Your Name Is Renee: Ruth Kapp Hartz's Story As a Hidden Child in Nazi-Occupied France

by Stacy Cretzmeyer

In Nazi-occupied France in 1941, four-year-old Ruth Kapp learns that it is dangerous to use her own name. "Remember," her older cousin Jeannette warns her, "your name is Renee and you are French!"
A deeply personal book, this true story recounts the chilling experiences of a young Jewish girl during the Holocaust. The Kapp family flees one home after another, helped by simple, ordinary people from the French countryside who risk their lives to protect them. Eventually the family is forced to
separate, and young Ruth survives the war in an orphanage where she is not allowed to see or even mention her parents. Without the trappings of lofty language or the faceless perspective of history, this first-person account poignantly recreates the terror of war seen through the eyes of an innocent
child. Your Name Is Renee is a tale of suffering and redemption, fear and hope, which is bound to stir even the most hardened heart.

Genres: History, Holocaust, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II, Memoir, France

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Stacy Cretzmeyer lives in Pawley's Island, SC. She is a counselor and is a founder and Coordinator of the Women's Advocacy Center in Counseling Services at Coastal Carolina University.
She received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of South Carolina.

Reviews

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine your five-year-old daughter sitting in school every day not knowing if Maman and Papa will even be there when she goes home. Then imagine telling your little girl she's going on a vacation with some friends, when you're really sending her to a convent orphanage and you may never see her again.
Ruth Kapp Hartz (alias Renee Caper) was that little girl. Her family fled to rural France during World War II. They spent a total of five years in hiding. When the war was over, Ruth had no memory of a time in her life when she wasn't in hiding. She had no idea what a normal life would feel like.

Ruth chose to have the story told from the point of view of the little girl she was rather than from the perspective of an adult looking back on the experiences. Early in the book this can at times get tiresome in its simplistic presentation, but after she gets to the orphanage it's not so noticeably childish. You can really get a sense of how it felt for a little Jewish girl in a Catholic convent---scared, confused, with the nuns insisting that her parents were dead. (They weren't told she was a Jewish refugee and believed she was really an orphan.)

Ruth/Renee didn't understand the Latin prayers, songs, and rituals of Catholicism, but had to pretend she was a blossoming Catholic girl. Her one Jewish friend had been sent to the infirmary, so she felt truly alone. What Ruth/Renee didn't understand was that Soreze was an orphanage for French children only. Her parents were German refugees, so they had to say she was someone else's child so she'd be allowed to stay at the orphanage until the war was over.

The book has a fairly narrow focus. It's an interesting look at the dailiness of the lives of Jews in France who were passing as non-Jews with false identification papers. While the Vichy government and Parisians were collaborating with the Nazis, many good country folk in Southern France risked their own hides to shelter, warn, and transport Jews throughout the war.

[Navilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden Child of the Holocaust (a true story) focuses on the experiences of a young jewish girl named Ruth and her family in France during World War Two. The author actually interviewed Ruth and her family to get an accurate description of the struggles they faced in an anti- sematic culture so I feel like the book really accurately portrays the struggle of jewish people during this time in history. Hidden Child of The Holocaust is able to detail many horrific situations but through a child’s eyes, it helps you to see through the perspective of Ruth when she and her family are hiding in a basement or walking miles to find shelter, or being separated from eachother, or even having to change their identity. Ruth herself actually grew up to be the author’s french teacher which is how the idea for the book became a reality, which you can read about in the preface. Most of the book takes place in Toulouse or St. Juery in the 1940s and a small portion takes place in a convent where Ruth is sent to stay for safety. I think this book is a fantastic read not only because of the engaging writing style but also the historical accuracy and importance of the topic. This book was overall very interesting to read and would be enjoyable for anyone, history buff or not, this is an enlightening and engaging read.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stacey Cretzmeyer did a fantastic job here. The story of how Cretzmeyer came to start working on this progect with Ruth Kapp is very interesting. I'm not sure if anyone else has talked about it in a review but I won't - I think it hits harder when read like I read it. It made me see even more how easily lost these stories can be. It almost had to be fate that brought these two together and the product is absolutely beautiful.
Anyone who reads a lot of Holocaust-lit knows that you don't stop being amazed and horrified... no matter how many times you read the "same" story. My reading on the subject has usually been dwindled down to actualy camp life, with maybe a little before and after sprinkled in. Only recently have I found myself really getting interested in the before and after, and in other aspects like the hidden children, the orphanges, etc.
This is great for anyone wanting to learn about the life not only a hidden child lived during that time, but a hidden family. I had tears in my eyes when the night before Ruth's departure from her hidden apartment to the orphange was described. People, including myself, use the term 'can hardly believe' a lot. I know I do. But it means a whole different thing when you actually sit down and try to imagine. I tried to imagine not being able to leave a room for food for my baby. I tried to imagine losing my husband because he couldn't risk staying in the town anymore. Then I tried to imagine the emotions that would be involved if I learned the only safe place for my daughter would be a religious orphange, many miles too far away for me to visit. Ruth's Mother kept this plan to herself and laid down that night in bed next to her daughter. And she cried. If that's not heartbreaking I don't know what is. And I'm talking about it now like the past event that it is, but this was lived. This family knew this. They felt these feelings. How horrible this world was and, in many ways, still is.
I would have liked to have known more about the Valat family in the end. Ruth went back to visit France, I think in the 60's is I'm not mistaken, and that was the only family not mentioned. Did they survive the war? The way that Ruth met Madame Valat was so interesting to me. Fate again, no doubt.
I felt like I knew her relatoves, Uncle Heinrich in particular. I liked that the few photos were scattered throughout the book and not shoved into the middle. While that works with some books it would have taken away from this one.
This has many great parts, the war as it affected those living in France, hidden children and familes, the Resistance, but very little about any actual camps.
It's definitely not something to be missed. So glad I happened to find in Borders.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Ruth aka Renee's story is different than other Holocaust books I've read. It was interesting and sad learning about her families struggle, hiding in plain sight from the police, and the amazing people who risked their lives to help them along the way. I also had no idea that children were sent to orphanages in hopes they would be safer there, instead of being with their family, in fear of being rounded up and sent to the concentration camps. This story shows and tells the sheer determination of a family trying to survive, a mother trying to keep her daughter safe, and keeping hope that somehow, someday everything will be alright. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history and the Holocaust. The writing is great and this book is easy to follow.

4.5 stars

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[Kymberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author wrote a story based on the life experiences before, during and after WWII, of Ruth Kapp Hartz. I had a little hard time getting into it at first, though by the middle of the book I was dumbfounded and the end of the book I was crying. It is hard to think that this went on in our history and many things like this are still going on. Heartbreaking!! Ruth tells the story of some of her earliest memories and having to grow up over five years of her childhood in hiding, poverty, fear, and war times. Her story is an intense one and imagining an adult going is hard let alone millions of children and thinking she was one of the blessed ones that was not caught, shipped off to concentration camp or to the gas chamber where many of her family was sent and did not survive. I cannot even imagine the heartache for her and her family has gone through.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

These types of books are always hard to read, but I hope no one ever forgets the stories that the survivors and their families have to tell. It was amazing to me that Ruth was able to remember as much detail as she did when she was so young at the time. I kept relating her experiences to my own young son if he were put in a similar situation and found it almost impossible to imagine. Thank goodness we were able to help put an end to the atrocities and may we always do so in the future if anything else should even begin to be as threatening to any group of people. Thank goodness there were people in France at the time that felt it important enough to risk their own lives to save others. Thank you to all of them.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good telling of an important story and corner of the Holocaust I was less familiar with (although I did see a staged reading of a new musical based on the book shortly before reading it). At first I didn’t think I was going to like that the author wrote it from young Ruth’s perspective and voice but it actually worked quite well. The story behind the story (relationship of author to subject) also made this even more special.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Honestly made me want to write myself. I felt the author telling the story. Don’t really know how to describe that better. Would recommend to Graham. Pretty heart wrenching. Followed themes of brutality, names, lying/secrets, and always love. Many more interesting themes to unpack but these were some of the most interesting to me.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because Madame Kapp was kind enough to give a lecture for my class. Cretzmeyer does a good job of capturing a child's fear and confusion of posing as a Christian in WWII. The book is easy to read and engrossing. It contains horror and humor. Appendices give additional information about the time. The book would be well used in conjunction with The Diary of Anne Frank or Night.

[Emily Keene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot because it really gives you a picture in your mind on how people had to live during this time. It shows you how hard it was for even children who are six years old. How their lives changed for years because of Nazis. I would recommend this book to people because I really enjoyed it and I want others to too.

[Ashley Sharpsteen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting and descriptive. While it showed how the family was dealing with all the round ups and moving from place to place, it showed how the other characters were feeling and what they were doing. The author was very good at making sure the story didn't get boring and that something different would always happen that you might not expect.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The terror of war seen through the eyes of child - a Jewish girl who survives by being hidden in a French convent

[Kristina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't know the Holocaust could be boring.

[Elizabeth Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very scary book, and not because of ghosts, but because of the realization that the holocaust while already bad had even more horrible little details that made the event even more scary. Renee or Ruth being 5 year old girl went through a event that no little girl should have to go through. She had to live without her father for many months. Her mother and her were scared everyday that they would be taken away. But when her father returns only a little bit of that fear left. Over the next couple of days thing are pretty good until one night the man who helps Ruths family warns them that in 10 minutes they will have to leave and get on on a train so they aren´t arrested by the police. when they leave, they dont have time to tell their uncle. They send the man too, he gets there just before the police do, they hide their father so they do not get arrested. When they escape they live with a lot of different families until they end up with a good family. But when things start to go downhill again Ruth and her two cousins are sent to an orphanage to be protected. After a few long weeks they finally get to go home. When Ruth sees her family they are so happy and when they finally go home everything is different because Ruthś cousin has no mom or dad anymore. This book is an inspirational story that I really enjoyed. It made me think about the trials everyone faces in life. This book is a great example of perseverance through hard times no matter the age.

[Melanie Roney · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I was in tears due to the emotional but faithful ending. Through anxiety, danger, curiosity, independence, trust, bravery, suspense, and more all leading up to a memorable and devoting ending had showed how terrible life was long, long ago. To give a review on the book, I would say that anybody would enjoy it. It lead up to exciting moments, but it also had unforgettable ones. It taught myself that it may take strength and trust in my soul to give up something or do something without confidence, but people are always prepared for anything unexpected. After all, the story was placed throughout Germany and France, where a five-year old named Ruth/Renee was a hidden child of the Holocaust. She had to use the name Renee, as if she was a french girl instead of a Jew. The Nazi's have been taking Jews under Hitler's force. Depending on one another with little food to eat, her family had to always leave their house, going throughout different towns, trying to escape the Nazi's. They survived by living in the grain fields or with family members most of the times. Sometimes her father had to hide on the roof or she had to make up lies, only to keep her family safe. Ruth/Renee enjoyed meeting new family, friends, nuns, and more on her nerve racking adventure through France, as a little child.

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you think of Holocaust memoirs/stories, they generally come from people who were at least in their teens, and usually from people who survived the camps. But this is the story of a five year old French girl. The age of Ruth alone makes this story unique.

You truly start to understand just how bad Jewish people knew it could be, yet how much hope they were willing to have. And what the French people themselves were willing to do to hide and help their Jewish neighbors is amazing.

Because of Ruth’s young age you see a very different perspective of the time period. She understands things are bad, but doesn’t truly understand why they’re doing the things they do to survive.

This is a truly amazing story.

[Mariealuisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as research for a play I’m in to better understand the world of the 30’s and 40’s during the Holocaust. Seeing the day to day life of Ruth and her family and all those of the resistance was heartbreaking with a thread of hope. Thank you for sharing your story, Ruth, and to Stacy for writing it.
As I got to the afterward where Ruth shares about the bravery and heroism of the resistance “Their actions, on behalf of so many innocents, and which, if fulfilled, will help to prevent a recurrence of such horrors in future years.” This shook me thinking of our world as it is today especially for those in Palestine.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

(1999) Ruth Kapp was a German Jew who escaped to France during WW2.Her cousin insisted she call herself Renee because it was a French name ---Ruth would give her away as Jewish. She is only 4 years old at the start of the story, and this book tells of her family running, hiding, her living in a Catholic orphanage for five months, and the people who helped them survive. It is a child's story, simply told and easily read. It is not full of gruesome details about the war and the Holocaust. It is a child's story of her life in a small village relatively untouched by the horror of battle, but still trying to survive during persecution, famine and shortages.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book Ruth was running from people that could turn her in to the police for being Jewish the Nazis have not yet invaded France. Even though she was on the run she still managed to get to school without getting caught. She later wanted her name to be changed to Renne. After school another day a girl asked Renne to follow her but she didn't trust her after her mom had said she couldn't go anywhere on her way to school. Renne had followed her anyway and she was in disbelief as her whole family was in a cellar.

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Hidden Child of the Holocaust, by Stacey Cretzmeyer, is a true story about World War 2. The story is about a girl in southern France, named Ruth who must go into hiding with her parents to stay alive. When the Nazis invade France in 1942 the family is forced into hiding. Ruth now has to take care of her little brother until she can find her parents. I would rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars just because it was a great story but it was just drawn out. This book was a good read and had a compelling story. But, there can be other books read.

[Juliana AD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your name is Renee offers a fresh look at jews in hiding during the Holocaust. It tells the story from the eyes of a child instead of from an adult looking back which makes it unique.

I would 10/10 recommend reading this book!! Not only is it an amazing true story, the story of how the book came to be is amazing in it's own way!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story from one of the little kids hidden in a convent in France to escape the horrors of war. Most of the book was her with her family trying not to be seen by Germans or be outed by collaborators. She spent 5 months in a convent and fortunately her parents both survived though several family members did not. Interesting perspective.

[Shirley Klooster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this is the author's first book she captures the life of a Jewish child during Nazi-occupied France very well. You feel what it was like to be looking over your shoulder with fear all the time. A real-life history lesson for us!

[Ruth E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very touching story told from the viewpoint of a young child who lived through the war in southern France. It was amazing how many people turned against the Jews and supported the Nazis. But because of the courage of some people, some Jews were saved and lived to tell their story.

[Sara Jordahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a little different twist then some of the other books I have read about the Holocaust. I can't ever imagine being in someone's position like this, and even though this book did a really good job explaining it, it's still hard to imagine.

[Cheryl Nall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling story of one survivor's memory of life as a young child in occupied France during WWII. The dangers that face this 6 year old and her family is portrayed through her experiences and feelings. Very well told.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

all should read this and see just what really transpired in the past...

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great memoir.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine schöne Geschichte von Mut, Hilfe, Dankbarkeit und Zusammenhalt in Zeiten des Schreckens!

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really unique way to read about Holocaust survival (from a young child’s eyes) and would be a great companion to a first reading of Anne Frank’s Diary