Promises Kept: One Man's Journey Against Incredible Odds

by Ernest W. Michel

When Ernest Michel emigrated to America, he made a promise to his friends to remind the world of the torture and death inflicted by the Nazis. This is his first-hand account.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, World War II

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those MUST read type books if you are into WW2 and the late 1940's Israeli settlement of the Jews. The story is about the author - Ernest W Michel. He describes the late 1930's on how the Nazis began the brutal force in it's take over of the Jews. His time in the concentration camps and long marches to other camps was quite a struggle for him as he describes it in detail. Yes. he was lucky and determined to live and to tell the world about the story of the Holocaust. Later he was instrumental to help survivors and to make a home in Israel. He became a top notch Fundraiser for the establishment of the Jewish settlement. He met world leaders in an effort to make this happen. Yes, he had Promises to Keep. However, the last 50 or so pages it got bogged down a bit but the information and the history of the Jewish plight is well worth the read.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ernest Michel’s parents and friends died in the Nazi death camps. He was sent to Auschwitz and survived. He promised to tell the story of what happened in the camps. After the war he was a reporter and covered the Nuremberg Trial. He eventually made his way to America. He worked for many years for the United Jewish Appeal. His story is riveting and important to remember.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this memoir. It was obviously very difficult to read in areas but that it was made it so good. Reading about the Holocaust or other horrendous accounts of genocide around the world is important. We must never forget. We must never forget the evils of many nor the blessings of few. In this memoir, we are reminded of the horrors of Auschwitz through the eyes of Michel, yet he also describes those small nuggets of hope that led him to survive. This next passage was among my favorite examples of the hope that existed for him.

“Something amazing happened on the way, near Prague. As the open train and its skeletal passengers passed by a factory, we were recognized by the workers, undoubtedly because of our striped prison clothing. Within moments they bombarded us with anything they could get their hands on. Sandwiches, sausages, shirts, hats- whatever they could find was thrown into the open cars and quickly grabbed by those of us who were lucky. It was a rare outbreak of spontaneous compassion from people who didn’t have much and reached out to those who had nothing. Thank you, Czechs. We’ve never forgotten you.”

Michel also credits his knowledge of calligraphy with saving his life. Through this skill he is given the job of documenting and keeping track of death certificates in Auschwitz. And then I thought of my grandpa, who served in the army during WWII. Though he often spoke of his time overseas and even being in the Battle of the Bulge, he would never speak of glimpsing Auschwitz. He couldn’t bring himself to talk about it. And I also remembered how he credited his knowledge of shorthand as saving him from the front lines. (My grandfather's experience serving in WWII in no way compares to the horrors of Michel’s imprisonment; however, it was interesting to connect how a specific skill set perhaps led to the survival of both men.)

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read and appreciate Michel’s memoir. I learned a great deal from reading about his experiences surviving Auschwitz.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernest Michel survived against tremendous odds. His parents and most of his friends were murdered by German Nazis. After barely escaping the same fate, he went to the back to Germany and later to the United States. But he couldn't forget promises he'd made to friends, many of whom had died. He has dedicated his life to telling the world what happened in the camps. Promises Kept is his book that does just that. It includes his account of: the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial, reuniting with his sister, his time in Auschwitz, and so many other things before, after, and during the war.

This book connects to nearly everyone. It is so touching and sad yet upbeat and fun it can connect to anyone. At least anyone who has a soul and believes that the holocaust actually happened and that six million people were murdered during said holocaust. So if you have a soul and a brain you're going to feel some sort of connection to this one.

I gave this book four stars. It was really good. I might have maybe given it 3.75 stars because of it's totally random progression but it was so good everywhere else and 3.75 is just made up of too many numbers. The events in this book and during those sad times are just so unbelievable. Although this book doesn't just take place during the holocaust, in fact most of it takes place afterwards. This was a good read and I would recommend it to sense filled people between the ages of 13 and 4,287,691,856. (yes, that is a random number I button mashed to get. But it's still true!)

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

What was Noteworthy:

-The author of this book, Ernest Michel, came to SOF back when we were in 8th Grade and gave me a signed copy of this book.

-This is a true story about a how a young German Jewish man living through the Holocaust, through death camps and just barely managed to escape. He talks about the freedom in America and how he never took things for granted. The final half of the book is so emotional and magical and you just can't help but cheer Ernest on for what he lives for.

-The book is an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who feels their life is going downhill. They will find that Ernest's youth was HORRIFYING. My life may not be perfect, but it certainly hasn't been as painful as Ernest and other Holocaust survivor's experiences.

-If you can find a copy, read it.

[Paul Berebitsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Michel's account if his life in Germany in the late 1930s, his arrest, and then his survival of Auschwitz. Details his reunion with his sister, work as a reporter during the Nuremberg trials, and efforts on behalf of Holocaust survivors during the remainder of his life. Good look at the interaction among prisoners in a death camp.

[Lorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my goodness! The situations and events Ernest Michel lived through illuminate the horrors and atrocities of the Holocaust.

Michel's story is compelling, and inspiring. He brings full force to the death defying odds he managed to escape from during the Holocaust. Most importantly his life after the Holocaust defines the gratitude he felt from those who helped him adjust to life in America, from housing to employment.

He never took life for granted, and he was an inspiration to all who crossed his path. He always strove to show human kindness in all of his endeavors. Humanity and goodness were his life's works.

I will add more to this at some point. I just, literally, finished Ernest W. Michel's book, and I need time to fathom all I read.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

You journey with Ernest Michel from the time in November 1938 of Kristallnacht, thru the incredible difficulties, and horrific of the Holocaust. Ernest, as the title says, kept his promises to everyone he loved during the Holocaust. He told their stories. Lots of learning, and disbelief in what was allowed to happen during this time. Nancy Tholen Sweeney recommended this book. I thank her for that. This is very readable and a great learning tool

[cecile rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration

Another holocaust book? A day by day autobiography of what a person can experience is amazing. Beautifully written account of a horrendous experience. I saw me Michel being interviewed on 92nd street and found him to most interesting. I was not disappointed. His love of life and America is inspirational.

[Therese]

Per the book, The Triumphant Spirit (about Holocaust survivor)

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Promises Kept the author Ernest Michel was excluted, shunned out and pushed away from his community. Everything he had worked for was over and he then was arrested at the age of 16. His sequal to the first book he wrote describes his timne in the camps during the war and what he did after. It describes what progress he's made and what he tried helping make and see his sister for one of the first times since the war started.

A text-to-world connection i can make is that in the book Promises Kept Erenst desribes in great detail on how he endured and then escaped a parell death march during the Holocaust. In reality during the Holocaust many people died. Over the sum of 6 million and every day there'd be a death march but Ernest was the only lucky one to escape.

I'd give this book 5 stars because it shows the courage of a young man. DEtermined to survive and see what ever left of his family their was he wanted to fight. It made a great story to write about and i personally think he couldn't of summed it up a better way.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ernest Michel, A young Jewish boy from Mannheim, Germany. When Hitler and the Nazi party had come into power he was kicked out of school and had no rights as a Jew. Ernest was to old to for kinder transport, so he had to go to the labour camps and survived Auschwitz. He survived though, and had the courage to write this book for us.
I can make a text to wold connection, around the world, there are many many holocaust survivors. That are here to share their story with the world. Many still cary their tatoos on their arms in pride, some cary it with sorrow.
I loved this book, at some parts I just wanted to cry, his life was so hard, but thanks to a very special man, Ernest is still here with us. Ernest is a good writer, he explains the labour camps with detial, and what happened.


I LOVE YOU ERNEST!!!
(:

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I could not put it down despite some of the gruesome and grittily realistic descriptions of the Holocaust. Mr. Michel lived through first the initial persecutions, then being shuffled among concentration camps and finally making a bold escape. He escaped from the famous "death march" from Auschwitz to Buchenwald ahead of the advancing Soviet armies. Hitler wanted to "finish the job" before being stopped.

The book then details his immigration to the U.S. The book lays out why this country is simply the best land anywhere, a miraculous. country. He rose from being an errand boy at a small-town newspaper in Port Huron, Michigan to executive levels at United Jewish Appeal. The book is spellbinding, and probably among the five top books I have ever read. Incredibly, I bought it for $1.50 at a cutout sale at the public library.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only the first of the book is about the author's time in the camps. Then there is a long boring section about his work as a fund-raiser for the Jewish cause. But, the section the World Gathering of survivors is resoundingly heartwarming.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worthwhile read.