Once upon an Evil Time

by Dieter Steiner, Kimberly N. Jones, Diane Marcou

Once upon an evil time. Memoir of a war child.

376 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Deanna for sharing this moving book with me. The book shows the Holocaust from the point of view of the Germans themselves. It is a memoir in which Dieter is very honest about how he became caught up in the Hitler Youth. His parents never supported Hitler's agendas. However, as an impressionable young person, Dieter was wrapped up in the propaganda and brainwashing. Slowly, over time, with the hardships of the war, Dieter begins to face the reality of what Hitler is about. He also is horrified by the outcomes of the Holocaust. His own family suffers greatly during the war. And his dear mother undergoes a terrible trial. In particular, a frightening neighbor is highlighted who supported Hitler. She put everyone on edge because she insisted that they be patriotic. You can see how minions like her as well as the sweeping evil running across Germany merged to create the horrible outcomes that came to light when the war ended. This book makes you feel bad for everyone. It shows how FEAR can control people's behavior.

[Roger Scanlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book. The author and his family go through terrible hardship living in Berlin during WWII. Not always courageous, not always strong, these are real people and their struggle. Highly recommend.

[Tylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story. I actually got to meet the author and shake his hand. I highly recommend this book.