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Helga: Growing up in Hitler's Germany
When the author met her in 1977, Helga was an elementary school librarian, a 1948 German immigrant. Asked about her experience during the war, Helga quietly revealed she had been a "Jugend," a member of Hitler's child army, "trained to revere and obey the Fuhrer." When Riehl asked how children were recruited, she replied, "Clever seduction." Helga's seduction begins with an invitation from Hitler she cannot refuse. The ten-year-old is ordered to attend weekly meetings of the Hitler Youth movement. Lies and tasty treats are employed to entice her allegiance to the Fuhrer. Helga is sent away to Hitler Youth training camps as the war draws nearer her home in Berlin. She is caught between loyalty to her family, suffering under Nazi rule, and loyalty to the Fuhrer, who keeps her safe and well-fed. Helga's gradual disillusionment, followed by her harrowing escape home, is a powerful coming-of-age story of a young girl's survival of Nazi mind control. This second edition contains letters from Helga to the author with memories of her childhood experience.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 29, 2015
This "non-fiction" novel could easily be read by teenagers as well as by adults albeit they might need some supervision to understand the tougher parts of the story. The author tells the story of one woman who as a young girl was forced after her tenth birthday to join as a "Jugend," a member of Hitler's child army, "trained to revere and obey the Fuhrer." Although her parents were not in favour of this, there really was no option to joining, and before long Helga was being brainwashed to believe that Hitler loved her and was her benefactor.
The book was based on interviews with a librarian who had emigrated to the US in 1948. The story is a true one and spoken with her voice. As the story progresses she begins to question what she is being taught. She was taken away from her home for lengthy periods of time, fed well at a time when food was scare for everyone at the community (Including her parents). At the end of the war she and two friends were left to make their way home alone and had contact with Russian soldiers that could be upsetting to some (rape was involved).
In movies and books one often hears of the Hitler Youth movement, but typically it is referring to young boys. I found this book particularly interesting in that it told the story of what the girls had to deal with. It also gave a picture of the life of the typical German - forced to contribute money regularly to little girls collecting money for Hitler, being told that they could not hug or kiss their children and often living in fear that things they said within family could be used against them. It makes me appreciate the human rights we have today and how important it is that we stand up for them and never allow this to happen again.
The book was based on interviews with a librarian who had emigrated to the US in 1948. The story is a true one and spoken with her voice. As the story progresses she begins to question what she is being taught. She was taken away from her home for lengthy periods of time, fed well at a time when food was scare for everyone at the community (Including her parents). At the end of the war she and two friends were left to make their way home alone and had contact with Russian soldiers that could be upsetting to some (rape was involved).
In movies and books one often hears of the Hitler Youth movement, but typically it is referring to young boys. I found this book particularly interesting in that it told the story of what the girls had to deal with. It also gave a picture of the life of the typical German - forced to contribute money regularly to little girls collecting money for Hitler, being told that they could not hug or kiss their children and often living in fear that things they said within family could be used against them. It makes me appreciate the human rights we have today and how important it is that we stand up for them and never allow this to happen again.
May 12, 2016
Way, way, way too many details of the horrors that the German women endured at the end of WW2. It is very graphic. No detail is left out. It was very interesting to see how she fell for Hitler's lies despite her families resistance, but any good points were completely destroyed by the indecency of the last chapters.
August 26, 2022
An amazing story on how Helga survived growing up in Hitlers Germany. Definitely a must read!
October 14, 2024
Excellent book!!!
July 31, 2015
Intriguing look at Hitler youth!
This fast-paced book follows Helga as she is taken from her family to be schooled and cared for in style while Germany fights Hitler's war. She returns home, only to be taken again for a couple years. When the Russians approach Berlin, the girls are sent out in the streets to make their ways home. I found the book hard to put down!
This fast-paced book follows Helga as she is taken from her family to be schooled and cared for in style while Germany fights Hitler's war. She returns home, only to be taken again for a couple years. When the Russians approach Berlin, the girls are sent out in the streets to make their ways home. I found the book hard to put down!
October 15, 2015
Try to understand
It's a good story about a senseless war started by a depraved man. The author has done careful research about the era of the third Reich and the thoughts of a family from Berlin.
It's a good story about a senseless war started by a depraved man. The author has done careful research about the era of the third Reich and the thoughts of a family from Berlin.
June 7, 2015
A disturbing but enlightening narrative of a young girl growing up in Hitler's Germany and taught to be a Hitler devotee.
February 1, 2017
In Forbidden Strawberries, her autobiographical account of the Holocaust years, Cipora (Tsipora) Hurwitz says something that amounts to this - that she wants to tell about those people that are gone due to the murders, entire families and villages and regions, but did once exist, and she won't allow them to become non existent by the acts of murderers.
Reading Helga, this book that is another autobiographical account of the same years but from the other side of the divide, one realises how very true this thinking of Cipora Hurwitz is, how very close the Jews and many others came to being not merely forgotten but claimed non existent, by the determined attempt of the nazis to extinguish their beings, lives, existence. And Cipora Hurwitz is not the only one, or even the first one, to have thought of this - most survivors of the Holocaust have known this, and it is something that applies to other victims of such crimes too, whether the three million of East Bengal '71 or one million Armenians of a century ago, the women killed by various relatives of their own or the Yezdis and others massacred by zealots in name of the faith of killers.
Helga is from the divide, the deep ravine that is a mere thin line socially, the wall that is not concrete or even a glass wall, that was of Roman creation post driving Jews from Judea, and existed in Europe between Jews and others for centuries, until early last century it went crazy and people from one side were often unaware of their neighbours across the divide being exterminated. That is, those that were aware of the people across the said wall at all, whether they admitted them as humans as Helga's parents and grandparents did, or not, as the youth group Helga was forced to join were made to think.
Most of us are aware of Hitler Youth as the young boys that were brought in to war towards end of war in Germany to fight the last battles. This story is of real children, specifically from the protagonist's point of view that is girls centred but does mention there were boys too in the same groups, from '39 to the end of the war when the Russians were at Berlin already.
As incredible as the earlier parts where the young at ten are forced to join the youth groups is, it gets only more incredible what with the indoctrination that is so very easy and the very religious zeal with which the young in the story view the leader they are taught to worship - until one reflects that the tactic is merely copied from church and other institutional indoctrination which is no different, after all. Here, too, there was the paraphernalia of the other sort associated that helps, such as food provided at group meetings and subsequently at the resorts where they were stationed for years.
Until the very end, these kids did not have a real clue that they were being fed lies, even though their parents often knew but were too afraid to tell the kids, and the only clue they had if any was a personal acquaintance or more than one, about the people maligned being not quite so dirty or evil or ugly as they were told, whether the maligned were Jews or those of other countries, other parts of the world.
How suddenly the tale changes from this well fed youth world of lies and delusions to a sudden order given them to leave and go, since Russians were then too close, and the complete horror of so young a bunch of girls alone on roads to Berlin choked with people trying to escape the Russians while these young girls tried to walk home - and coped with numerous dangers, being shot at and raped, and more, is the horror of the last few chapters.
And one can only wish it all had been a horror story rather than history, and the Helga of this and Lalechka and Cipora of other tales of the time had been safe with their parents! If only one could fly back through time and clutch them to heart and fly them off to a safer zone in time!
December 1, 2021
Brainwashing children is too easy.
That's how it appears. Karen retells Helga's story, a German woman who grew up in the Nazi days where she - just like all other children her age - had to participate in the Hitlerjugend and were indoctrinated of the "greatness" of Adolf Hitler. Yep, the Führer is the best person out there and just wants the best for each of us. Those children are just 10 and after a year of people repeating this over and over as well with clever seduction techniques such as candy during poverty they are swayed. They believe that Hitler is the savior of humanity.
It was crazy to see how easy brain-washing works and how they never questioned Hitler up until the very end. Children, eh?
It felt hard putting this book down, it was superbly written and really drew me in. While reading it, I was partly scared for her and her relatives. I was scared that she would blur out something "forbidden" or that she would report someone close to her. It's scary to live in a dictatorship where everyone is monitored.
I was a bit surprised that the Hitlerjugend events along with those camps weren't are gruesome as I had expected. Indeed, I expected them to suffer but from the stories they seemed spoiled and not so bad! I guess it makes sense, they have to seduce them, fill them with propaganda and just like that gain spies in every household.
I would have wished to know a little more about the characters' lives after Hitler and some reflection of them. There was one scene with a teacher but they didn't get much out of it and we didn't hear much from the characters either.
I'm also a bit confused as to whether the story happened exactly as written or whether certain dialogues are fictional to make it a good read. From the letters at the end of the book it seems like the second guess is true, so I'm a bit confused why this wasn't mentioned anywhere. Some clarification would definitely be nice.
Oh well, I count myself lucky, living in Germany at modern days. Here, we still hear about Hitler, but of course to remember and to avoid such atrocities from happening again. Though detailed inside stories from the Hitlerjugend are rare in history classes, and I would recommend this book to anyone. It is also really short - so start reading!
That's how it appears. Karen retells Helga's story, a German woman who grew up in the Nazi days where she - just like all other children her age - had to participate in the Hitlerjugend and were indoctrinated of the "greatness" of Adolf Hitler. Yep, the Führer is the best person out there and just wants the best for each of us. Those children are just 10 and after a year of people repeating this over and over as well with clever seduction techniques such as candy during poverty they are swayed. They believe that Hitler is the savior of humanity.
It was crazy to see how easy brain-washing works and how they never questioned Hitler up until the very end. Children, eh?
It felt hard putting this book down, it was superbly written and really drew me in. While reading it, I was partly scared for her and her relatives. I was scared that she would blur out something "forbidden" or that she would report someone close to her. It's scary to live in a dictatorship where everyone is monitored.
I was a bit surprised that the Hitlerjugend events along with those camps weren't are gruesome as I had expected. Indeed, I expected them to suffer but from the stories they seemed spoiled and not so bad! I guess it makes sense, they have to seduce them, fill them with propaganda and just like that gain spies in every household.
I would have wished to know a little more about the characters' lives after Hitler and some reflection of them. There was one scene with a teacher but they didn't get much out of it and we didn't hear much from the characters either.
I'm also a bit confused as to whether the story happened exactly as written or whether certain dialogues are fictional to make it a good read. From the letters at the end of the book it seems like the second guess is true, so I'm a bit confused why this wasn't mentioned anywhere. Some clarification would definitely be nice.
Oh well, I count myself lucky, living in Germany at modern days. Here, we still hear about Hitler, but of course to remember and to avoid such atrocities from happening again. Though detailed inside stories from the Hitlerjugend are rare in history classes, and I would recommend this book to anyone. It is also really short - so start reading!
November 28, 2019
The author retells her friend’s account of what it was like to grow up in Nazi Germany, where, at 10 year’s old she was “invited” to join the Jugend, the girls’ branch of the Hitler Youth. This was an invitation that could not be turned down and over the following years Helga and her young friends were brainwashed into a frantic adoration of Hitler - until they first begin to realise that their leaders are spying on them for any signs of disloyalty and finally disillusion dawned on them. Their journey from their evacuation camp back to Berlin is told in graphic and shocking detail - my one regret is that the story did not continue to recount whether Helga’s friends also found their families safely and how Helga herself escaped post war Berlin to become a librarian in America.
An account that demonstrates just how easy it would be for such poisonous brainwashing to happen again and how important it is for today’s society to guard against it.
An account that demonstrates just how easy it would be for such poisonous brainwashing to happen again and how important it is for today’s society to guard against it.
August 7, 2020
Have more questions since I finished reading book
I 'm honestly more confused after reading this book. What was the purpose of the 'brain-washing', 'training', of all these young girls. At age 10, they all go to an hotel learn their lessons, and then finally they must stand at attention, waiting for inspection. Instead of a few weeks or a few months - they are kept there for two years. Food is not lacking at this hotel.
Their next trip is near the Baltic Sea. Food is not as abundant this time.
This time around, the girls are asked to mend and repair socks for the German soldiers.
Young boys were trained, and were sent out to the battle field or they were hung, with a sign stating that they refused to be a soldier and to fight for their (father) mother-land.
I didn't really understand the role that the girl's played. Perhaps, I wasn't reading the story with enough in-sight.
I 'm honestly more confused after reading this book. What was the purpose of the 'brain-washing', 'training', of all these young girls. At age 10, they all go to an hotel learn their lessons, and then finally they must stand at attention, waiting for inspection. Instead of a few weeks or a few months - they are kept there for two years. Food is not lacking at this hotel.
Their next trip is near the Baltic Sea. Food is not as abundant this time.
This time around, the girls are asked to mend and repair socks for the German soldiers.
Young boys were trained, and were sent out to the battle field or they were hung, with a sign stating that they refused to be a soldier and to fight for their (father) mother-land.
I didn't really understand the role that the girl's played. Perhaps, I wasn't reading the story with enough in-sight.
October 4, 2018
The author is able to take one of history's most unique and depraved moments, and for the most part tell its story through a bland narrative. It is just so superficial, it barely skims the surface of the internal conflict that Helga must have been feeling when she was being brainwashed by the Hitler Youth and how this conflicted with her parents' beliefs. Helga becoming a fully indoctrinated member of the Hitler Youth, and her realisation of all the lies she was told, is given only the slightest mention and seems to be of very little concern to her.
Helga's return to Berlin contains some traumatic scenes, but again I was left feeling as though it only brushed the surface of what things must have really been like.
It's probably a good book for high school students to introduce the topic of Nazism and the Hitler Youth, but it fails to be historical account that provides any really substantial details as to the workings of the Hitler Youth.
Helga's return to Berlin contains some traumatic scenes, but again I was left feeling as though it only brushed the surface of what things must have really been like.
It's probably a good book for high school students to introduce the topic of Nazism and the Hitler Youth, but it fails to be historical account that provides any really substantial details as to the workings of the Hitler Youth.
June 27, 2020
It’s rare to find a book about the non-Jewish German people and how they felt during and after hitlers mania. This family was never for Hitler, but the brainwashing their 10-year-old daughter experienced made her worship him. It’s a very interesting perspective of how Hitler convinced people he was great. The poor girl went through a lot of harrowing experiences, but she and her friends did wake up and realize how horrible he was. I thinks she feels a bit to blame, but of course shouldn’t. A quick easy read.
February 27, 2020
Ease of brainwashing!
Wonderful presentation of the life of Hitler youth. Being taken away from family at the age of 10 and brainwashed into the ways Hitler went about convincing the German youth he was wonderful and had all the answers to making the world perfect is carefully explained. As the war wore on and the youth began to realize they were being lied to it became evident their parents had been right all along.
Wonderful presentation of the life of Hitler youth. Being taken away from family at the age of 10 and brainwashed into the ways Hitler went about convincing the German youth he was wonderful and had all the answers to making the world perfect is carefully explained. As the war wore on and the youth began to realize they were being lied to it became evident their parents had been right all along.
June 29, 2020
A part of German WW2 history I never knew about
I had heard about the Hitler youth before but mostly in terms of what the boys did. I also had heard about a club for the girls were they learned how to knit and take care of babies etc. This book talks about a group where the Nazis actually took girls from their parents at the age of 10 in order to instruct them on how to be Hitler loving Nazi girls. And how they were indoctrinated. It was quite fascinating.
I had heard about the Hitler youth before but mostly in terms of what the boys did. I also had heard about a club for the girls were they learned how to knit and take care of babies etc. This book talks about a group where the Nazis actually took girls from their parents at the age of 10 in order to instruct them on how to be Hitler loving Nazi girls. And how they were indoctrinated. It was quite fascinating.
May 16, 2020
Interesting
An look inside some of the Hitler youth movement. Having been stationed In West Germany in mid 70’s it was hard for me to understand how an intelligent people could be duped into hitler madness. I understand more each day reading this history. Fearful far it mimics the party line of the Democratic Party of today
An look inside some of the Hitler youth movement. Having been stationed In West Germany in mid 70’s it was hard for me to understand how an intelligent people could be duped into hitler madness. I understand more each day reading this history. Fearful far it mimics the party line of the Democratic Party of today
January 17, 2018
Interesting Story
It was an interesting story. Propaganda is a must in the dictator country. I had a similar experience when I was a child.
It was an interesting story. Propaganda is a must in the dictator country. I had a similar experience when I was a child.
March 9, 2018
Good read
Very interesting read....it was a miracle anybody survived world war 2! Not an easy time to grow up in! It's worth it to read this.
Very interesting read....it was a miracle anybody survived world war 2! Not an easy time to grow up in! It's worth it to read this.
April 9, 2019
Great
This is great reading for everyone who has ever wondered what was life like in Hitler's Germany. Gold by a young girl.
This is great reading for everyone who has ever wondered what was life like in Hitler's Germany. Gold by a young girl.
May 3, 2019
Great book
I prefer true stories this magnificent story kept me gripped from start to finish you could feel the pain and the love of the family.
I prefer true stories this magnificent story kept me gripped from start to finish you could feel the pain and the love of the family.
July 1, 2019
good account of a Jungend experience in WW2. I would have like to learned more about what happened to the family and friends next
August 22, 2020
It was an interesting look at the Hitler Youth and how they were brainwashed along with the adult population of Germany.
September 18, 2020
.
Hi.
Loved the book.
Well written.
Opened my eyes to how that war effected the German people. Thanks for the history lesson.
Hi.
Loved the book.
Well written.
Opened my eyes to how that war effected the German people. Thanks for the history lesson.
October 16, 2021
Well written.....took me to a time & place of history..which must be told & remembered so we dont repeat. Highly recommended..story told from the other side...
October 21, 2022
The other side of the story.This, and "Under Two Flags" by Heinz Weichardt reveal little known facts about that period in Germany. The latter can be found on archive.org.
October 2, 2025
THIS WAS A VERY GOOD READ, GREAT STORY, WELL WRITTEN, BUT THE AUTHOR DIDN'T FINISH THE STORY. WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID SHE MEET HER HUSBAND, DON HELLRIEGEL
March 3, 2017
I recevied a complimentary copy.
Five stars is for the truth and heart that was put out by the author.
This book is rough to read through both for the way the language is used and the situations in play. It is not for the faint of heart and will make you a bit more humble.
Thank you to the author who shows the reader truth in the most personal way.
Five stars is for the truth and heart that was put out by the author.
This book is rough to read through both for the way the language is used and the situations in play. It is not for the faint of heart and will make you a bit more humble.
Thank you to the author who shows the reader truth in the most personal way.
February 25, 2017
A different perspective
This book intrigued me because of the hidden side of WW II. The German citizens who realized too late what an actual lunatic Hitler was. It is really frightening how parallel to real life now this seems. Hopefully, we will never let history repeat itself.
This book intrigued me because of the hidden side of WW II. The German citizens who realized too late what an actual lunatic Hitler was. It is really frightening how parallel to real life now this seems. Hopefully, we will never let history repeat itself.
February 22, 2017
An excellent read
Heart-breaking. But completely uplifting in the end. It illuminates a curious chapter of the Second World War...how was it growing up in Nazi Germany?
Heart-breaking. But completely uplifting in the end. It illuminates a curious chapter of the Second World War...how was it growing up in Nazi Germany?
May 11, 2017
Most of us are aware of Hitler Youth as the young boys that were brought into war towards the end of war in Germany to fight the last battles. This story is of real children, specifically from the protagonist's point of view that is girls centered but does mention there were boys too in the same groups, from '39 to the end of the war when the Russians were in Berlin already.
To reflect on what I have learned from this book is; I have learned a colossal amount of information on Hitler Youth, it has provided me a context for my scrapbook project and I now understand the stand of the girls in WW2 under the Nazi regime.
I would recommend this book to my fellow Historical-Fiction fans who want to explore a possible new topic to them. I LOVED this book because there were so many heartbreaking moments in this book that I totally cannot relate to.
To reflect on what I have learned from this book is; I have learned a colossal amount of information on Hitler Youth, it has provided me a context for my scrapbook project and I now understand the stand of the girls in WW2 under the Nazi regime.
I would recommend this book to my fellow Historical-Fiction fans who want to explore a possible new topic to them. I LOVED this book because there were so many heartbreaking moments in this book that I totally cannot relate to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews