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Hitler, Stalin, vader en moeder
Een familiegeschiedenis
Daniel Finkelsteins moeder Mirjam was een dochter van de Duitse Alfred Wiener, een van de eerste personen die het existentiële gevaar van Hitler voor de joden Wiener begon al in 1933 met een gedetailleerde inventarisatie van nazimisdaden. Uiteindelijk vertrok de familie naar Amsterdam en vervolgens wilden ze naar Londen vluchten, maar toen vielen de Duitsers Nederland binnen. De hele familie werd opgepakt en naar Bergen-Belsen gestuurd.
Finkelsteins vader Ludwik werd geboren in de Poolse stad Lvov (het huidige Lviv in Oekraïne), als enig kind van een welvarende joodse familie. In 1939 werden hij en zijn gezin opgepakt door de communisten en naar een Siberische goelag gestuurd. Ludwik verrichtte daar dwangarbeid op een boerderij en ze overleefden de ijskoude winters in een piepklein huisje dat ze bouwden van koeienmest.
In Hitler, Stalin, vader en moeder vertelt Finkelstein het ontroerende en soms huiveringwekkende verhaal van zijn ouders. Het is een verhaal over vervolging en overleven en over de bijna onvoorstelbare moed van twee gewone families.
Daniel Finkelsteins moeder Mirjam was een dochter van de Duitse Alfred Wiener, een van de eerste personen die het existentiële gevaar van Hitler voor de joden Wiener begon al in 1933 met een gedetailleerde inventarisatie van nazimisdaden. Uiteindelijk vertrok de familie naar Amsterdam en vervolgens wilden ze naar Londen vluchten, maar toen vielen de Duitsers Nederland binnen. De hele familie werd opgepakt en naar Bergen-Belsen gestuurd.
Finkelsteins vader Ludwik werd geboren in de Poolse stad Lvov (het huidige Lviv in Oekraïne), als enig kind van een welvarende joodse familie. In 1939 werden hij en zijn gezin opgepakt door de communisten en naar een Siberische goelag gestuurd. Ludwik verrichtte daar dwangarbeid op een boerderij en ze overleefden de ijskoude winters in een piepklein huisje dat ze bouwden van koeienmest.
In Hitler, Stalin, vader en moeder vertelt Finkelstein het ontroerende en soms huiveringwekkende verhaal van zijn ouders. Het is een verhaal over vervolging en overleven en over de bijna onvoorstelbare moed van twee gewone families.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
March 26, 2024
I listened to Two Roads Home: Hitler, Stalin, and the Miraculous Survival of My Family by Daniel Finkelstein. The audiobook is narrated superbly by the author. I love it when an author narrates their work.
Finkelstein's family history during WWII is an incredible story about resilience, grit, determination, and survival against all odds. His mother's family fled Germany to Amsterdam. Unfortunately, his mother was the only survivor of her family during the Holocaust. When school segregation occurred, his mother attended the same Jewish school as Anne and Margot Frank.
Finkelstein's father was deported from Poland to work in a Soviet labor camp. Against all odds his mother and father survived Hitler and Stalin's reign of terror and later met and fell in love.
Finkelstein's mother was adamant that we must never forget the atrocities that were committed and we should be vigilant about ensuring history doesn't repeat itself.
Finkelstein's family history during WWII is an incredible story about resilience, grit, determination, and survival against all odds. His mother's family fled Germany to Amsterdam. Unfortunately, his mother was the only survivor of her family during the Holocaust. When school segregation occurred, his mother attended the same Jewish school as Anne and Margot Frank.
Finkelstein's father was deported from Poland to work in a Soviet labor camp. Against all odds his mother and father survived Hitler and Stalin's reign of terror and later met and fell in love.
Finkelstein's mother was adamant that we must never forget the atrocities that were committed and we should be vigilant about ensuring history doesn't repeat itself.
August 3, 2023
As time moves us further from the appalling events of the 1930s/40s it is critical that they are not forgotten or trivialised. This book is a stark reminder and as such is essential reading for everyone. Personally I would want this to be made a part of our essential teaching curriculum. The shocking events impacting 2 families and the extraordinary circumstances by which 2 youngsters survived to become the parents of the author are carefully described. Poignant personal details help remind the reader that each one of the millions exterminated by both Hitler and Stalin had a story, a family, a future taken away in horrific circumstances that must never be allowed to happen again.
February 23, 2024
I found this audio book very, very interesting and moving. It was literally incredible that somehow members of this family survived – not just one but two of the most evil dictators of the last century.
Although I have read many books about the Holocaust, there were many new things to learn. For example, I had not known about the Soviet abduction of women and children from occupied Poland and Ukraine to be sent to Siberian workcamps.
This book puts names and personalities to some of those who suffered and died in the Holocaust – and those who survived against all the odds. Six million dead Jews is a statistic – here are real people. For me, it was made even more poignant, because the Finkelstein family settled in London, not far from where I live. These are people I could pass on the street.
It is also an apt time to be reminded of the horrors of antisemitism, and where it can lead. We live in a Jewish area of London. The synagogue two streets away has to have security guards, children from Jewish schools are being abused on the streets, Jews are being attacked for being Jewish. Jews here are feeling frightened and threatened. They are not responsible for what is happening in Gaza – they are British. But many know people in Israel who were taken hostage or murdered by Hamas.
Similarly, the adults in the book saw themselves as Germans, Poles, Ukrainian … first, and Jewish second – but it was only on their ethnic/religious identity that they were judged and sentenced. Not by their accomplishments, their service to their country, their value as human beings.
All racism is bad. As is all religious discrimination. There has been an upsurge in anti-muslim attacks in Britain lately too.
I listened to this book – ably narrated by the author. It comes with a pdf of family trees, quotes and references, so you don’t miss out on anything by just hearing the book.
I really highly recommend this book – an inspiring true story of resilience and survival – and a warning.
Although I have read many books about the Holocaust, there were many new things to learn. For example, I had not known about the Soviet abduction of women and children from occupied Poland and Ukraine to be sent to Siberian workcamps.
This book puts names and personalities to some of those who suffered and died in the Holocaust – and those who survived against all the odds. Six million dead Jews is a statistic – here are real people. For me, it was made even more poignant, because the Finkelstein family settled in London, not far from where I live. These are people I could pass on the street.
It is also an apt time to be reminded of the horrors of antisemitism, and where it can lead. We live in a Jewish area of London. The synagogue two streets away has to have security guards, children from Jewish schools are being abused on the streets, Jews are being attacked for being Jewish. Jews here are feeling frightened and threatened. They are not responsible for what is happening in Gaza – they are British. But many know people in Israel who were taken hostage or murdered by Hamas.
Similarly, the adults in the book saw themselves as Germans, Poles, Ukrainian … first, and Jewish second – but it was only on their ethnic/religious identity that they were judged and sentenced. Not by their accomplishments, their service to their country, their value as human beings.
All racism is bad. As is all religious discrimination. There has been an upsurge in anti-muslim attacks in Britain lately too.
I listened to this book – ably narrated by the author. It comes with a pdf of family trees, quotes and references, so you don’t miss out on anything by just hearing the book.
I really highly recommend this book – an inspiring true story of resilience and survival – and a warning.
July 7, 2023
I'm going to be thinking about this for a while.
Devastating but extremely powerful.
Devastating but extremely powerful.
November 16, 2023
interesting family memoir about survivors of WW2 Holland and Poland and their journey to North London , starts with the author's grandparents in late 19th century to the modern day as you follow one part fleeing Germany to Holland and the other part of the family leaving eastern poland by the soviets to work in labour/farm camps.
September 15, 2023
It is a must read. WWII was started by Hitler and Stalin, both killed millions of people, both deported millions, and this is the story of a girl who survived the Holocaust and a boy who survived deportation in Siberia. This amazing account is told by their son.
March 25, 2025
This is an exceptional story and must have taken the author some time to complete as it's such a tragic and traumatic story.
I'll be honest I knew of the Polish plight in WW2, but I had no real understanding of it nor how awful it was. The author makes a very valid point about how it's been 'glossed' over / forgotten as the Nazi crimes were being dealt with at Nuremberg.
The writing style it made the "story" very readable (or listenable in my case!)
I really am looking forward to my Bookclub next week to hear the groups views...
I'll be honest I knew of the Polish plight in WW2, but I had no real understanding of it nor how awful it was. The author makes a very valid point about how it's been 'glossed' over / forgotten as the Nazi crimes were being dealt with at Nuremberg.
The writing style it made the "story" very readable (or listenable in my case!)
I really am looking forward to my Bookclub next week to hear the groups views...
April 20, 2025
A fascinating and moving account of the incredible suffering and journeys of his mother's and father's respective families during the 2nd World War.
His mother's family at the hands of the Nazis and his father's from Stalin's communists.
Their survival is an absolute marvel.
His mother's family at the hands of the Nazis and his father's from Stalin's communists.
Their survival is an absolute marvel.
June 25, 2023
An essential addition to the historiography of the Holocaust. The very fact that Daniel Finkelstein's parents managed to survive the joint endeavour of the Soviets and Nazi's to eliminate the Jewish faith and for Finkelstein to be able to tell their story is incredible. I imagine this book will become important to the further teaching of the Holocaust on both an individual human level, and on a more socio-political one too.
June 10, 2023
An important and epic account of amazing survival against the odds when Hitler and Stalin threatened both sides of the author’s family. I found it gripping, moving and emotional and I am full of admiration for the resilience, fortitude and humanity of its central characters. And grateful that Daniel Finkelstein has documented these remarkable stories.
August 17, 2024
As someone with a maternal grandmother who survived the horrors of Horodenka and Lwow, living the rest of her life with her fake identity and staying silent for nearly 40 years, this book was wonderfully detailed on life in Lwow as well as on the efforts it took to get such a fake, life saving passport. The stories are both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Very grateful this was published.
July 23, 2023
Outstanding read.
November 21, 2023
Astonishing book, very moving and learned a lot
October 31, 2025
I can’t emphasise enough how important this book is, particularly in the context of current global affairs. Everyone should read it. An extraordinarily powerful and moving book. I can’t begin to imagine the time and effort it took to write it, but the result is a masterpiece.
December 1, 2023
Where to start!
I have always been fascinated with the Holocaust and aspects of WW2 so this book was an obvious choice for me. Despite my interest there are many many gaps in my knowledge. This book did an amazing job at filling some of those gaps with interesting and perhaps lesser-known stories and events. Through the telling of his family’s story, we hear about some remarkably compassionate and brave individuals who saved lives during this time. Having never heard of many of them, I feel this book does a small justice at recognising them and their actions. Forever consigned to written word, never to be forgotten.
I feel privileged to have heard the story of Daniel’s family. An unimaginably remarkable story about unremarkable people. Such is the paradox of many great disasters.
I already know I will be re-reading this book in years to come.
Ps, Daniel’s mother’s comment about Justin Bieber and Anne Frank was my favourite.
I have always been fascinated with the Holocaust and aspects of WW2 so this book was an obvious choice for me. Despite my interest there are many many gaps in my knowledge. This book did an amazing job at filling some of those gaps with interesting and perhaps lesser-known stories and events. Through the telling of his family’s story, we hear about some remarkably compassionate and brave individuals who saved lives during this time. Having never heard of many of them, I feel this book does a small justice at recognising them and their actions. Forever consigned to written word, never to be forgotten.
I feel privileged to have heard the story of Daniel’s family. An unimaginably remarkable story about unremarkable people. Such is the paradox of many great disasters.
I already know I will be re-reading this book in years to come.
Ps, Daniel’s mother’s comment about Justin Bieber and Anne Frank was my favourite.
September 8, 2024
Best book I have read this year I could not put it down but didn't want to finish it.
The story is so unbelievable it feels like it should be fiction but it isn't. This is key for us to remember. It's so important as we continue to live in a world divided in so many ways to read and learn about the awful experiences people lived through in the 20th century.
The stories of Marjim and Ludwik will stay with you.
The story is so unbelievable it feels like it should be fiction but it isn't. This is key for us to remember. It's so important as we continue to live in a world divided in so many ways to read and learn about the awful experiences people lived through in the 20th century.
The stories of Marjim and Ludwik will stay with you.
June 30, 2024
A powerful book so beautifully written.
A story of love, terror and immense strength.
My favourite line from the book in the last chapter is " In the battle with Hitler and Stalin, the victory belongs to my Mum and Dad".
A story of love, terror and immense strength.
My favourite line from the book in the last chapter is " In the battle with Hitler and Stalin, the victory belongs to my Mum and Dad".
January 23, 2024
Interesting and informative.
September 24, 2024
Every now and then you come across a book that you will be thinking about for a long long time, this is one such book. Daniel Finkelstein has done us all a service in researching and writing this book. I must just point out that I listened to it via Audible. It was expertly read by the Author and I am sure at times it must have been very hard for him to do so.
The book is essentially the story of the two sides of DFs family a German/Dutch side hounded by the Nazis and a Polish side hounded by Stalin. Both his parents suffered as children/teenagers by the evil madness inflicted by both Dictators. As DF points out the deeds of the Nazis are well known but not so much the doings of the Russians under Stalin who to be honest with his Gulags and killing fields did much the same as Hitler. Both side of DF family were intelligent, cultured, clever, gentle, decent people who if let would have contributed greatly to Germany and Poland. They constantly showed strength, compassion and decency. His Grandfather Dr Winer set up the Winer library and was waring against the Nazis long before they really got going. He is just one of the Grandparents who's story is told.
The book is well researched and tells the stories of his parents with a no nonsense approach. I am so glad DF Mother and Father got to eat crusty rolls in a supermarket cafe in Hendon.
The book is essentially the story of the two sides of DFs family a German/Dutch side hounded by the Nazis and a Polish side hounded by Stalin. Both his parents suffered as children/teenagers by the evil madness inflicted by both Dictators. As DF points out the deeds of the Nazis are well known but not so much the doings of the Russians under Stalin who to be honest with his Gulags and killing fields did much the same as Hitler. Both side of DF family were intelligent, cultured, clever, gentle, decent people who if let would have contributed greatly to Germany and Poland. They constantly showed strength, compassion and decency. His Grandfather Dr Winer set up the Winer library and was waring against the Nazis long before they really got going. He is just one of the Grandparents who's story is told.
The book is well researched and tells the stories of his parents with a no nonsense approach. I am so glad DF Mother and Father got to eat crusty rolls in a supermarket cafe in Hendon.
July 19, 2024
A must read for everyone - 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having studied German to (postgraduate) degree level, I feel I am somewhat well-educated on WW2 history, especially from a Germany and Austria perspective; however, solely out of ignorance, I remain less-informed about ongoings in Holland (other than Anne Frank) and Poland (Soviet) so this family memoir was a well-written, well-structured & moving account of two (Jewish) family’s journeys throughout the war and their respective persecution in the different countries, finding each other in the end.
While at times I found keeping up with the extended family tree & jumping between accounts of different family members between chapters slightly confusing - insofar as forgetting names & who was who etc - this never interrupted the flow of the story, took away from its meaning or its comprehension.
‘Easy read’ is the wrong term here, but the book flowed extremely well & I longed for the respective families throughout, appreciated their journies to London & felt the book ended with some reflective and poignant reminders about the impact of politics - still remaining applicable in today’s world.
May we never forget.
Having studied German to (postgraduate) degree level, I feel I am somewhat well-educated on WW2 history, especially from a Germany and Austria perspective; however, solely out of ignorance, I remain less-informed about ongoings in Holland (other than Anne Frank) and Poland (Soviet) so this family memoir was a well-written, well-structured & moving account of two (Jewish) family’s journeys throughout the war and their respective persecution in the different countries, finding each other in the end.
While at times I found keeping up with the extended family tree & jumping between accounts of different family members between chapters slightly confusing - insofar as forgetting names & who was who etc - this never interrupted the flow of the story, took away from its meaning or its comprehension.
‘Easy read’ is the wrong term here, but the book flowed extremely well & I longed for the respective families throughout, appreciated their journies to London & felt the book ended with some reflective and poignant reminders about the impact of politics - still remaining applicable in today’s world.
May we never forget.
January 5, 2024
A remarkable book to start off the New Year, and one that will stay with me forever. Finkelstein's family history shows in personal terms the impact of the Nazis' genocidal destruction of Jews throughout Europe. The author's mother and father were very young when their comfortable lives in Poland and Germany were smashed apart. He tells the story of their parents, the two sets of grandparents, vividly depicting their determination and helplessness under brutal German and Russian regimes. The sacrifices they made to protect their children and the degradation they faced have the plot of a brutal thriller, but Finkelstein has managed to tell their story with grace and dignity. His maternal grandparents, who ran the world's first research centre on the Nazi party and whose diligence later helped convict war criminals, would be proud of their grandson's care and clarity in recounting their extraordinary lives.
October 16, 2025
Brilliant storytelling. A must read. The realness of the characters slaps you in the face. The tragedy is overwhelming yet hope compels you to follow their journey until the end.
Introduced me to Alfred Weiner’s work and it’s digital archive “The Weiner Holocaust Library”:The world’s largest and oldest collection of original archival material on pre-war Jewish life, the growing Anti-semitism towards Jews and the growth of the Nazi party and the subsequent consequences.
Introduced me to Alfred Weiner’s work and it’s digital archive “The Weiner Holocaust Library”:The world’s largest and oldest collection of original archival material on pre-war Jewish life, the growing Anti-semitism towards Jews and the growth of the Nazi party and the subsequent consequences.
June 1, 2025
A must read if you are interested in the true stories of survivors from World War II. This story tells how two families, one victim of the Nazis, the other of the Soviets somehow were delivered from the jaws of evil and death. What is probably the most poignant point in the book made by the author is that his mother's story related to the Nazi regime was recounted many times with interest from others. But the public interest in Russian atrocities and Stalin's crimes never materialized. As he points out in his notes nobody spoke of the Katyn murders (murders of the Polish military leaders that was lied about and hidden for years by the Russians), hardly anyone knows of the Polish deportations that his father's family experienced. There are many pictures in the back of the back along with extensive notes and an exhaustive index.
April 28, 2025
Quite disappointed by this book. After reading so many amazing reviews, I thought it could build on Hadley Freeman's amazing House of Glass, but I just found this quite thick to get through if that's the right word? Too much on the biographies of the key characters and facts of the period rather than a story and feeling which is what I was hoping for given it was Finkelstein's family.
September 1, 2024
An excellent memoir! Written without sentimentality, this book states only facts leading the reader to decide what to think and feel. I also found it extremely interesting: I learned a lot about the role of some Jewish people who helped fight against the Nazis (the author's grandfather) in cooperation with England and America. What about the Soviet Union??? I was not aware at all of some of the facts! The memoir was well structured: switching chapters about his mother's parents'lives, then about his father's side. This book actually reads as a novel and remains fascinating from the beginning till the end! A lot of pictures of the author's family illustrate their life story, making it even more vivid... Highly recommended!
August 8, 2025
3⭐️ now this is a really unfair criticism and I think it would likely be a 5 star if I’d have read it and not listened to it bc the content is incredible BUT I found the narrator’s voice so monotone that my mind kept wondering and I couldn’t concentrate on what was actually being said majority of the time 🫠
October 9, 2024
Have to admit defeat. I only read a quarter.
In a nutshell -Hard work, too muddled - swopping between the chapters and impossible to keep track of the characters- far too long and much too descriptive. It wasn't for me.
In a nutshell -Hard work, too muddled - swopping between the chapters and impossible to keep track of the characters- far too long and much too descriptive. It wasn't for me.
March 30, 2024
A powerful, engaging and beautifully human story of the impact of world events on one family.
July 6, 2024
this was the greatest book I read in a while. brilliant storytelling.
October 12, 2023
This book is all about the jews family who is survivors of holocaust, its all about the journey especially the story of parents who want to survive just because to keep safe of thier heirs. it is all about the hope,dream, psychology and himanity. through out the book one can say wow or some time one can dismay.Yep,its all about living thoughts which is invisible but you can feel it.
This book is plethora of events which compelled and usher you towards the places where holocaust took place. Few lines jotted like visuals that helps you to think about the people from different perspective. Horrendous scene when Jewish people are loaded into the truck carrying animals and made to flee.
Jwes were not getting sufficiant amount of food there,everything were countable and people were getting weak. later on what happened every one were started thinking bout food,talking about food dreamt about food,even Grete has jotted down her favourite reciepe in paper. When Grete's birthday came in March 26, 1944,and she turned 49 year old lady then one of her friends gave her three potatoes in gift.
I came to know more about the Lados group which is as important as other group. They have created a group which used to rescue jews from holocaust. They have saved thousands of lives. You will get to know how Lados Group even printed people's passports which became a big business for Hugli. The Lados Group's perilous rescue being in polish embassy is gobsmacked. Sitting the whole night asking the Jewish people, filling the details in the form and getting the passport done for rescue. When the Hugli officials came to know about it then their credentials got in punt.
Many characters and events throughout the book will aowstruck you but there is one character who shook me the most, whose name is Vera Ivanovna whose sympathy for Ludwik was very obvious. During the Bolshevik revolution, both her parents had been shot in front of her, and later her daughter had died of starvation during the famine caused by stalin’s policy of farm collectivisation. It was poignant moment while i was reading about Katyn massacre, during the stalin's regime almost 22000 murders took place of polish officers.
Grete were expecting palsetine exchange certificate so that she can save atleast Mirjam,Eva and Ruth,one can assume how worse situation would have been there.For any parents , seeing their children grow up is an emotional moment. There is a moment in that when Ruth is getting 16 years old and there is a very poignant conversation between mother Grete and Ruth. It is important to read this book to comprehend the humanity and the feelings of parents. I came to know more about the sympathiser’s life and their circumstances in which they have bengined towards the jews,whether it will be Lados group,Camille and Hugli's local people.
This book will makes you more human…
This book is plethora of events which compelled and usher you towards the places where holocaust took place. Few lines jotted like visuals that helps you to think about the people from different perspective. Horrendous scene when Jewish people are loaded into the truck carrying animals and made to flee.
Jwes were not getting sufficiant amount of food there,everything were countable and people were getting weak. later on what happened every one were started thinking bout food,talking about food dreamt about food,even Grete has jotted down her favourite reciepe in paper. When Grete's birthday came in March 26, 1944,and she turned 49 year old lady then one of her friends gave her three potatoes in gift.
I came to know more about the Lados group which is as important as other group. They have created a group which used to rescue jews from holocaust. They have saved thousands of lives. You will get to know how Lados Group even printed people's passports which became a big business for Hugli. The Lados Group's perilous rescue being in polish embassy is gobsmacked. Sitting the whole night asking the Jewish people, filling the details in the form and getting the passport done for rescue. When the Hugli officials came to know about it then their credentials got in punt.
Many characters and events throughout the book will aowstruck you but there is one character who shook me the most, whose name is Vera Ivanovna whose sympathy for Ludwik was very obvious. During the Bolshevik revolution, both her parents had been shot in front of her, and later her daughter had died of starvation during the famine caused by stalin’s policy of farm collectivisation. It was poignant moment while i was reading about Katyn massacre, during the stalin's regime almost 22000 murders took place of polish officers.
Grete were expecting palsetine exchange certificate so that she can save atleast Mirjam,Eva and Ruth,one can assume how worse situation would have been there.For any parents , seeing their children grow up is an emotional moment. There is a moment in that when Ruth is getting 16 years old and there is a very poignant conversation between mother Grete and Ruth. It is important to read this book to comprehend the humanity and the feelings of parents. I came to know more about the sympathiser’s life and their circumstances in which they have bengined towards the jews,whether it will be Lados group,Camille and Hugli's local people.
This book will makes you more human…
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews