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Escape From Berlin
A Holocaust survivor tells his compelling family story of escape and survival in China and Australia during WW2.
Living in Berlin in 1939, three-year-old Peter Nachemstein and his parents were forced to escape Nazi Germany by fleeing to Shanghai – one of the only havens left for them and 18,000 other European Jews. Although safe, they became displaced and isolated from the rest of their family, who were scattered across Europe.
In Escape from Berlin , Peter Nash retraces what became of his family members following the devastating impact of WW2. Using remarkable photographs and documents to bring their captivating stories to life, Peter recounts his own experiences of dislocation as a young boy in alien Shanghai, and then later as a teenager and adult in Australia.
Meticulously researched and impeccably detailed, Escape from Berlin brings light to a fascinating but not widely known chapter of Holocaust history in a family story that reflects the experiences of many in the Jewish community.
Living in Berlin in 1939, three-year-old Peter Nachemstein and his parents were forced to escape Nazi Germany by fleeing to Shanghai – one of the only havens left for them and 18,000 other European Jews. Although safe, they became displaced and isolated from the rest of their family, who were scattered across Europe.
In Escape from Berlin , Peter Nash retraces what became of his family members following the devastating impact of WW2. Using remarkable photographs and documents to bring their captivating stories to life, Peter recounts his own experiences of dislocation as a young boy in alien Shanghai, and then later as a teenager and adult in Australia.
Meticulously researched and impeccably detailed, Escape from Berlin brings light to a fascinating but not widely known chapter of Holocaust history in a family story that reflects the experiences of many in the Jewish community.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2017
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 8, 2025
Peter "Nash" was born Nachemstein (8 July 1935) in Berlin, Germany. Shortly after Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, in November 1938, Peter’s parents received an eviction notice from the owners of their apartment. It stated, ‘Under the principles of the Nazis it is not acceptable for Aryan tenants to live under the same roof with Jews. We therefore demand that you vacate the premises.’
Peter’s family did not vacate immediately as they were unable to obtain entry to another country. The family heard that Shanghai did not require an entry visa. So Peter, with his parents, his mother’s parents, and his mother’s brother, decided to leave Berlin. In April 1939, they took a train to Genoa, Italy, where they boarded a German steamship. Unlike dozens of Peter’s family members who did not leave Europe, their lives were saved. Sadly, Peter’s maternal grandfather died one month after reaching Shanghai, suffering complications from a heart attack prior to the journey. Peter’s father’s parents in Poland did not want to leave. Soon after Germany occupied Poland, Peter’s paternal grandparents were among over 300 Jews who were sent to Piotrkow Trybunalski ghetto. They exchanged letters between Shanghai and Poland throughout 1940 until April 1941, after which Peter never heard from his father’s parents again. In late 1942, all the remaining inmates of Piotrkow Trybunalski were transported to Treblinka and murdered. Peter says his parents rarely spoke about Europe and their lives there.
Peter’s knowledge of his life before Shanghai he mostly learned from the many letters, photographs and other items that his family brought with them to Shanghai and then to Sydney. He spent decades researching and building his family trees.
In 1958, Peter met his wife Rieke Isenberg(27 November 1938-2015) at Bondi Beach in December 1958.In 1960, they were married. Peter worked in the textile industry. Rieke was IBM Australia's first female programmer. She was both family oriented and civically minded. Together, they had 3 children: Tony, Simon, and Elana. Tony and Simon Nash, along with their brother-in-law, Steve Traurig, founded the renowned bookseller Booktopia in 2004.
Peter’s family did not vacate immediately as they were unable to obtain entry to another country. The family heard that Shanghai did not require an entry visa. So Peter, with his parents, his mother’s parents, and his mother’s brother, decided to leave Berlin. In April 1939, they took a train to Genoa, Italy, where they boarded a German steamship. Unlike dozens of Peter’s family members who did not leave Europe, their lives were saved. Sadly, Peter’s maternal grandfather died one month after reaching Shanghai, suffering complications from a heart attack prior to the journey. Peter’s father’s parents in Poland did not want to leave. Soon after Germany occupied Poland, Peter’s paternal grandparents were among over 300 Jews who were sent to Piotrkow Trybunalski ghetto. They exchanged letters between Shanghai and Poland throughout 1940 until April 1941, after which Peter never heard from his father’s parents again. In late 1942, all the remaining inmates of Piotrkow Trybunalski were transported to Treblinka and murdered. Peter says his parents rarely spoke about Europe and their lives there.
Peter’s knowledge of his life before Shanghai he mostly learned from the many letters, photographs and other items that his family brought with them to Shanghai and then to Sydney. He spent decades researching and building his family trees.
In 1958, Peter met his wife Rieke Isenberg(27 November 1938-2015) at Bondi Beach in December 1958.In 1960, they were married. Peter worked in the textile industry. Rieke was IBM Australia's first female programmer. She was both family oriented and civically minded. Together, they had 3 children: Tony, Simon, and Elana. Tony and Simon Nash, along with their brother-in-law, Steve Traurig, founded the renowned bookseller Booktopia in 2004.
August 2, 2023
Enlightening and educated me on a group of Holocaust Survivors that had not had their story told. It did become bake and figure heavy at the end but worth it. Thank you Peter Nash and team.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews