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Sascha: a Story of Love and Srvival
In Riga during 1937, Ingeborg Hesse met the love of her life - a young engineer, Sascha Gruschko.
She was German. He was Jewish.
In August 1977, she read the following item in "The Australian" newspaper.
Nazi Mass Killer Dies a Pauper
A man believed to be the infamous Nazi war criminal Eduard Roschmann - known as the Butcher of Riga - has died in a hospital for down-and-outs in Paraguay.
An SS captain in the Jewish ghetto of Riga, Latvia, during World War II, Roschmann is said to have ordered the slaughter of 40,000 Jews.
Reading those words brought back a flood of painful memories for Ingeborg. Her resentment, hatred, and bitterness towards Roschmann had lain buried for more than thirty years. Not forgiven or forgotten were the twelve months in 1943-44 when Ingeborg and her baby daughter were at the complete mercy of the Butcher of Riga.
Forced into a dreadful game of bluff she was powerless to control. Ingeborg Hesse managed to live a double life... outwardly Roschmann's mistress but in reality Sascha Gruschko's wife - a hunted escapee of Riga's infamous Jewish ghetto. This is her story.
She was German. He was Jewish.
In August 1977, she read the following item in "The Australian" newspaper.
Nazi Mass Killer Dies a Pauper
A man believed to be the infamous Nazi war criminal Eduard Roschmann - known as the Butcher of Riga - has died in a hospital for down-and-outs in Paraguay.
An SS captain in the Jewish ghetto of Riga, Latvia, during World War II, Roschmann is said to have ordered the slaughter of 40,000 Jews.
Reading those words brought back a flood of painful memories for Ingeborg. Her resentment, hatred, and bitterness towards Roschmann had lain buried for more than thirty years. Not forgiven or forgotten were the twelve months in 1943-44 when Ingeborg and her baby daughter were at the complete mercy of the Butcher of Riga.
Forced into a dreadful game of bluff she was powerless to control. Ingeborg Hesse managed to live a double life... outwardly Roschmann's mistress but in reality Sascha Gruschko's wife - a hunted escapee of Riga's infamous Jewish ghetto. This is her story.
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 15, 2018
Really well written, true story about a German woman who fell in love with and married a Jew in Latvia, in the middle of WWII. Unfortunately reality in the form of the Nazis, particularly Roschmann - the Butcher of Riga - got in the way of their love story.
Ingeborg Hesse describes her relationship to Roschmann and how she was basically his captive for a period of about a year. It’s a shame how her story is so little known, since she gives very interesting insights on the complex character that was Roschmann. Highly recommended!
Ingeborg Hesse describes her relationship to Roschmann and how she was basically his captive for a period of about a year. It’s a shame how her story is so little known, since she gives very interesting insights on the complex character that was Roschmann. Highly recommended!
January 9, 2023
This is such a special book for me as it was written by my great grandmother.
I am forever grateful to have been able to read about her and Sascha’s love story and gain insight into the strength and determination of this incredible woman.
My inscribed copy is one of my most prized possessions
I am forever grateful to have been able to read about her and Sascha’s love story and gain insight into the strength and determination of this incredible woman.
My inscribed copy is one of my most prized possessions
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews