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The Mousetrap
Ruth Hanka Eigner (1926 - 2010), who eventually immigrated to the United States and converted to Judaism, was one of many Germans living in the Czechoslovak Republic (Hitler's Sudetenland) for nearly a millenium. In The Mousetrap -- winner of the 2003 San Diego Book Award for an Unpublished Memoir -- she tells the harrowing true story of her experiences as a young Bohemian woman in the years after the Second World War ended. She tells of the understandable brutality with which she and her family and friends were treated after the Germans lost the war.
She also tells the story of a mother-daughter relationship that, because of the terrible times in which they lived, threatened to kill them both.
At the time of her death, Ruth had nearly completed the next portion of her autobiography, which is currently being prepared for publication.
Learn more about Ruth Eigner at TheMousetrapBook.com or find her on page on Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/TheMousetrap...
From the Introduction to The Mousetrap --
Now that I have finally brought myself to write of these events, which took place nearly sixty-five years ago in a middle European land which no longer exists, I am faced with the fact that Americans now coming of age, like my own grandchildren, will need some historical background. The country was Czechoslovakia, created in 1918, made up of a hodge-podge of nationalities – Czechs, Slovaks, Germans, Hungarian, Poles and others -- previously ruled by the Austrians, losers of the First World War. My own people, ethnic Germans, had lived in this same territory for almost a thousand years, and since we spoke the same language as the Austrian rulers, I suppose we thought of ourselves as better than our neighbors. Many of us were also excessively proud of our German culture, believing that it was superior to that of the Slavic people who now vastly outnumbered us in the new country. There was great fear among chauvinists and prejudiced Germans that we might lose our national identity and be forced even to give up our language. These people argued and sometimes demonstrated violently for the creation of a new German country. And the uprisings they fomented were sometimes put down with corresponding violence. It was easy, therefore for Adolf Hitler to argue in 1938 that the German citizens of Czechoslovakia needed his protection. To “save” us, as he said, from the persecution of the Czechs, he annexed the part of the country in which we lived. I was only twelve when this happened, but I was old enough to remember that there was much cheering in the streets when the German troops marched in. I remember also that during the next seven years which passed before the defeat of the Nazis, Germans of my group, even boys I grew up with, enlisted or were drafted to fight in Hitler’s army. No doubt many of them joined in the persecution of those who had been our fellow Czechoslovakians for the past twenty years, the descendants of people who had been our neighbors for centuries. Who could blame the Czechs for wanting to get revenge once Hitler was gone, and they were back in power? They felt, that unless we were driven from the country, we would betray them again at the first opportunity. All this was understandable, but it did not lessen the fear of the German Czechoslovakians, both the innocent and the guilty among us, who faced this reciprocal terror. -- Ruth Hanka Eigner
She also tells the story of a mother-daughter relationship that, because of the terrible times in which they lived, threatened to kill them both.
At the time of her death, Ruth had nearly completed the next portion of her autobiography, which is currently being prepared for publication.
Learn more about Ruth Eigner at TheMousetrapBook.com or find her on page on Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/TheMousetrap...
From the Introduction to The Mousetrap --
Now that I have finally brought myself to write of these events, which took place nearly sixty-five years ago in a middle European land which no longer exists, I am faced with the fact that Americans now coming of age, like my own grandchildren, will need some historical background. The country was Czechoslovakia, created in 1918, made up of a hodge-podge of nationalities – Czechs, Slovaks, Germans, Hungarian, Poles and others -- previously ruled by the Austrians, losers of the First World War. My own people, ethnic Germans, had lived in this same territory for almost a thousand years, and since we spoke the same language as the Austrian rulers, I suppose we thought of ourselves as better than our neighbors. Many of us were also excessively proud of our German culture, believing that it was superior to that of the Slavic people who now vastly outnumbered us in the new country. There was great fear among chauvinists and prejudiced Germans that we might lose our national identity and be forced even to give up our language. These people argued and sometimes demonstrated violently for the creation of a new German country. And the uprisings they fomented were sometimes put down with corresponding violence. It was easy, therefore for Adolf Hitler to argue in 1938 that the German citizens of Czechoslovakia needed his protection. To “save” us, as he said, from the persecution of the Czechs, he annexed the part of the country in which we lived. I was only twelve when this happened, but I was old enough to remember that there was much cheering in the streets when the German troops marched in. I remember also that during the next seven years which passed before the defeat of the Nazis, Germans of my group, even boys I grew up with, enlisted or were drafted to fight in Hitler’s army. No doubt many of them joined in the persecution of those who had been our fellow Czechoslovakians for the past twenty years, the descendants of people who had been our neighbors for centuries. Who could blame the Czechs for wanting to get revenge once Hitler was gone, and they were back in power? They felt, that unless we were driven from the country, we would betray them again at the first opportunity. All this was understandable, but it did not lessen the fear of the German Czechoslovakians, both the innocent and the guilty among us, who faced this reciprocal terror. -- Ruth Hanka Eigner
413 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
40 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 22, 2012
Had to read this because I know Ruth's husband, although I only met Ruth once. Certainly wish I had had more contact with her. What an amazing story!
Ruth, as a teenager, was an ethnic German living in Czechoslovakia. After WW2, the civilian Germans there were treated nearly as badly as the Nazis had treated the Czechs--sent to do slave labor, and interned--although their internment camps were only loosely guarded. Ruth was able to leave daily to "find" food, clothing and other necessary materials in the emptied-out German houses of the area. The whole time she was coping with her emotionally abusive mother.
Yet she also crossed the border several times into East Germany, and eventually was assisted by a sympathetic border guard.
This really is a fascinating story. I know Ed (Ruth's husband), who is a retired Literature professor, helped with the writing. I have only two complaints: it ends far too abruptly--we want to find out what happened after she got to Germany! And, I would have appreciated a better map showing the actual locations she wrote about.
Well, I can ask Ed what happened. I'll suggest that he write a postscript to the e-book!
This really is worth the time. Quite engaging and suspenseful.
UPDATE: I got a message from Ed. He says that Ruth wrote a sequel and that it's currently being edited. If for whatever reason that doesn't happen, Ed says he might take on the task himself. I will encourage him!
Ruth, as a teenager, was an ethnic German living in Czechoslovakia. After WW2, the civilian Germans there were treated nearly as badly as the Nazis had treated the Czechs--sent to do slave labor, and interned--although their internment camps were only loosely guarded. Ruth was able to leave daily to "find" food, clothing and other necessary materials in the emptied-out German houses of the area. The whole time she was coping with her emotionally abusive mother.
Yet she also crossed the border several times into East Germany, and eventually was assisted by a sympathetic border guard.
This really is a fascinating story. I know Ed (Ruth's husband), who is a retired Literature professor, helped with the writing. I have only two complaints: it ends far too abruptly--we want to find out what happened after she got to Germany! And, I would have appreciated a better map showing the actual locations she wrote about.
Well, I can ask Ed what happened. I'll suggest that he write a postscript to the e-book!
This really is worth the time. Quite engaging and suspenseful.
UPDATE: I got a message from Ed. He says that Ruth wrote a sequel and that it's currently being edited. If for whatever reason that doesn't happen, Ed says he might take on the task himself. I will encourage him!
July 16, 2012
Great informational story about the WWII. I enjoyed learning about the historical effects the war had on this group of people. Although, it was very sad and frustrating how some people can treat each other. I wanted to know more about her life and felt the book ended too abruptly, it left me wanting more. I thought the relationship between the mother and daughter was very disturbing, but you can see how the generational mistakes can have a long lasting effect on how we are raised and who we become as adults.
January 10, 2013
Awsome book. Awsome read that I couldn't put down. This woman's experiences in post WWII Chechoslovakia as a German in what was the Sudetenland and all the trevails that she and her parents went through are unbelievable, yet all so human and inhuman.
I've read so many books on this topic, but this one was truly engrossing and I can't wait for the sequel to come out. The writer passed away during the writing of these memoirs and her daughter Nancy Eigner Rivera is preparing these.
I've read so many books on this topic, but this one was truly engrossing and I can't wait for the sequel to come out. The writer passed away during the writing of these memoirs and her daughter Nancy Eigner Rivera is preparing these.
November 4, 2013
I enjoyed this look into post WWII Czechoslovakia and how the Germans became the persecuted. The illustration of the mousetrap is used to demonstrate what happened to Ruth's family, as they traveled through one door after another entering into more difficult situations. Mrs. Eigner's recall is amazing. Her details help create a very entertaining read.
February 6, 2022
Excellent read
I did not expect to like this book. Don’t even know why I chose it. It’s not my usual interest in reading material. I thought it would move slowly, and be boring and hard to stick with. The exact opposite was true. My interest was piqued right from the start, and I found that I wanted to keep reading. What an amazing story of a brave and resourceful young woman who survived the worst of times, by her sheer will. I feel now as if I know Ruth and the others in her story, and I want to see what happened next.
I did not expect to like this book. Don’t even know why I chose it. It’s not my usual interest in reading material. I thought it would move slowly, and be boring and hard to stick with. The exact opposite was true. My interest was piqued right from the start, and I found that I wanted to keep reading. What an amazing story of a brave and resourceful young woman who survived the worst of times, by her sheer will. I feel now as if I know Ruth and the others in her story, and I want to see what happened next.
January 17, 2021
I wish I could find out how the story ends
It's a great story, but it's clear there was meant to be a second book and it never materialized. I wish I had known this before. I was sort of upset about it.
It's a great story, but it's clear there was meant to be a second book and it never materialized. I wish I had known this before. I was sort of upset about it.
September 2, 2014
Having a great interest in anything WW II, especially how it impacted families, and memoir being my favorite genre, this book was one I was excited to read. However due to the strange title, I kept putting it off despite it being on my Kindle for some time. Once I finally started reading I couldn't stop.
It's a fairly long book with a lot of detail about the events in Ruth's life and Czech community after the war. I found every bit of it fascinating, appreciating the detail because I learned so much. An extremely well-written memoir, so intense that I wondered how she would survive what she and her family experienced. I only wish there was an Epilogue because by the time I finished I was so invested in her life and that of the people she mentions, I really wanted to know what happened beyond the immediate story. A wonderful memoir, and a point of view that isn't usually mentioned in war literature.
It's a fairly long book with a lot of detail about the events in Ruth's life and Czech community after the war. I found every bit of it fascinating, appreciating the detail because I learned so much. An extremely well-written memoir, so intense that I wondered how she would survive what she and her family experienced. I only wish there was an Epilogue because by the time I finished I was so invested in her life and that of the people she mentions, I really wanted to know what happened beyond the immediate story. A wonderful memoir, and a point of view that isn't usually mentioned in war literature.
February 9, 2013
Another first-hand pespective I wasn't familiar with from this part of the world we're presently living in, mostly the first few years after the end of WWII.
The author, Ruth Hanka is a young German woman living with her parents in Czechoslovakia. Her memoir tells of how after the war, the Czechs turned on German families within their borders, doing to them what the Germans did to the Czechoslovakians during the war. She tells of her family's eventual attempt to get out of their beloved Czechosloviakia and sneak into Germany before the Russians turned their county into a communist prison.
The author, Ruth Hanka is a young German woman living with her parents in Czechoslovakia. Her memoir tells of how after the war, the Czechs turned on German families within their borders, doing to them what the Germans did to the Czechoslovakians during the war. She tells of her family's eventual attempt to get out of their beloved Czechosloviakia and sneak into Germany before the Russians turned their county into a communist prison.
May 19, 2015
I wanted to like this book. I started reading it last August (it’s May now). It’s a memoir about the consequences of World War 2 on a 19 year old girl of German descent who was living in Czechoslovakia This is a side of history you don’t often see, it’s always from the other side. She was ok during the war, but now it’s over and she’s in trouble. But I didn’t like her, and when I don’t like anyone in the book, it’s hard for me to read. I set it aside, hoping to come back, but now 9 months later, I have to admit to myself, I’m never going to make it back. I think people should try and read this book for its point of view, and hopefully you’ll have more luck than I did.
July 7, 2014
This book does two great things: provides a unique perspective on WWII (Ruth is a German-speaking, non-Czech (Sorry, I read it awhile ago and don't remember which nation she identified with) living in (at that time) Czechoslovakia and showcases some excellent writing. I was very impressed with this book. I like reading about how nations and people other than Germany and Germans were affected by WWII (no disrespect intended) and this absolutely fits the bill. If you are skeptical about reading "another memoir about WWII" - I strongly recommend giving this one a chance.
January 13, 2013
This was one of the best WWII memoirs I've read in a long time. (Although technically everything takes place after the war.)
This is a story about Germans and Czechs in Bohemia after the war ended, and the truly awful things that humans did to other humans. It's a story with which I wasn't at all familiar, but worth learning. It is also a great story about a strained mother daughter relationship. I can't recommend it enough.
This is a story about Germans and Czechs in Bohemia after the war ended, and the truly awful things that humans did to other humans. It's a story with which I wasn't at all familiar, but worth learning. It is also a great story about a strained mother daughter relationship. I can't recommend it enough.
October 19, 2012
Eigner's story addresses a little known part of post WWII history. The retaliation of the ethnic Czechs against the Sudaten Germans. Eigner copes with disfunctional parents and a constantly changing world as her country is taken over by the Soviets.
November 15, 2013
writing very choppy...wandered all around...could have told this story in 1/2 the pages...too much description of memories and not enough of actual fact.....HATED the way it stops abruptly...will have to check follow up book to see if worth reading
January 18, 2014
The only thing I did not like was that the book just ended. I read in the back that a second one is due out.
This is a very moving story of what life was like for ethnic Germans living in Czechoslovakia right after WWII.
This is a very moving story of what life was like for ethnic Germans living in Czechoslovakia right after WWII.
September 19, 2014
Interesting perspective of how Germans were treated by the Czechs after WW2 ended a woman's life living through that and afterwards. Very long book but extremely well worth the end. Warning though: the book ends very abruptly. Kind of a Rick Riordan ending.
June 18, 2012
Dark tale.
July 8, 2012
This was a fascinating read, it took a point of view of WW2 which I had never considered. I found the actual writing a bit scattered but it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of the book.
July 16, 2012
Interesting view, good read.
September 7, 2012
This was an interesting books written from the perspective of ethic Germans living in Czechoslovakia during WW2. But the most shocking was how mean people were to each other.
November 11, 2012
I never realized the Germans were treated like this after the war. It doesn't completely surprise me, but how sad.
November 11, 2012
I didn't want the book to end. Ruth was an amazing young woman. Months after reading, I still think about her suffering and how she tolerated her mother.
July 15, 2016
Another must read if you really want to know about world war 2. Opened my eyes to another side of the war that I hadn't really thought about.
July 12, 2014
Fascinating story!
November 14, 2013
found myself wanting this book to be done many times. very wprdy and almost felt like it just drug on. really unhappy about the ending.
November 5, 2013
I liked that it was the point of view from the Germans after the end of the war. but the story just ended bluntly. It seriously felt like the book wasn't finished.
September 24, 2014
Such a good book! It is so important for these stories to be published. I'm really glad I read it.
January 5, 2015
Great book that gives a different perspective on the aftermath of WW2.
January 12, 2017
Interesting true story about the difficulties faced by the Germans after WWII, but it is also very poorly written.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews