Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides after the Holocaust

by Robin Judd

Facing the harrowing task of rebuilding a life in the wake of the Holocaust, many Jewish survivors, community and religious leaders, and Allied soldiers viewed marriage between Jewish women and military personnel as a way to move forward after unspeakable loss. Proponents believed that these unions were more than just a ticket out of war-torn they would help the Jewish people repopulate after the attempted annihilation of European Jewry.

Historian Robin Judd, whose grandmother survived the Holocaust and married an American soldier after liberation, introduces us to the Jewish women who lived through genocide and went on to wed American, Canadian, and British military personnel after the war. She offers an intimate portrait of how these unions emerged and developed—from meeting and courtship to marriage and immigration to life in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom—and shows how they helped shape the postwar world by touching thousands of lives, including those of the chaplains who officiated their weddings, the Allied authorities whose policy decisions structured the couples' fates, and the bureaucrats involved in immigration and acculturation. The stories Judd tells are at once heartbreaking and restorative, and she vividly captures how the exhilaration of the brides' early romances coexisted with survivor's guilt, grief, and apprehension at the challenges of starting a new life in a new land.

Genres: Nonfiction, Jewish, World War II

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Robin Judd is a professor and faculty member of the history department at The Ohio State University.

Reviews

[Justice Tinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides After The Holocaust” was not only well-researched and well-sourced but a book that was written to be enjoyed outside of the academy. To write an academic book that easily reads is an accomplishment, especially when exploring such a topic as Jewish War Brides. Robin Judd does a splendid job with her writing and also with how she situates herself and the story of her grandparents within the narratives surrounding these stories. She recognizes how complacent her silence was in not letting these stories be told and thus she put pen to paper or rather finger to keyboard.

I have always been drawn to war bride stories and this book was one that allowed me to learn so much more just in general about the topic. But specifically, learning about the Jewish War Bride experience has been informative in ways that I didn’t expect as someone not raised in or around Jewish settings. The topic of Zionism and how it solidified the bonds of the Jewish War Brides to their Jewish-American Husbands was something I didn’t ever think about until it was addressed in this book. I also found it interesting to learn about in our current context and how the draw to Zionism came from many of these Holocaust survivors having nobody and longing for a feeling of safety. Also, the fact that most (maybe all?) of the Jewish War Brides married Jewish men was another thing I didn’t ever think about, which proves my own ignorance or rather lack of historical discussion regarding Jewish Soldiers in WW2. This book and the experiences of these couples deals importantly with the contexts of religion, race and class when thinking about how these war brides struggled building relationships with other war brides who tended to be British Christians. Plus the fact War Bride Organizations were geared towards British Christians thus placing other types of brides to the side.

Overall, Judd’s book has been inspiring as I think of my own academic pursuits and the way in which to write such work. Work that uncovers stories and experiences, a work that sits with the contentions of religion, trauma, political movements, marriage and governmental powers. My only critiques are that as as someone concerned with motherhood, I wish there was more attention given to the mothering of these survivors but also I understand that might be a different topic than the one explored in the book. My other critique is that Chapter 5 felt a bit out of place and when reading it I wondered why these stories were included but after finishing it, I have come to understand the relevance of its inclusion. These two critiques though in my opinion do not impact my opinion of the book.

So glad I was able to get this book for free at the National Women’s Studies Association 2025 Conference!! It sat in my Want-To-Read for a while so being able to have it and read it along with it being GOOD makes me quite happy. Such a good read.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Facing the harrowing task of rebuilding a life in the wake of the Holocaust, many Jewish survivors, community and religious leaders, and Allied soldiers viewed marriage between Jewish women and military personnel as a way to move forward after unspeakable loss. Proponents believed that these unions were more than just a ticket out of war-torn Europe: they would help the Jewish people repopulate after the attempted annihilation of European Jewry.Historian Robin Judd, whose grandmother survived the Holocaust and married an American soldier after liberation, introduces us to the Jewish women who lived through genocide and went on to wed American, Canadian, and British military personnel postwar. She offers an intimate portrait of how these unions emerged and developed—from meeting and courtship to marriage and immigration to life in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom—and shows how they helped shape the postwar world by touching thousands of lives, including those of the chaplains who officiated their weddings, the Allied authorities whose policy decisions structured the couples' fates, and the bureaucrats involved in immigration and acculturation. Moving into their husbands’ families’ households, many Jewish war brides told heartbreaking stories concerning the suffocating presence of their in-laws, their feelings of foreignness, and their desperate longing for their murdered family members. At the same time, they also talked of hope and possibility. As spouses of current or former military personnel, they had access to unique educational opportunities and support systems, faced fewer difficulties becoming naturalized, and more easily arranged for family members’ sponsorship and emigration. Survivors’ guilt, grief, and apprehension co-existed with the exhilaration of starting a new life in a new land.Gerda Weissmann Klein and Lala Fishman were Jewish war brides who married Jewish servicemen,and subsequently wrote memoirs of their experiences during the Holocaust.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meticulously researched and comprehensive account of Holocaust survivors, mainly women but including some men, who married members of the allied forces after the war and moved to begin a new life in, primarily, the US. The author’s own grandmother was one such bride, which adds another dimension to the story, as Robin Judd can speak with some authority from personal knowledge and has a particular understanding of the challenges faced by these women. Wide-ranging in its scope, the book also chronicles the experiences of the chaplains who presided at the ceremonies and the bureaucrats charged with making it possible for this new life to become established. A valuable and welcome addition to Jewish and Holocaust studies.

[Michael Lewyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, easy-to-read book about World War II "war brides" (that is, women from other countries who American/British/Canadian soldiers met and married at the end of World War II) who happened to be Holocaust survivors.

The one thing I learned from this book is how hard it was for a soldier to marry a foreigner- first they had to get approval from within the armed services (usually from a military chaplain) and then they had to get their new spouse across the seas to their new country (which involved a considerable amount of delay and bureaucracy). To make matters harder, the U.S. and the U.K. both had postwar housing shortages, so new brides often had to live with in-laws for years after marriage.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little surprised at the depth of research and detail that this book provided. It is not simply the story of Jewish war brides, but rather an examination of the whole period in history and how such marriages came about. If you're looking for background knowledge on this topic, this would be an excellent book to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It should be of interest to many.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a moving book. I really enjoyed reading and learning all about the Jewish war brides and their struggles and triumphs after the war.
This is very well researched, as Judd's grandmother was one of these brides, but you can tell that Judd did a lot more research to support the stories.
I enjoyed reading this and think it would make a good book club read, as it has a lot to discuss and take away from it.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

[Gato Negro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very detailed book which was more akin to a textbook than a true novel.
The stories were varied and well documented.
One must be prepared to read personal histories of the holocaust as the subject matter is exceptionally heavy, can be overwhelming, and deserves the utmost attention and respect.

[Margaret Heller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Library Journal.

[DanaA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating academic book for non-academics alike!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that taught me a lot

[ANITA GITMAN · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adjusting to life after war is chaotic & emotionally wrenching

[Markie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides after the Holocaust" by Robin Judd is a poignant and insightful historical account that delves into the lives of Jewish women who survived the Holocaust and went on to marry American, Canadian, and British military personnel after the war. This compelling book sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of post-Holocaust history and explores how these marriages played a significant role in shaping the postwar world.

The author, Robin Judd, brings a personal connection to the subject as her own grandmother survived the Holocaust and married an American soldier after liberation. Through meticulous research and intimate storytelling, Judd introduces readers to the women who faced the harrowing task of rebuilding their lives after the unspeakable loss and trauma of the Holocaust. For many, marriage to military personnel became a hopeful path forward and a chance to repopulate the Jewish community after the attempted annihilation of European Jewry.

The book provides a comprehensive exploration of these unions, from the initial meetings and courtships to the challenges of immigration and acculturation in their new countries. Judd skillfully captures the complex emotions and experiences of these war brides, juxtaposing the exhilaration of newfound romance with the lingering survivor's guilt, grief, and apprehension that accompanied starting a new life in a foreign land.

Through the stories of these war brides, Judd also illuminates the roles of chaplains, Allied authorities, and bureaucrats in shaping the lives of these couples and their families. The historical context adds depth to the narrative, giving readers a broader understanding of the impact of these marriages on the postwar world.

"Between Two Worlds" is a heartrending and restorative account of resilience and hope in the face of unimaginable tragedy. It highlights the strength and determination of these women who found love and began anew amidst the aftermath of the Holocaust.

In conclusion, "Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides after the Holocaust" is a compelling and meticulously researched historical work that sheds light on a significant yet often overlooked aspect of post-Holocaust history. Robin Judd's compassionate storytelling and personal connection to the subject make this book a moving and insightful read. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the enduring impact of love and marriage on the lives of Holocaust survivors and the shaping of the postwar world.