I Only Wanted to Live: The Struggle of a Boy to Survive the Holocaust

by Arie Tamir, Batya Jerenberg (Translator)

A broad picture of the Holocaust from the point of view of a childThis book is a memoir of a child who is swept into the whirlwind of the Holocaust. The epic history is narrowed down to the struggle of a single boy nicknamed Leosz to survive the war. From age 7 to age 13, he endures all the horrors that the Holocaust brings upon the Jewish people. Life hangs on split-second timing, decision-making in impossibly cruel circumstances, incredible resourcefulness, luck and the help of others, even Germans.

In the Krakow Ghetto, Leosz is saved from three mass deportations to the death camps. He escapes the ghetto, survives for several weeks pretending to be a

Polish street child, and then goes into hiding. Although sentenced to die after being caught, he is instead miraculously reunited with his family in the Plaszow labor camp. A year later, father and son become slave laborers in the Gozen 2 camp in Austria, where his father perishes. Close to death himself, Leosz is finally liberated by the American army on May 5th, 1945.

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Genres: Holocaust, History, World War II, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Historical

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 2, 2015

Reviews

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As many reviewers have stated, this is a most unusual tale of the Krakow Ghetto and the Holocaust. Why? It isn’t filled with the same emotion many other stories are filled with. But then, that is the beauty of the story. We are seeing the events through the eyes of child. A child who realizes early there is no time for emotion. Survival is the only thing that matters. He witnesses hundreds of murders and executions. He doesn’t’ become callous, he becomes immune to the site of death. It is becoming common place. This does not mean he accepts it, but since he can do nothing to change it, he thanks God he is not one of the lambs being led to the slaughter.
How can we possibly imagine what it would be like at ten/eleven to have your entire world turned upside down and you, your family and friends targeted as “Enemies of the State
, but have committed no crime other than being born Jewish.
Arie does an excellent job describing his life in the Ghetto, his time with friends, strangers his time in Plaszow and eventually Mauthhausen.
I had never head of the Plaazow camp. I found it very interesting especially the passage on how the nurses and guards kept the children calm as they led them to be slaughtered.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and Arie’s perspective on how he survived.

[maria vanderroer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon customer

Wow . What a remarkable true story of the will to live in that horrific genocide. I think he is true inspiration for the next generations who might faced difficulties in life. We should all be inspired most by self discipline and still have compassion for humanity. We are not all beasts and with the mustard seeds of love and respect we all can survive.

[Jill Robbertze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have given the 4 star rating for content and not for writing technique. I have read other accounts of prisoners of war and holocaust survivors but this one is really different in that it is written through the eyes and from the memory of a child, which gives a very different perspective. Please don't be put off by the first chapter where the author goes into extensive detail naming and describing all his numerous family and extended family members. The story really starts from chapter 2 from where it becomes absolutely facinating and ultimately both horrific and almost unbelieveable. An excellent read.

[Patricia (Irishcharmer) Yarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't sure exactly what I expected to read in this book, but I know now that you can imagine looking at the world around you through a child's eyes. And realize that the truth is ugly. I'm not sure if I could've survived in such circumstances.
Found myself trying to put myself in this young boy's shoes. Found I was a bit wanting in courage, not to mention inventive imagination pertaining to survival. Believe that I wouldn't be alone. For such a young age, he thought and acted like an older adult. Even as his parents kept (or tried to) the harshness of the war going on around them .
I'm not going to say too much as I think (and believe,truly believe) we all need to continue reading these survivors stories so A) we can understand why, how something like this occurred, B) how to want history NOT to be erased so victims and survivors alike won't be delegated to the dustpan, and C) never forget that because of one man there were those that blindly followed and did his bidding to commit such atrocious acts and crimes against humanity. This is my opinion. So on that note, just wanted to say that I did like this story and will,of course, continue reading more - even the novelized books based on facts and true of life stories. So, if you're of like mind, go ahead and get comfortable and know you're going to meet a very inspiring young boy that not only survived,but because of the life lessons learned, grew into a very enterprising man. I'm glad he decided to tell his story and shared with all of us. --P/

[Sarah Haenftling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting perspective of a young Jewish boy who was from a wealthy respected family which I felt helped with his family's survival in the beginning. The book shows a detailed progression of how life was before the war and how things had slowly progressed overtime eventually putting not only Jews but other groups deemed unworthy by the German regime into the same camps. He managed to escape death multiple times by his quick whit and perhaps a little luck. The courage this boy had and his will to not just survive but to live was both heart wrenching and inspiring. . I would definitely recommend. This book really puts into perspective the importance of family, community, and not taking anyone or anything for granted.

"Being strong didn't necessarily mean to have a lot of muscles, but to be disciplined, know how to endure, and act wisely.” ― Arie Tamir, I Only Wanted to Live: The Struggle

We developed a unique and honorable way of life in which everyone was equal, living by the well-known dictum, “Each giving according to his means and taking according to his needs.” We felt proud to be an example of a just and high-quality lifestyle, and perhaps, according to Jewish tradition, serve as “a light unto the nations.” --A quote from Arie Tamir after the war.

[Jane Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a young Jewish boy growing up during the Holocaust. He tells it like it is and witnesses so many horrors at such a young age. He tells us how his family and neighbors were forced to leave their home in Poland and were taken to Concentration Camps. He is one brilliant brave boy to have endured all this pain and sorrow.. The fact that he lived through so much cruelty is simply amazing. At one time he was even shot and then hunted to be killed. There was so much to take in.

This is part of history that everybody needs to learn what happened during the ‘Hitler Era’. This is an incredible story of the strength and love one family shared during an awful time in history. This young boy accomplished so much just in order to survive. His childhood was extremely traumatic. The book was very well written and tugged on my heartstrings. He is to be commended for sharing his story.

I was fortunate to have won a kindle copy of this book from a ‘Goodreads Giveaway.’

Reviews are posted on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads & Kindle.

[Alli Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story full of amazing albeit sad details.

I Only Wanted to Live was a true story about a young boy's tragic life surviving the Holocaust. Leosz tells about what he has to go through and the family and friends and neighbors he lost in the years of suffering.

This book was told wonderfully and it kept me attached to the story, having me reading it even when I was on videochat with my boyfriend at times. It was full of tragic tales and narrow escapes. There were times where I wondered how he would get out of certain situations and how he survived it all with his life. I'm not big on nonfiction books, but this one is definitely a good read

[Ted Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arie Tamir shares his heartbreaking memoir of enduring and surviving the Holocaust of WWII. In graphic detail Tamir unveils the details of his young life during these horrific events. Having visited Dauchau in 1979 with a group of American students, I found this documentary enlightening, emotional and thought provoking. How can mankind be so cruel? Arie was a true survivor.

[Sandy Estes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing account A young boy And he's survival of the holocaust Much on his own.

We need to Keep in mind the horrible events of World War II, not only the extermination of the Jews but also of the many other ethnic groups that were persecuted. Arnie's account of the daily struggles was so heart wrenching. The cruelty unfathomable. It's hard to think that a human could treat another in such a manner. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing more about WWII

[Brenda K Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are these the same Nazi's others have written a out?

The writer actually speaks of one march to a concentration camp as a "nature hike". He speaks of having a "pleasant meal" with his family in one of the camps. He also speaks of befriending a lot of German officers. His writing of his experience in the camps seems to differ from a lot of other survivers writing of their experience.

[Debbie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful

Insightful story of survival of a young Jewish boy during world war 2 and his experiences of the holocaust. Not as deep as some of those books written by adults about their experiences. But not necessarily a bad thing. Interesting to read a different experience of life in the ghetto which showed that to begin with things remained relatively normal for people.

[Linda Shook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrifying account of what not only the Jewish people went thru during WWII but also Polish Christians and anyone deemed unworthy to live by the Nazi regime. Really difficult to read at times, as this dear man described incidents as he saw them while a young teenager. Like I said, it was hard to read at times but I'm glad I read it.

[Sam Motes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of innocence lost and survival against all odds

Tamir's work is a different perspective from much of the Holocoat accounts and is an important voice to be heard. A story of being forced to grow up quickly living a life surrounded by cruelty and death as loved ones and friends are destroyed before his eyes.

[Marian Cleff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The holocaust from the eyes of a entitled boy.

Other holocaust books moved me emotionally...this account did not. The holocaust was a tragedy in many, many ways. This writer did not develop the tragedy.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of us cannot imagine growing up like Arie did. We can't imagine the fear and the uncertainty.

Reading how this young man survived during the Holocaust is like reading about a miracle. How sad that he was the only survivor in his family.

Powerful read.

[Nancy Pallan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent memoir

I’ve read countless memoirs of Holocaust survivors. This was particularly interesting because it was written from a child’s point of view and is focuses on his means of survival rather than the atrocities he witnessed and experienced.

[sandra dutzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seen through a child's eyes

Interesting seeing how a child saw the war. Sad to see how a child's innocence and childhood was stolen from him. Amazing to see that after all that was done, he was able to live a full and productive life.

[eBookPro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamir's work is a different perspective from much of the Holocoat accounts and is an important voice to be heard. A story of being forced to grow up quickly living a life surrounded by cruelty and death.

[Bonnie Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put it down. A true memoir. Still find the whole subject so hard to believe! The book helped me understand the WW2 a little more.

[Bonnye Reed]

TheFussyLibrarian

[Jeanette D Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Such a great book I know I will read it again in the future. If you want to learn about courage then read this

[Debbie Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how a young boy survives during the Holocaust.

[Lynne Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I do not want anyone to forget what happened in the Holocaust so I continue read and share books and other resources.

[Deborah L. Foltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all

Wow, what a fantastic story of survival. I think Arie Tamar was an amazing and very brave person. Excellent book

[Joao Victor Pap Almeida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history - I got curious if he knew what had happened with his Mom and sister and I was also curious how his dad was murdered.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching

Truly a heartbreaking story. It's amazing that he survived his trials. Recommend reading for serious readers. It keeps you interested the whole way through.

[Julia Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a remarkable account of a survivor of the Krakow ghetto and Plaszow concentration camp. But what makes it even more harrowing is that it's from a child's perspective. Since my grandchildren are more or less the same age the author was at the time, I found it particularly harrowing and some scenes will stay with me for a long time.
Last year, my daughter and I visited Krakow and the ghetto. We stood outside the famous pharmacy in Zgody Square (now known as Heroes Square) and it was distressing to think of the atrocities committed in such a small area. While reading this book, I recognised the names and places and I was with the author all the way.
It was simply written and the brutalities perpetrated were described in a matter-of-fact way, without flowery descriptions. This made the narrative even more effective.
I absolutely recommend this book as a firsthand account of the Holocaust.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand that this is a man writing his memoirs about a time when he was 10-14 years old going through a dramatic life event. I am sure that his parents did their very best to shelter their children from what they could. Arie’s account is so different from other Holocaust accounts that it screams of intrigue. For Arie and his family to have avoided death and separation as long as they did makes me think that his father had dealings this the enemy that others were unaware of. They were so friendly with so many Germans.

I just found his memories so hard to believe. Perhaps I’m cynical but after reading The Diary of a Young Girl and other Holocaust books this account just feels like it’s part of a fantasy world invented by a child who was trying to survive one of the most horrific events in history.

[Kimberly C. Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning

How do you rate someone's life experience? I have been to Germany and went to the sites where some atrocities took place and it was a life experience I won't forget. I have read some other accounts of horrific things occurring in areas of Poland as well. Many are misinformed thinking this only occurred in Germany to Jews but I am glad to read the horrors done beyond that being addressed by this witness.
Thank you for sharing your trauma and I hope we can learn from it!

[Reader V · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book indeed, it's also my very first attempt on reading an actual book, and it did give me an amazing impression on how the book is told and depicted. The way the author talks about his families at the beginning of the story and all the way to how he managed to survive all the tragic events happened to him. The liberation chapter was something had me feel grateful for, and it was about peace and the love of family as they're not always will be there for you one day.