Hostage To War: A True Story by Tatjana Wassiljewa

by Tatjana Wassiljewa

When Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June of 1941, ten-your-old Tatjana Wassiljewa's childhood ended as abruptly as the war between the two countries began. In this remarkable memoir, based on her diary entries, she tells about surviving German bomb attacks and near starvation only to wind up a captive laborer, one of seven million prisoners forced to work in German farms and factories. There, despite constant hunger and backbreaking work, she managed to find friendship and even first love. Readers will be moved by Tatjana's resilience, courage, and persistent faith in humanity during the little-known struggle of Russian civilians during World War II.

Genres: Nonfiction, Holocaust, Memoir, Russia, World War II, Childrens, War

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a young Russian girl, who is deported during WW2, and moved from one forced labor situation to another.
It is a miracle that she survived all that, for years, she was forced to endure.
Another truly heartbreaking account of what the Nazi war machine did to destroy so many lives.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way this book was written. In the beginning, the author, Tanja, wrote in her journal of only happy things which she considered not very exciting to read about. She is in her 5th year of studies in Russia and soon gets caught in the War. (WW2) She writes of the effects of the War and how they are starving because there is no food. She details her struggle to a northern town in Russia that still has corn to trade, but it is a very far journey. She almost dies. She is only a teenager and the hardships she endures take a toll on her and her whole family. One day the German tanks come down her street and take all the girls against their wills by train back to Germany to work in various plants. While they are not in a concentration camp, the notion of being sent to one of them if you fail in your work is always present. A very interesting read about the effects of WW2 on non-Jews.

[F S Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager and it affected me strongly. I read it several times, though I haven't read it in many years - my young neighbour loved it so much I told her to keep it. School history class (at least at the time) made little mention of the enforced slavery of Eastern Europeans by the Nazi Regime, so it was eye-opening in that sense. But what has really stayed with me is Tatianas voice - her determination and hope. It is a small, simply told book but its spareness emphasises the suffering she endured, from starvation to slavery to bombings. Certain strong images will always remain with me, the ending especially, as after all her suffering and hardship Tatiana had to return to live under a suspicious and difficult Soviet government. Young me (and my neighbour) is very glad she chose to tell her story and I wish it was still in print.

[Carlee Gude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hostage of War is a historical book about a young girl living in the Soviet Union when the Germans invade. The book starts out with the main character Tatjana recalling happy memories of her childhood. Tatjana goes through many experiences throughout the war. She survives German bombers, almost dying, and a labor camp. Even though she struggled throughout the war, she managed to find friendship and even love.

I found this book to be very interesting. It is memoir written from the perspective of a young girls’ diary. Tatjana recounts her experiences of the German invasion and all the hardships she had to go through. I found her strength and ability to find love and friendship every inspiring. Even though this book was inspiring, I found it boring. I had trouble getting through the book, because I found it monotone. I did however, like that it was a war book from the perspective of a child. I would suggest this for grade 4th- 6th. It could be used during a world war study in Social Studies. In all honesty, I wouldn’t use this book because I found it too boring.

[Jessica Owsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Campbelle read it and recommended I read it. Now I want all my children to read it.

[booknerd27 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay, but I had trouble really getting into it. Overall the story was amazing and I absolutely loved it. Not my absolute favorite book, but I still loved it!!

[Staci Kemmerle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every step n every breath Tatjana took served a purpose to her final goal!!!

[Valérie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite book ever, I found it in a thrift shop on a random day a couple years ago and I have reread it multiple times since. GO READ THIS BOOK!!!

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the diary of a Russian prisoner of war in Nazi Germany. As such, it seems to me she was very lucky, regardless of her brushes with death. I enjoyed this short read very much- with the exception of the "historic note" at the end, written by the translator. Sorry, but when the Soviet Union collapsed, it didn't mean- and still doesn't mean- freedom and opportunity for the people of Russia. When the author, Tatjana, lamented that the press was lying to the people, Anna Trenter apparently didn't take the hint.

[Cody Gregory]

trash

[Jarod · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her 1920 book, Hostage To War Tatjana Wassiljewa tells a miraculous story of survival with many twists and turns that will keep you on your seat and make you never want to put your book down. Tatjana, a child in the soviet union learns quite quickly how bad war is. The natsie invade the soviet union and Tatjana and her family are forced to do whatever they have to to survive whether that means eat wood or just starving for a whole day. Her dad is deathly ill and her mother is getting weaker and weaker. One day the soviets take her from her house and make her work for them in many factories. She makes severals friends throught her journey and even falls in love. But she always had the thought in the back of her mind, Is Mom and Dad still alive? Throughout the story Tatjana is trying to show how sickening war really is.
There are many parts in this story that show how war is sickening but I think that the one that stands out the most is when Tatjana wakes up to the sound of moaning prisoners lined up on the street. Tatjana’s reactions to this mones I think were stated very clearly when she said, “ War is not just a word. War is terrible and full of blood.” Tatkana is showing her emotions very clearly here. She has been through alot so far and you can tell that she is getting sick of it.
Overall this book was a very good story. I have always been intrigued by wartime stories and this one was one of my favorites. An example of one of the most important parts is here. “Again and again the columns broke down; the wounded couldn’t stay upright. But the guards yelled, ”Silence! Quick, march!” and beat the men on the outside with their rifle butts. This is a part of the story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to keep reading. The author uses lots of explanation marks to show the expression in the mans voice. I recomend this book for anybody who want a really good wartime story.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The high point of this book for me was after the all the hardship Tatiana had been through, which was immense! The joy that all of the different nationalities experienced together when the war ended. It was a brilliant description of it, I felt like I was there.

Then getting off of the first train out of Germany into France - "Michel says 'Pack your things, Tatiana.'
There is nothing to pack. I have nothing. Michel takes me by the hand and we jump down on to the platform of the half ruined station. Michel's eyes sparkle, his face beams. After the bitter years in a strange country and in camps, he is now back on his native soil again. 'Freedom, freedom, long-awaited freedom!' he shouts."

Roll the credits baby! Their country was in a sad state, they didn't have a cent to their name, their possesions were only the cloths on their backs and yet.. They were free and so happy!

Im sure I can learn from that.


It didn't end well I thought, hearing about the sad state of the Soveit Union was slightly interesting but was also slightly disheartening. It just left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Still a really good read though.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always buy and read the books that I find about people who survived the Holocaust or lived through the horrors of World War II. This book is unique to me in that the author describes life in Russia during World War II and afterwards. During the time that Russia was being attacked by the Germans, this girl's family stayed and did not run away because her father was too sick to go with them. As a child, the author walked for days through snow to a town that was supposed to have food (corn). She encountered some terrible people who were using the famine to make money, but she also encountered one person who did help her. That is just a small part of her story. She ended up being separated from her mother and working for the Germans in horrible conditions.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book. What I really liked was seeing WWII through the eyes of a Russian who survived the atrocities of war. Stories like this are always an inspiring look at the resilience of the human spirit. However, I didn't find myself drawn to the author like I normally would be in a true story like this. I'm sure a lot of that had to do with the fact that the book was written from the memory of a 14-year-old and was translated twice which made the writing quite simple and sometimes a bit dull. All in all, it was a worthwhile read and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy learning about WWII (it's short and reads quickly).

[Oriyah N · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading so much Holocaust/WWII literature, I figured I had a pretty good handle on what went down during this dark period in history, so this book came as a bit of a surprise. I knew of the various people who were targeted by the Nazis, but had no idea how war impacted people who had not been selected as specific targets but had their land occupied.

An informative, though simplistic account, I found her present-tense language to be jarring, and the way she ended off to be rather anti-climactic and bland. I wonder what course of events her life followed afterwards.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people know about my obsession with WWII era books. This was another one. I feel like I can't ever give one of these books a bad review. How can you give a person's life story through the war a bad review. They always evoke emotion and I feel like I gain a new perspective. This one follows a young Russian girl...I haven't read very many accounts of Russians during the war and I am glad I read this one. A very quick read, and good for gaining just a glimpse into Russia during WWII.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always fascinated by these types of books. This one, however, was not one of my favorites. I found the story interesting, but the characters not too endearing to me. I'm sure this was due to the fact that much of it was taken from her journal entries, but it was still hard for me. The ending was a bit abrupt, too. Still it is amazing the people that have the will and power to survive in such hard circumstances.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it is a young adult book it is an interesting read. Little is heard about the non-Jewish slave laborers taken to Germany so this provides another facet to the history of World War II. Tatjana was lucky to run into some kind Germans at times when she needed it. Her survival instincts worked for her and were necessary even when she returned from captivity.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It always feels slightly "wrong" to mark down WWII memoirs, but this one just fell flat. I gather from the other reviews that it is twice translated (from Russian to German to English) so perhaps that's where something is lost. It was okay, but not one I'd go out of my way to recommend to someone.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

See more memoirs: The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia by Hautzig; I Am Fifteen--and I Don't Want To Die by Arnothy; The Hiding Place by ten Boom; Upstairs Room & Journey Back both by Reiss; Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944 by Siegal; Thanks to My Mother
by Rabinovici; Diary of a Young Girl by Frank; Adam and Thomas by Appelfeld

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but I kind of wondered how she was able to keep track of when things occured. Certainly showed a good witness story to what happened to some of the Russians during WWII. It seemed like a children's book but had events that happened when she was in her teens.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

012416. All children should read this book. Children now a days do not realize how easy they have it. Life for these children were so hard over in Europe during this time. Even if they weren't sent to concentration camps.

[Remy · Rating 4 out of 5]

sad but good

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Translated from German which was translated from the original Russian. Simple writing that made it hard for me to read and like.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ALMOST 4 stars. Loved the different point of view...

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true book is well written and easy to read. World War II from another perspective.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good story that gave me more of an insight of the happenings in Russia during WWII, which I found really interesting! It also gave great perspective!!!