100 Cigarettes and a Bottle of Vodka: A Memoir

by Arthur Schaller

Winner of the Canadian Jewish Book Award 2000 100 cigarettes and a bottle of vodka - the reward in German-occupied Poland for turning in a Jew. Arthur Schaller was eleven when Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Along with the rest of the Jewish population of Warsaw, he and his family were confined in the Ghetto. His father had escaped to Soviet-occupied territory, so Arthur, his mother, and his brother struggled to survive in increasingly desperate conditions. When Arthur's mother was rounded up by the Nazis, a family friend orchestrated Arthur's daring escape to the other side of the Ghetto wall, where, until the end of the war, he posed as a Catholic orphan, working as a cowherd, moving from farm to farm to avoid detection. Drawing on his love for his family, his passion for music - his mother's legacy - and his simple yet powerful faith, Arthur Schaller found the strength to endure.

Genres: History

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very hard to imagine the lengths this Jewish Polish boy had to go to in order to survive World War II. He changed his name, worked as a cowherd where he slept in a cold barn and had no shoes, and watched from afar as his precious Warsaw burned. Once separated from his family his thoughts were always to get back to them. In later years he lived in Toronto and managed to put this story out so it would not die with him.

[Dan Stern · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title comes from the fact that the reward in German occupied Poland for turning in a Jew was just that - 100 cigarettes and a bottle of vodka. Absolutely marvelous memoir of a young teenage boy who managed to survive, all on his own, by smarts, courage and sometimes, sheer luck. His music saved him more than once, and I was astonished, that once he reached Canada, he did not continue in that vein. The kindness of strangers, and the fact that he was blond, helped him many times. And the facts he learned about cows are amusing and interesting. They are not so dumb as we think, it seems.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

a quick and easy read, recounting a terrifying and tumultuous series of years from the authors childhood. despite the horrors of the time, the author continued to believe in the goodness of people amidst the evil perpetuated against himself, his family, and those of his faith

[Susan Visser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my friend's dad! It is a memorial from his time during the war in Warsaw Poland. Not a great place to be Jewish, so he was forced to leave his family at age 14 to survive. He survived quite well since he had fair hair and blue eyes and learned Catholic prayers easily. His courage was outstanding as he regularly traded goods with Nazi officers and played music for everyone. His music talents were transferred to his daughter who is a professional harpist.

I rated this 2 because I was hoping for more insight into the period of time, but given Arthur's age during this time period, it makes perfect sense that the book is how it is.

[Romadare · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a story of courage, strength and survival. The author was but a teenager at the time. Although there were some decent people (some more than others), that helped him along the way; he fended for himself. Truly remarkable.

[Love · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I did not have to rate this one..it does not feel right as I am choosing to put it on the do not finish pile. Just not feeling this one..