A World Gone Mad: The True Story of Surviving a Dictatorship

by Gretel Timan

This autobiography is told through the eyes of a child growing into a teen from the last gasping thousand-year empire of Hitler into the equally evil government of East Germany, a life that had no normal childhood and a life of tears and fear and no future. Only being allowed to migrate to the US at age twenty-one changed the author's life.



Gretel Timan grew up in East Germany and struggled with discrimination and restriction because her father was a "capitalist." She had contact with her American aunt, and worst, she refused to join the Soviet-German friendship. In 1957, she emigrated to the US, and her life changed dramatically. In her words, she became a "butterfly." She now lives in North Carolina and is forever grateful to be allowed to live in freedom and democracy.

74 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2026

Reviews

[Maryrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Eye-Opening Memoir

This book gives a very personal look at life during and after World War II. Gretel Timan doesn’t just talk about historical events; she shows how those events affected everyday people and families. Her childhood experiences and the struggles she faced growing up under a dictatorship were incredibly powerful to read about. It really helped me understand how difficult life was during those times. I learned a lot from

[Job · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a hard time putting this book down. The author writes about her childhood during the war with such honesty that it feels incredibly real. The stories about fear, survival, and life under dictatorship were both shocking and eye-opening. What touched me most was how she held on to hope even during the darkest moments. This memoir is emotional, powerful, and definitely worth reading.

[bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked most about this memoir is how honest it feels. The author shares painful memories from her childhood, but she also talks about the strength she found to keep moving forward. Some of the scenes are difficult to read because they are so real, but that’s what makes the story so powerful. It’s a reminder of how resilient people can be even in the hardest situations.