In 1939, as the Nazi occupation grew from threat to reality, the Jewish population throughout Europe faced heart-wrenching decisions — to flee and lose their homes or to go into hiding, hoping against all odds to avoid the fate of being discovered. Holocaust survivor Flory A. Van Beek faced this terrible choice, and in this poignant testament of hope she takes us on her personal journey into one … one of history’s darkest hours.
Only a teenage girl when the Nazis invaded her neutral homeland of Holland, Flory watched the only life she had ever known disappear. Tearfully leaving her family, Flory tried to escape on the infamous SS Simon Bolivar passenger ship with Felix, the young Jewish man from Germany who would later become her husband. Their voyage brought not safety but more peril as their ship was blown up by Nazi planted mines, one of the first passenger ships destroyed by the Germans during World War II, sending nearly all of its passengers to a watery end. Miraculously, both Flory and Felix survived.
After recovering from their injuries in England, they returned to their homeland, overjoyed to be reunited with their families yet shocked to discover their beloved Holland a much-changed place. As the Nazi grip tightened, they were forced into hiding. Sheltered by compassionate strangers in confined quarters, cut off from the outside world and their relatives, they faced hunger and the stress of daily life shadowed by the ever-present threat of certain death. Yet they also discovered, with the remarkable and brave families who sacrificed their own safety to help keep Flory and Felix alive, a set of friends that remain as close as family to this day.
A tribute to family, faith, and the power of good in the face of disparate evil, this gripping account captures the terror of the Holocaust, the courage of those who risked their lives to protect their fellow compatriots, and the faith of those who, against all odds, managed to survive.
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This was a very well written book by someone who lived through the horrors of the German occupation of Holland during the war. I was captivated by her experiences and the level of their endurance to survive such difficult circumstances. The dutch people gathered together to help one another even under very dangerous conditions which is something …
I have just finished reading and I’m still under the spell of this story! It’s a memoir which everyone needs to read, regardless of their interest in the history of particular era as it demonstrates not only the strength of the human spirit under the most terrifying of circumstances but reveals a truly admirable bravery of the people who refused …
The story need to told of how the people of the Netherlands suffered during World War II
I was immediately drawn into the characters lives & found it difficult to put the book (iPad!) down!
Flory is such a strong, inspirational woman. Great read
Very well written for a first time author. Factual and riveting.
It was a very sad time in History. The characters in the book were brave and original. I loved the book but it was quite sad at times. The young couple Felix and Flory were great. The bravery of the citizens that helped them at the expense of their own death and that of their families was commendable. Very well written.
Always good to read a story about people overcoming sad set of circumstances. Flory’s story was well organized, well written.
Although this story is sad, it ends triumphantly. A testimony to the hope and survivalbilty of the human soul.
Very good. Really held my interest.
I would recommend this book to others who like to read about the Holocaust. It was very interesting.
True story and a real page turner. Both sad and happy and a reminder of both the horrific things that happened inWWII to the Jews and Jewish sympathizers as well as the brave acts of kindness, too. An excellent read.
People should remember what Jews and Catholics endured, the horrors of the occupied Holland and the human spirit to survive against all odds during wartime antics. A great read from and most sincerely courageous young girl.
Fascinating account of a realistic experience of WWII
I loved the history of the Netherlands during WWII and the bravery of the people.
Inspiring story of survival in the Netherlands during the German invasion. In spite of the danger, brave Dutch neighbors help to hide Jewish families.
This is an excellent account of how a family survived WWII and the Nazi hunt . Told by the actual survives based on diaries they wrote for 6 plus years you get an insight into life in hiding and the stress it brings. Excellent story
I felt a connection to each of the characters in the story. My daughter in law’s Mother is from Holland.. she was born in1942. Although her parents were Christian her grandfather was taken to work at one of the horrible camps. He escaped two times. This was near and dear to read
It showed the best and the worst of humans. The Dutch people were so brave. It also gave new insight into the Holocaust.
For some reason there was no response when I tried to give stars.
I read many stories of the a Holocaust. This was an inspiring story.