported to labour camps in the icy Far North, the future seems a bleak, dark nightmare for the couple and their three children.
As the 1930s march towards the inevitable horror of war, and Europe is engulfed in hostility and persecution, the Pfeiffers find there is only so long—and so far—you can run before someone uncovers your past…
In their darkest hours, these two families must do everything—anything—to survive. Will they ever find peace in the new world order?
The first in a two-part touching and authentic family saga about a hitherto little-known chapter in history.
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What a heartwrenching story into the lives of families and the way they were treated by the Soviets. Everything is taken from these families but how their love for each other helps them survive their horrible situation. I was unaware of the experiences many people endured leading up to WWII.
This was a well written book and you are drawn into the story and you will be invested in the lives of these two families. Their strength and determination to do everything possible to survive is amazing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Forced From Their Homes
This is the story of two separate German families from a Crimean village. As WWII begins the Soviet Union is harassing, arresting, and reassigning those that do not agree with their party, the Germans’ that live in Soviet Territory. It worsens as the war begins and becomes more heated.
The first family the Scholz family consists of the Father Wilhelm, the mother Anna, their son Erich, their daughter Yvo, and the priest’s daughter they took in Rita.
After the Priest that lives next door is pulled from his home and murdered by the Security Commission men, Anna Scholz takes in his daughter Rita. A Russian family moves in next door in the house of the priest. Soon the Security Council came knocking on their door and were given 1/2 hour to pack as they were being relocated to Luza in the Republic of Komi in the far north. This was because Wilhelm did not agree to turn his land over to the Security Council to be used as a Kolkhoz (Collective Farm). The family must leave behind everything except their suitcase and go to their new home in the far north. This is only the first of the times they will be relocated. Their journeys and their trials as Wilhelm is arrested more than one is told in their story.
The second family the Pfeiffer family consists of the father Samuel, the mother, Hilde, their son Harri, and their daughter Emma.
After the arrest and murder of his brother Samuel and Hilde are worried that the family will feel repercussions due to his brother being labeled a traitor. A few nights later a friend knocks at their door and lets Samuel know that he overheard a conversation and that Samuel needed to leave as they were coming to arrest him that night. Samuel flees the village leaving his family behind.
Samuel hitches a ride on a freight train and goes south Samuel’s friend give Harri a letter as he is going to school one morning. After school his mother reads the letter and tells the children they will join their father on Christmas vacation as it will be less obvious if they do it over the holidays. This is the first time they will move and not the last. Since Samuel is now an enemy wanted by the Soviets it catches up to him more than once and they have to move more times and start over. This book tells the story of their adventures as they elude the Soviet Police.
This book tells of families an of their love for each other. It tells of the horrible way they were treated by the Soviets. They were families without a home. The Soviets thought they were spies because they were German and the German’s though they were traitors because they were living in Soviet Territory.
The book will make you laugh, make you cry, but you will never forget the courage they show as they survive in whatever situation is thrown at them and as they start over again and again from nothing leaving all their belongings behind.
The story was interesting, inspiring and page turning. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Ella Zeiss, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book.