Remember the Holocaust: A memoir of survival

by Helen Farkas

In this memoir, Helen Farkas shares her terrifying and painful story with moving honesty and simplicity. A witness to the rise of anti-Semitism and the Nazi occupation of Hungary, she recounts her family’s deportation to a local ghetto, and ultimately the horrifying reality of the infamous death camp Auschwitz. She describes her terrible losses, the death march they endured, and her daring escape. It is a story of an ordinary woman surviving extraordinary circumstances. Despite the horrors, it is also a love story, as Helen is reunited with her prewar fiancé and together they seek a better life in America. This book is an inspiring testament to human resilience and the author’s strength and ultimate triumph will stay with the reader. In her Epilogue, Farkas offers us perspective on our lives when she tells us, “When I awake every morning, I realize that I am grateful just to be alive and see the shining sun.” “With this small book, Helen Farkas makes a significant contribution to all of society. By understatement, she makes real the enormous suffering, terror, and tragedy she witnessed as a young woman caught in the vicious Nazi plan. She challenges all of us to accept responsibility for the policies and actions of our government.” - Tom Lantos, former US Congressman

Genres: Memoir, Holocaust

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Vicky Qu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Remember The Holocaust by Helen Farkas is about a young girl surviving through the holocaust with her sister. This book tells the inside story of what it feels like to be involved in it, how they survived, and what hardships they’ve encountered.
The book fully explained how the Jews were treated during the event, how the dark system works, and what the purpose of the German's acts were. For instance, in Auschwitz, the women that have disabilities, and are older than 50 and younger than 10 were selected to be burned because the Nazis believed that they would not be able to work efficiently and independently. Others, including all men, were burned alive in a giant fire chamber, only because the Nazis didn’t want any rebellion forming from them and causing problems. The guards even ordered that if the survivors from the first camp did not obey the Nazis orders, they would also end up burned, alive, just like their parents and children. After the first camp, the Jews were transported to war grounds. Some were forced to risk their lives by testing the ground for bombs. Some dug traps to stop the Soviet Union’s tank for the Germans. Others marched with the soldiers to push barrels, going around the country. As the author is one of the victims that marched, she stated that if one were to try and escape or got tired and fell behind during the march, they would be executed right there on spot. In addition, the Jews did not receive any sort of food or water. They had to eat any plants they find, and get water by eating snow. And so at last they escaped, and the story is fully well ended. The book was not boring, and more like an interesting journal. The harshness that the author has been though is described well, and the message is clear. The tone of the book is dark.This quote demonstrates the cruelty, “Do you see the flames and smoke that come out? Do you smell the flesh? That’s where they are burning your families.” (Remember the Holocaust pg 38) I don’t think the book would be, in any way shape or form, relate-able to anyone who was not part of the Holocaust. I don’t really have a favorite part of the book, as it is over all interesting. Since it is a book based on the dreadful history of the Holocaust , I don’t have any interest in changing any parts of it. I would recommend this book five out of five for classmates.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen describes the painful reality of the war, but it reads a bit cut-and-dry, more textbook than novel. I appreciated reading Helen’s story and I think she does a wonderful job of relaying her personal experiences. Thank you, Helen.

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing to meet Helen in San Jose, CA in 2016.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

written by a dear family member; an amazing retelling of her story.

[Daniza Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational. I read this for school, and I was just amazed. She's a hero.