Out of the Hitler Time

Out of the Hitler Time #1-3

by Judith Kerr

An omnibus edition of Judith Kerr's internationally acclaimed trilogy, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, The Other Way Round and A Small Person Far Away, we see the world through Anna's eyes as she grows up -- from her much loved family to Hitler's holocaust. Anna was a German child when she had to flee from the Nazis before the War. By the time the bombs began to fall she was a stateless adolescent in London, and after it was all over she became a happily married Englishwoman who thought she had put the past behind her. This omnibus edition of the three volumes of Judith Kerr's Hitler trilogy, tells her story beginning with the rise of Hitler in 1933 through to her return to Berlin years after the war.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, War, Holocaust, World War II, Young Adult, Historical

810 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Judith Kerr was a German-born British writer and illustrator who has created both enduring picture books such as the Mog series and The Tiger Who Came To Tea and acclaimed novels for older children such as the autobiographical When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit which give a child's-eye view of the Second World War.

Kerr was born in Berlin but left Germany with her parents and her brother, Michael, in 1933, soon after the Nazis first came to power. They were forced to leave as her father, noted drama critic, journalist and screenwriter Alfred Kerr, had openly criticised the Nazis,who burned his books shortly after the family had fled Germany. They travelled first to Switzerland and then on into France, before finally settling in Britain, where Kerr has lived ever since. She subsequently became a naturalised British citizen.

Reviews

[Kathrin Passig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es muss bei den ersten zwei Bänden dieser Trilogie wohl die Zweitlektüre gewesen sein, aber bei der ersten war ich noch klein und ich erinnere mich an nichts mehr, außer seltsamerweise an das Café, dessen Wände im zweiten Band bemalt werden. Der dritte Band war mir neu. Alles daran ist sehr gut und hat mich (trotz der kurzen Lesezeit) lange beschäftigt, vor allem auch, wie der dritte Band die Abgesehen-von-Hitler-Idylle des ersten Bandes aus Erwachsenenperspektive aufgreift und durchsichtig macht für die enormen Probleme der Eltern.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit', the first of Judith Kerr's 'Out of the Hitler Time' trilogy when I was at primary school myself. It made such an impression that I've been waiting until my eldest daughter was old enough for us to read it together.

She is now 9, and this has been our bedtime book for the last few weeks.

Judith Kerr is the daughter of upper-class secular Jewish intellectuals, and had to flee her Berlin home at the age of 9 when the Hitler came to power in 1933. Her father had written critically of the Nazis and would have been among the first to be rounded up.

'Out of the Hitler Time' brings together three books in one volume. The first - 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit' - tells the story of their last days in Berlin, their flight to Switzerland, then subsequent moves to France and England.

The sense of dislocation, of separateness, of relief at escape - is very powerful, but simply written. Our reading has been accompanied by many questions and discussions. The book is often cited as a good introduction to the history of the second world war and the Holocaust. It is much more than this - an excellent way of exploring broad ideas of empathy with others, why people might become refugees, the positive and negative aspects of integration and identity - and much else.

The other two books which make up the trilogy - 'Bombs on Aunt Dainty' and 'A Small Person Far Away' - follow the author and her family through London during the war, and into early married life and children, and are equally compelling though more complex for a child of my daughter's age.

This is the first book we've read together where my daughter has said that she wants to write to the author to thank her.

Judith Kerr is also known for the classics 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea', and the Mog books. Having checked her Wikipedia entry we were pleased to see she is still alive, so there'll be a letter in the post to her from a 9 year old shortly. I would imagine she must receive quite a few!

[Mateicee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im Gegensatz zu den meisten, habe ich das Buch als Kind nie gelesen, das wollte ich nachholen.

Erzählt wird die Flucht von Anna und ihrer Familie aus Deutschland zur Zeit der Machtergreifung Hitlers, das Leben der Familie während und nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg. Erzählt wird die Geschichte aus Annas Sicht. Ein sehr berührender Bericht über das Erwachsenwerden in schwierigen Zeiten und die Anpassungsfähigkeit des Menschen.

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second time around for this trilogy and if anything it gets better for the re-read. Lovely writing & another fascinating auto biographical story.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved 🥰 Loved 🥰 Loved 🥰

[Martine Letterie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een omnibus met drie autobiografische boeken van Judith Kerr, die alledrie voor een verschillende doelgroep geschreven zijn. In het eerste deel is de hoofdpersoon Anna acht, en het is ook voor die leeftijd geschreven. Haar vader is een beroemde joodse Duitse schrijver, die zich al tegen de NSDAP uitspreekt voordat de partij gekozen is. Daarom vlucht hij naar het buitenland als de verkiezingen eraan komen, het gezin volgt op de dag van de verkiezingen. Het boek vertelt over de eerste jaren in ballingschap door Anna's ogen. In het tweede deel woont het gezin inmiddels in Londen, en het laatste deel speelt na de oorlog af.
Prachtig boek!

[meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

the first book is an empathetic middle-grade story that is somehow a romp without being the least bit light-hearted; the second book is essentially YA a la Eva Ibbotson; the third book is an adult novella about the ways we understand our parents. they all made me cry varying amounts

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Also man muss das hier leider trennen:
Band 1 ist wirklich schön! Würde ich 4 Sterne geben.
Band 2 zieht sich unmöglich lang! Das lesen wurde wirklich unangenehm für mich. 3 Sterne. Maximal.
Band 3... ja Band 3. Ich weiß nicht was das sollte. 1-2 Sterne.

Himmel das war anstrengend.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching story of a girl and her family during the reign of Hitler and beyond.

[Chem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me cry a dozen times. Why did it have to end like that? It seemed so unsatisfactory.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, but are books written for children but more appropriate for teens & adults due to the subject matter. This is particularly apparent for the 3rd book which highlights the difficulties of suicide within a family. The author wrote the stories in 3rd person using middle names, as I think it was so difficult for her to relive these painful times in her life. I'd recommend these books highly but with caution.

[Maren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and unique introduction for older kids/teens to WWII and the Holocaust. It portrays aspects of refugees, psychological effects of the war, what it was like during the air raids and bombings, etc. While it doesn’t deal with the horrors of the concentration camps it does portray very well many of the other hardships, fears, and challenges of those that escaped the concentration camps.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's not a book I knew about until I was well into adulthood although I lived Judith Kerr's books as a child . The recommended reading ages is 9 and over, however I'd really recommend adults give it a read too. I've just started reading the second book in the trilogy. Bombs on Aunty Dainty. 😊

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an easy read. Did not think the last part of the trilogy was realistic given the relationships in the first two books. It seemed to take an odd direction in the last book. It was a nice story to read.

[Sylvia Aichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book

I bought the three autobiographical books after I heard an interview on the radio. What a wonderful woman she was. I read her children's books to my children and grandchildren but knew nothing about the author. She is an inspiration.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is a good book and the characters are farely good... But the dialog sometimes gets dull and the book becomes a little boring, but it does get good at some points. The book is good because some of it is true but the fictional parts of the book make it a beter book.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein Buch, welches jedes Kind gelesen haben sollte. Bücher die aus einer Kinderperspektive über den Krieg berichten gehen nicht nur wahnsinnig sensibel mit dem Thema um, sondern berühren einen tief. Bis heute begeistert mich das Buch so sehr, dass ich es jedem weiter empfehle.

[Annameka · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two books I really enjoyed, the third not so much. An amazing story of ssurvival.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This trilogy is based on Judith Kerr's experience escaping the Holocaust.
The BBC audio dramatisation is not quite the same as reading the full novellas, but from what I can gather (Kerr reads excerpts in the interview at the end), it is extremely close. Some readers may enjoy the novellas more; others may like the 'atmosphere' of the dramatisation with sound effects.

It starts when she is a small girl and her family evacuates. They (sort of) expect to be home soon, so leave many of their possessions behind, including Judith's beloved stuffed rabbit.

The trilogy continues through her life as she grows up through the London Bombardment and as she gets a job as a young adult. She appears to have had a rather difficult relationship with her mother.

The BBC Dramatisation can be listened to in just a few hours.

At the end of the audio, an interview with Kerr gives further detail including her experience as a refugee and the efforts her family went through to integrate and continue with their lives.

[The Popular Girl - Lani lani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Anna, who has to leave Germany with her family when Hitler comes to power. They escape just in time because her dad is on Hitler’s blacklist. The story shows how Anna, her brother, and her parents keep moving from country to country — first Switzerland, then Paris, then England — trying to find safety and start over.

What I liked:

It felt really real, like you’re seeing history through a kid’s eyes. Anna doesn’t always understand what’s happening, but you as the reader do, and that makes it powerful.

The family moments are sweet — even though they lose almost everything, they stay close and support each other.

It made me think about what it would be like to leave home suddenly and never know if you’re coming back.

What I didn’t love:

Sometimes the pacing was a little slow, like the family’s daily struggles dragged on.

It wasn’t as action-packed as other books about WWII, but I think that’s the point — it’s about survival and family more than battles.

[Liasanya Leseratte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den ersten Teil dieses Buches habe ich als Schullektüre in der 6. Klasse gelesen. Die Geschichte von der kleinen Anna, die als jüdin vor den Nazis fliehen muss. Erst in die Schweiz, dann nach Frankreich und England. Ein bergendes Buch; das aus Kinderaugen auf eine furchtbare Epoche unserer Geschichte schaut und auch als 11-12 jährige hat man das schon gut verstehen können. Für mich war es klar, dass ich auch die beiden Folgebände lesen muss, die ich damals aber noch nicht so gut habe verstehen können. Mit der Protagonistin altert auch die angesprochene lesergruppe: Teil 2 richtet sich eher an Jugendliche/junge Erwachsene und erzählt vom Bombenkrieg in England; in dem Anna ihren Weg als Schriftstellerin beginnt und lernt ihr Schicksal in die Hand zu nehmen. Teil 3 ist dann endgültig bei den Erwachsenen und berichtet von der Erwachsenen Anna, die durch ihre Mutter mit ihrer eigenen Vergangenheit konfrontiert wird und wieder nach Deutschland zurückkehrt. Insgesamt eine gelungene Saga um das Schicksal der juden unter dem naziregime für alle Generationen!

[Manonn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parlons un peu de ce roman… ou plutôt de ces romans car il y en a réellement trois 🤩
Une histoire très prenante. Des sujets très sensibles qui sont traités, beaucoup de tristesse mais toujours une touche de bonheur. C’est ce que j’ai ressenti dans ce roman. 🌹
J’ai beaucoup aimé les trois romans en globalité. ☺️ Pour donner un petit classement j’ai adoré le premier, le second un peu moins et le dernier malheureusement beaucoup moins. Il était un peu redondant et il y avait des personnages qui sortaient de nulle part (waouh il y a même de la magie. 🤣)
J’ai eu la chance de pouvoir le lire en version originale ce qui je trouve est vraiment top, en plus j’ai compris presque tout tout, c’est un vrai accomplissement ! 🫶🏼 En plus de tout ça j’ai eu ma meilleure amie à mes côtés pour le lire, un pur bonheur ! 🥹 bref je vous le conseille un max !!!

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this trilogy, first time I came across was probably when I was around 12 and since then I have re-read it a couple of times. It's not only about those harsh times but it also finds a way to still make it easy as a girl to connect with Anna. Even though our situations aren't comparable in the slightest I could relate to her adoring her daddy as a child and later sobering up to that sensation, just how I could relate to her not quite understanding her mom, the growing tension with those sudden instances of harmony in between. Each book spoke to me in a different manner, I would always find something else depending on the age I read them. Very moving, will read it again (and again) !

[Nicole L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Happy Holocaust Story?

I learned about this book from YouTuber, Feli From Germany as she explained how the subject of the Holocaust was taught to German schoolchildren. When Feli mentioned the title of this book I was captivated by such a bizarre title. I paused the video & purchased this book & began reading it immediately (I still haven't finished Feli's video😅. I was thrilled when I saw it was a trilogy. I'm quite thankful to Ms. Kerr as I never knew anything good came from such horror & terror. It's hard to imagine such creativity & purpose coming from a Holocaust survivor. Perhaps my own "difficult childhood" may be worth sharing as well.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich habe den ersten Teil sowohl als Kind, als auch als Erwachsene gelesen und fand es beeindruckend wie unterschiedlich man das Buch liest. "Warum ist denn die Mama im Zug jetzt so gestresst, nur weil sie über die Grenze fahren?" - und plötzlich versteht man das Bangen der Mutter im Zug. "Total unfair, dass Anna jetzt nicht so viel zu ihrem Geburtstag bekommt wie ihr Bruder." - und plötzlich bewundert man die Eltern dafür, dass sich ihre Tochter am Geburtstag nur Sorgen um das fehlende Geschenk macht. Auch den zweiten Teil habe ich in toller Erinnerung! Der dritte Teil hat mir am wenigsten gefallen, vielleicht gebe ich ihm aber irgendwann nochmal eine Chance. Große Empfehlung in jedem Fall!

[Joan Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books and authors. This is my second time round reading
this. Much to admire in her writing and in her life. Judith Kerr passed away this year at the age of 95. I love her illustrations and her children's books.

The second book in the trilogy is one of the most realistic accounts of what life was like for a teenage civilian in Britain during the Second World War. Also, it seems to me, a very realistic account of what it means to be a refugee and an exile. I can imagine I will probably want to re-read this trilogy again in a few years.

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and reviewed all of the various titles that make up this trilogy but I think there is something to be said for the experience of reading the three of them sequentially and that is this: a kind of grief, a kind of loss, a kind of beauty, and a sort of endless stillness at the power of the story being told and how the echoes from one are felt by another and how great seismic events can seismic there and then but also years later and how nothing is ever over when you think it is. This is profound, quiet, enormous stuff and Judith Kerr was a gift.

[Karo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich habe mir das Buch bestellt nachdem ich den Film im Dezember im Kino gesehen habe. Trotz der mir bekannten Storyline las ich den ersten Teil innerhalb von 2 Tagen. Auch den ANfang vom 2 Buch verschlag ich mit großer Freude. Leider wurde es danach sehr langwierig und es hat mich nicht mehr mitgerissen. Es gab keine Höhepunkte für mich und es plätscherte alles nur noch so dahin. Ein Buch welches man definitiv lesen kann.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein Buch, das man gelesen haben muss. Der Schreibstil lässt sich gut lesen, man versinkt in der Geschichte und fühlt mit den Charakteren. Ganz nebenbei kann man etwas Geschichte lernen oder sich an geschichtliche Details erinnern.
Die Bücher geben die Stimmung und Entwicklung der Protagonistin sehr gut wieder, daher unterscheidet sich das dritte Buch aufgrund des Zeitsprungs stark von den vorherigen.

[slytherin_mädchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine bewegende Familiengeschichte über die Flucht aus Deutschland und die damit verbundenen Schwierigkeiten. Wie lebt man als Flüchtling in anderen Ländern, deren Sprache man teilweise auch nicht beherrscht. Wie schafft man es trotzdem ein glückliches Leben zu führen und das Geschehene zu verdrängen?