Left to the Mercy of a Rude Stream: The Bargain That Broke Adolf Hitler and Saved My Mother

by Stanley A. Goldman

Seven years after the death of his mother, Malka, Stanley A. Goldman traveled to Israel to visit her best friend during the Holocaust. The best friend’s daughter showed Goldman a pamphlet she had acquired from the Israeli Holocaust Museum that documented activities of one man’s negotiations with the Nazi’s interior minister and SS head, Heinrich Himmler, for the release of the Jewish women from the concentration camp at Ravensbrück. While looking through the pamphlet, the two discovered a picture that could have been their mothers being released from the camp. Wanting to know the details of how they were saved, Goldman set out on a long and difficult path to unravel the mystery. 

After years of researching the pamphlet, Goldman learned that a German Jew named Norbert Masur made a treacherous journey from the safety of Sweden back into the war zone in order to secure the release of the Jewish women imprisoned at the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Masur not only succeeded in his mission against all odds but he contributed to the downfall of the Nazi hierarchy itself. This amazing, little-known story uncovers a piece of history about the undermining of the Nazi regime, the women of the Holocaust, and the strained but loving relationship between a survivor and her son. 
 

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

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2018

Reviews

[Alana Saxe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley A. Goldman weaves a number of narratives into an emotional, meaningful and captivating read. Left to the Mercy of a Rude Stream details the story of his mother's incredible rescue from Ravensbruck, her post-war survival and its challenge and finally the impact on himself as a child of a Holocaust Survivor. A memoir worth reading.

[Ginny Lee]

I have a long association with the author, Stanly Goldman. Stanley and my husband were public defenders together over 40 years ago. That said, I loved this book. I am a big reader, often reading a book a week and have certainly read many books about WWII and the disturbing holocaust. The telling of the “deal” that Heinrich Himmler made at the end of the war in hopes to shed a better light upon himself (after spearheading the murdering of 6 million Jews) with the imminent approaching allies is astonishing. However, the deal saves Stan’s mother’s life while she was awaiting the gas chamber at the ghastly women’s concentration camp, Ravensbruck. I loved Stan’s story telling and I was certainly saddened, to say the least, by his mother’s torture and treatment during the war and the subsequent trouble she had living a “normal” life after having gone through what was forced upon her. The inhumanity is incomprehensible. This is one of those books that should be read by everyone.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tough book to read. But necessary for the present generation
to read. All the survivors of the holocaust have died.
Unless taught in schools, no one will believe that the
Atrocity happened. Stanley Goldman did a good job
bringing out many facts that many are not aware. He also
brings out the truly horrible time that his mother went thru.
But Also how it affected her relationship with her only son..

[Tina Milledge]

On hold. I was listening through the Audible Plus Catalogue, was under 2 hours from finishing and it was removed lol. Not worth purchasing when I’d almost finished so I’ll keep an eye out for it elsewhere. It wasn’t time wasted, I enjoyed what I’d heard

[Kati Polodna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it a little hard to follow, so many characters and timelines.

[Stephanie Marks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting read on wwll

[Sandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of the author's mother, and how her life was saved from Ravensbruck.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different perspective on the horrors of the holocaust. Very moving at times. Not cohesive

[Michael Herschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot and couldn't help but think about my life and what I had went through, reading through the pages.