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Dorchen: A Childhood Lost in War-Torn Germany
Dorthea Maria Dietrich ("Dorchen" to her family) was just a child of eleven when Germany declared war on Poland in September 1939. She was an ordinary German schoolgirl from an average family thrust into the extraordinary circumstances of war. Her memoir vividly describes the price she, her family, and all the German people paid for Hitler's ambition. Relived through her memories, it is truly a story of childhood innocence lost, but also of survival through grit and courage. She endured air raids, bomb shelters, military training, capture, imprisonment, rape and harrowing escape. The author has created a razor-sharp, clear-eyed and tense narrative about her life during this frightening time, as well as the story of her early struggles as a German war bride settling into a new life in America. This is Dorchen, and she is a remarkable woman.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2014
80 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 30, 2018
A worthy addition to any World War Two library. While it’s a short read, it gives the reader an excellent insight into post-war Germany and how families tried to cope with the Allied occupation. It wasn’t easy.
Dorothy Deitrickh and her family didn’t ask for the war, their Führer gave it to them. It would be an empire that lasted one thousand years! No one would stand in their way. Well, I think the Russians, Brits, Canadians, French, Aussies, Americans and few other folks might have something to add to that-DEFEAT!
Dorothy and her family live in Furstenwalde. They believe they are safe from the horrors of the conflagration until bombs start raining down on Berlin. In late 1944 she decides to join the German Army and do what she can to stave off the Russians and Americans. Her father and mother are appalled, but what can they do? Nothing. She signed the papers and is in.
When the final bell tolls and Germany surrenders, her suffering has only begun: confinement, imprisonment, hunger, desolation, loneliness, depression, rape and hope.
I am always amazed when reading these stories how the survivors had nothing, absolutely nothing. They old way of life lay under tons of rubble or burnt out carcasses. Family members had died at the front, in bombing raids or scattered from the approaching conquerors. Many never to be found or reunited. Can you even fathom what this would be like?
I won’t give away anymore of this memoir other than to add, it will be time well spent
Four Stars
Dorothy Deitrickh and her family didn’t ask for the war, their Führer gave it to them. It would be an empire that lasted one thousand years! No one would stand in their way. Well, I think the Russians, Brits, Canadians, French, Aussies, Americans and few other folks might have something to add to that-DEFEAT!
Dorothy and her family live in Furstenwalde. They believe they are safe from the horrors of the conflagration until bombs start raining down on Berlin. In late 1944 she decides to join the German Army and do what she can to stave off the Russians and Americans. Her father and mother are appalled, but what can they do? Nothing. She signed the papers and is in.
When the final bell tolls and Germany surrenders, her suffering has only begun: confinement, imprisonment, hunger, desolation, loneliness, depression, rape and hope.
I am always amazed when reading these stories how the survivors had nothing, absolutely nothing. They old way of life lay under tons of rubble or burnt out carcasses. Family members had died at the front, in bombing raids or scattered from the approaching conquerors. Many never to be found or reunited. Can you even fathom what this would be like?
I won’t give away anymore of this memoir other than to add, it will be time well spent
Four Stars
May 27, 2021
Jean38no
Good reading the author in telling her story of being a child of Germany shines a light on the children of Germany during and after the war. How WWII impacted them. It appears a lot of youth were forced or volunteered to join the army during the war. After Germany lost the war their lives were turned upside down. They had little food and could be thrown into prison or shot for the slightest reason. The whole country economy was collapsed. The Black Market started up. The Country was divided by the Allies and the Russians. They couldn’t travel to see their relatives if they were living in the Russian zone as Russia closed their borders against the west. Even the city of Berlin was divided among the victors of the war. People had to have papers to travel from one zone to the other. It was very hard on the teenagers many left without their families in other zones.
So I applaud the author for shedding the light on their plight.
Good reading the author in telling her story of being a child of Germany shines a light on the children of Germany during and after the war. How WWII impacted them. It appears a lot of youth were forced or volunteered to join the army during the war. After Germany lost the war their lives were turned upside down. They had little food and could be thrown into prison or shot for the slightest reason. The whole country economy was collapsed. The Black Market started up. The Country was divided by the Allies and the Russians. They couldn’t travel to see their relatives if they were living in the Russian zone as Russia closed their borders against the west. Even the city of Berlin was divided among the victors of the war. People had to have papers to travel from one zone to the other. It was very hard on the teenagers many left without their families in other zones.
So I applaud the author for shedding the light on their plight.
October 26, 2019
...and to think! We were almost neighbors.
WW2 was difficult for everyone involved. Although Maria's struggles weren't as harsh as her Jewish neighbors may have been, she surely suffered; at the hands of her German leader, at the hands of the Russian invaders, at the policies that separated her from her loved ones. I wish the story continued and gave us more insight into what happened to Maria's family after the 50's until the 90''s.
I am so thankful for the multitude of survivors and their children that insisted on telling the story. Thank you!
WW2 was difficult for everyone involved. Although Maria's struggles weren't as harsh as her Jewish neighbors may have been, she surely suffered; at the hands of her German leader, at the hands of the Russian invaders, at the policies that separated her from her loved ones. I wish the story continued and gave us more insight into what happened to Maria's family after the 50's until the 90''s.
I am so thankful for the multitude of survivors and their children that insisted on telling the story. Thank you!
May 13, 2022
WWII From a German Teen's Perspective
I read Dorchen: A Childhood Lost in War-Torn Germany in two days. It was illuminating to see the war from a German national"s perspective. This was a story of great loss, sadness and triumph. Young Dorchen demonstrated great resiliency as she navigated the terror and deprivation thrust upon her people by the Nazi war machine. She was a remarkable individual. I'm very glad to have read her story.
I read Dorchen: A Childhood Lost in War-Torn Germany in two days. It was illuminating to see the war from a German national"s perspective. This was a story of great loss, sadness and triumph. Young Dorchen demonstrated great resiliency as she navigated the terror and deprivation thrust upon her people by the Nazi war machine. She was a remarkable individual. I'm very glad to have read her story.
January 24, 2020
Born in Germany
I thought this was a great, well rounded, true story of a young girl’s survival during WWII. She struggled in so many ways. I enjoyed reading it and learned quite a bit about life in Germany during and after the war.
I thought this was a great, well rounded, true story of a young girl’s survival during WWII. She struggled in so many ways. I enjoyed reading it and learned quite a bit about life in Germany during and after the war.
December 6, 2020
A different perspective
Since I read about holocaust victims and all that they suffered during the Nazi years this was an interesting perspective from a German living through those years, decidedly different from what the Jewish people endured.
Since I read about holocaust victims and all that they suffered during the Nazi years this was an interesting perspective from a German living through those years, decidedly different from what the Jewish people endured.
May 25, 2020
Nice to hear a story from a german
But did she ever find her son or family? Did she find out if she murdered her rapist?inquiry minds want to know
But did she ever find her son or family? Did she find out if she murdered her rapist?inquiry minds want to know
October 21, 2020
Could. not put it down
Could not put it down. Non-fiction that reads like a novel. Especially RECOMMEND for those interested in WW2 era and beyond.
Could not put it down. Non-fiction that reads like a novel. Especially RECOMMEND for those interested in WW2 era and beyond.
May 1, 2021
Well-written
This was a very interesting book. It read very well. The descriptions about the events during her life were very vividly detailed. I recommend this book.
This was a very interesting book. It read very well. The descriptions about the events during her life were very vividly detailed. I recommend this book.
February 3, 2022
It was an interesting read in terms of how it was to be a German teen during World War II. It did seem kind of unbelievable that her family wasn’t particularly political yet she felt the need to join the army at 16 without letting her parents know. I guess I can’t discount her since it’s her memoir but I think they might have been more fervent than the author wants people to think. I found it disconcerting that at no point did she really acknowledge the atrocities that people suffered during the Holocaust but she felt very sorry for herself in her struggles in post war Germany. Three stars because it’s a memoir and it takes a lot to put yourself out there but I didn’t particularly enjoy the book and I was disappointed that the author didn’t really seem to be interested in anyone’s suffering but her own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews