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Boy from Buchenwald
It was 1945 and Romek Wajsman had just been liberated from Buchenwald, a brutal concentration camp where more than 60,000 people were killed. He was starving, tortured, and had no idea where his family was―let alone if they were alive. Along with 472 other boys, including Elie Wiesel, these teens were dubbed “The Buchenwald Boys.” They were angry at the world for their abuse, and turned to stealing, fighting, and struggling for power. Everything changed for Romek and the other boys when Albert Einstein and Rabbi Herschel Schacter brought them to a home for rehabilitation
Romek Wajsman, now Robbie Waisman, humanitarian and Canadian governor general award recipient, shares his remarkable story of transforming pain into resiliency and overcoming incredible loss to find incredible joy.
Finalist for the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction
Winner of the 2022 the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize
Romek Wajsman, now Robbie Waisman, humanitarian and Canadian governor general award recipient, shares his remarkable story of transforming pain into resiliency and overcoming incredible loss to find incredible joy.
Finalist for the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction
Winner of the 2022 the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
34 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 21, 2021
Me fastidia darle esta “puntuación” a una historia sobre el Holocausto, y más cuando está contada por un superviviente, pero es que no he conectado nada con la historia y también me ha pillado en época de mucho estrés y poco tiempo 😔 Estuve a poco de abandonarla, pero por cabezonería tenía que acabarla.
Sinceramente me esperaba más una historia centrada en el momento del campo de concentración y no tras la liberación, no quiere decir que me no importe como ha sido su vida tras pasar por aquella barbarie, pero he sentido que se desvaría mucho y salta mucho en el tiempo que a mí me tenía muy perdida al punto de que no me enteraba de que estaba hablando. Y siento en el alma escribir esto, pero es que tengo que ser sincera y es que esta historia no ha sido para mí 🥺
Por suerte, hace mucho que no me veo en esta situación, pero como siempre os he dicho: que no me haya gustado a mí, no quiere decir que a vosotros tampoco, al contrario, así que, si os llama la atención, no dudéis en leerla y disfrutadla como se merece.
Contadme… ¿cuál ha sido vuestra peor lectura de lo que va de año? Así podemos sacar recomendaciones y darles una segunda oportunidad 🥰
Sinceramente me esperaba más una historia centrada en el momento del campo de concentración y no tras la liberación, no quiere decir que me no importe como ha sido su vida tras pasar por aquella barbarie, pero he sentido que se desvaría mucho y salta mucho en el tiempo que a mí me tenía muy perdida al punto de que no me enteraba de que estaba hablando. Y siento en el alma escribir esto, pero es que tengo que ser sincera y es que esta historia no ha sido para mí 🥺
Por suerte, hace mucho que no me veo en esta situación, pero como siempre os he dicho: que no me haya gustado a mí, no quiere decir que a vosotros tampoco, al contrario, así que, si os llama la atención, no dudéis en leerla y disfrutadla como se merece.
Contadme… ¿cuál ha sido vuestra peor lectura de lo que va de año? Así podemos sacar recomendaciones y darles una segunda oportunidad 🥰
May 12, 2022
"Nos campos de concentração, a que chamávamos "campos de morte", os homens susurravam, à noite: "Se algum de vós sobreviver, tem de contar a história do que se passou aqui. O mundo nunca pode esquecer. O mundo nunca pode repetir o que está a acontecer. "
Outra coisa que não podemos esquecer é que o amor é mais forte do que o ódio.
E segundo descobri, o amor conduz-nos a casa."
Neste livro temos as recordações de Romek Wajsman ( que mudou o nome para Robbie Waisman) desde a ocupação nazi na sua pequena cidade natal, até ao rumo que a sua vida levou, depois da libertação dos campos de concentração por parte das forças aliadas.
Romek foi deportado, juntamente com centenas de crianças e adolescentes, para o campo de concentração de Bunchewald e neste seu testemunho vamos perceber o quê que ele sentiu depois de ser livre, a raiva, a incerteza do futuro, a ausência da família e a sensação de não pertencer a lado nenhum.
Entre saltos temporais vamos saber como foi a vida destes rapazes em Bunchewald e como foram acolhidos no fim da guerra pela Organização para a Protecção da Saúde da População Judaica ou OZE, que era presidida por Albert Einstein, que era composta por médicos, psicólogos, professores e assistentes sociais, que ajudavam estes rapazes a restabelecerem a sua saúde mental e física e garantia-lhes instrução e o ensino de línguas para mais tarde se integrarem na sociedade.
Os rapazes de Bunchewald acabaram por refazer as suas vidas e alguns contaram o que viram e sofreram nos campos e inclusive testemunharam contra os seus carrascos, pois como Elie Wiesel (também ele um rapaz de Bunchewald) disse : " Esquecer os mortos seria como matá-los outra vez."
Outra coisa que não podemos esquecer é que o amor é mais forte do que o ódio.
E segundo descobri, o amor conduz-nos a casa."
Neste livro temos as recordações de Romek Wajsman ( que mudou o nome para Robbie Waisman) desde a ocupação nazi na sua pequena cidade natal, até ao rumo que a sua vida levou, depois da libertação dos campos de concentração por parte das forças aliadas.
Romek foi deportado, juntamente com centenas de crianças e adolescentes, para o campo de concentração de Bunchewald e neste seu testemunho vamos perceber o quê que ele sentiu depois de ser livre, a raiva, a incerteza do futuro, a ausência da família e a sensação de não pertencer a lado nenhum.
Entre saltos temporais vamos saber como foi a vida destes rapazes em Bunchewald e como foram acolhidos no fim da guerra pela Organização para a Protecção da Saúde da População Judaica ou OZE, que era presidida por Albert Einstein, que era composta por médicos, psicólogos, professores e assistentes sociais, que ajudavam estes rapazes a restabelecerem a sua saúde mental e física e garantia-lhes instrução e o ensino de línguas para mais tarde se integrarem na sociedade.
Os rapazes de Bunchewald acabaram por refazer as suas vidas e alguns contaram o que viram e sofreram nos campos e inclusive testemunharam contra os seus carrascos, pois como Elie Wiesel (também ele um rapaz de Bunchewald) disse : " Esquecer os mortos seria como matá-los outra vez."
October 3, 2021
Maybe it's been too long since I've read Night, but I didn't remember anything about these Boys from Buchenwald. Waisman mentions that Wiesel was one of them, too, but nothing rang a bell. I read this book to my husband while he was sick, and it made me cry repeatedly but also sparked many conversations on a variety of topics, giving us quality time together, so I will cherish my memory of this book even more because of that. (Also, besides the movie Shindler's List, my husband knew little of what actually happened to the Jews in WWII). Waisman confesses that he kept his experience a secret for most of his life until a Holocaust-denier, who was also a Social Studies teacher in Canada, was teaching his students that none of this ever happened. Five years ago, I'd have a hard time believing such a thing, but now....
Waisman bounces back into memories of before and during his tragic and horrific experiences of the Nazis while the "present' of the narrative is when the OSE is trying to rehabilitate these boys in France. The memories are in italics, so it is done very well and we were never confused about the timeline. My husband and I were particularly inspired by all the efforts made to care for these wild and traumatized children who had survived such atrocities because these humanitarian, philanthropic, nurturing and patient people and organizations were practically angelic. The boys were what my husband would call "hunsits", wild, unruly, mean, and uncivilized, yet the OSE and people of France did not give up on them.
I was both inspired and heartbroken by Waisman's recollections, and it's one of the best nonfiction pieces I've read this year. Even if you think you've read enough about the Holocaust (which I've said time and time again), this is worth going back once more. You'll definitely see a new perspective, learn things you didn't already know, and the actions of the OSE may make you a better person.
**Update** I just went to purchase this for the HIGH SCHOOL library and saw that reviewers recommend this title for GRADES 7-10 (Mackin), GRADES 5-8 (Booklist), AGES 12-14 (Kirkus) and AGES 9-11 (Publisher's Weekly). I'm sorry...I think every one of these reviewers is out of their minds. In my opinion, Grade 8 (age 14) is the minimum age group I'd give this to.
Waisman bounces back into memories of before and during his tragic and horrific experiences of the Nazis while the "present' of the narrative is when the OSE is trying to rehabilitate these boys in France. The memories are in italics, so it is done very well and we were never confused about the timeline. My husband and I were particularly inspired by all the efforts made to care for these wild and traumatized children who had survived such atrocities because these humanitarian, philanthropic, nurturing and patient people and organizations were practically angelic. The boys were what my husband would call "hunsits", wild, unruly, mean, and uncivilized, yet the OSE and people of France did not give up on them.
I was both inspired and heartbroken by Waisman's recollections, and it's one of the best nonfiction pieces I've read this year. Even if you think you've read enough about the Holocaust (which I've said time and time again), this is worth going back once more. You'll definitely see a new perspective, learn things you didn't already know, and the actions of the OSE may make you a better person.
**Update** I just went to purchase this for the HIGH SCHOOL library and saw that reviewers recommend this title for GRADES 7-10 (Mackin), GRADES 5-8 (Booklist), AGES 12-14 (Kirkus) and AGES 9-11 (Publisher's Weekly). I'm sorry...I think every one of these reviewers is out of their minds. In my opinion, Grade 8 (age 14) is the minimum age group I'd give this to.
March 9, 2022
Samenvatting:
Robbie Waisman, of Romek Wasjman zoals hij toen heette, is één van 'de jongens van Buchenwald'. Nadat deze jongens zijn bevrijd, zijn zij overgeplaatst naar een opvangkamp in Frankrijk.
Men gelooft niet dat deze jongens nog goed terecht gaan komen. Ze zijn op jonge leeftijd in Buchenwald gestopt en hebben er verschrikkelijke dingen meegemaakt. Met als gevolg dat ze nu boos zijn. Boos op hun familie, boos op de Duitsers, boos op de wereld.
Robbie Waisman deelt in dit boek hoe hij, met hulp, zijn pijn wist om te zetten in veerkracht.
--
Voor altijd 'asocialen'
De jongen uit Buchenwald gaat niet over de verschrikkingen die Robbie Waisman binnen Buchenwald heeft meegemaakt, maar juist hoe zijn leven was na zijn bevrijding.
Hij was slechts negen jaar oud toen hij in Buchenwald terecht kwam. Daarvoor zat hij in het getto van Skarżysko. Op zijn veertiende werd hij bevrijd. Maar hoe moet je verder met je leven, als je niet weet wat een normaal leven is?
Veel jongens om hem heen werden baldadig en soms zelfs agressief. Professoren spraken uit weinig hoop te hebben in deze jongens en bang te zijn dat zij voor altijd 'asocialen' blijven. Door de juiste hulp is Waisman wel goed terecht gekomen.
Waisman verteld over hoe hij zijn 'revalidatietijd' ervaarde en welke uitdagingen en angsten hij had. De jongens aten bijvoorbeeld nog steeds met hun handen, in plaats van met mes en vork. Maar je leest ook over dat zij de juiste hulp kregen en hoop hebben op een betere toekomst.
Aangrijpend relaas
Het verhaal van Waisman is erg aangrijpend. Hij weet de eerste weken na zijn bevrijding niet wat normaal gedrag is en zit daarom erg in de knoop met zichzelf. Je kunt je wel voorstellen dat deze jongens boos zijn op de wereld en dit op een bepaalde manier proberen te uiten.
Ondanks dat het een aangrijpend relaas is, leest het boek wel erg vlot weg. De schrijfstijl is prettig en goed leesbaar doordat de zinnen soepel in elkaar overlopen. Robbie schrijft duidelijk wat er gebeurde, waardoor je niet achter blijft met vragen en omdat het een persoonlijk verhaal is maakt het dit boek erg emotioneel.
De auteur vult zijn relaas aan met foto's van Waisman, de andere jongens en de hulpverleners. Het gebruik van beeldmateriaal maakt dit boek aangrijpender en persoonlijker, maar je vormt hierdoor wel een beter beeld van Waisman en wat hij heeft meegemaakt. Hij blikt ook terug op herinneringen naar het leven voor de bevrijding, waardoor je het gevoel hebt dat je ieder stukje van zijn geschiedenis te weten komt.
Respect
Waisman verteld in De jongen uit Buchenwald hoe hij zijn leven heeft vormgegeven en waarom hij, na jaren, is gaan praten over wat hij heeft meegemaakt. Ondanks dat elk Holocaust verhaal een beetje hetzelfde bespreekt, is dit toch weer een uniek verhaal over een man waar je alleen maar respect voor hebt.
De jongen uit Buchenwald is een aangrijpend persoonlijk verslag en belicht een ander onderdeel over een tijd die nooit vergeten wordt.
Robbie Waisman, of Romek Wasjman zoals hij toen heette, is één van 'de jongens van Buchenwald'. Nadat deze jongens zijn bevrijd, zijn zij overgeplaatst naar een opvangkamp in Frankrijk.
Men gelooft niet dat deze jongens nog goed terecht gaan komen. Ze zijn op jonge leeftijd in Buchenwald gestopt en hebben er verschrikkelijke dingen meegemaakt. Met als gevolg dat ze nu boos zijn. Boos op hun familie, boos op de Duitsers, boos op de wereld.
Robbie Waisman deelt in dit boek hoe hij, met hulp, zijn pijn wist om te zetten in veerkracht.
--
Voor altijd 'asocialen'
De jongen uit Buchenwald gaat niet over de verschrikkingen die Robbie Waisman binnen Buchenwald heeft meegemaakt, maar juist hoe zijn leven was na zijn bevrijding.
Hij was slechts negen jaar oud toen hij in Buchenwald terecht kwam. Daarvoor zat hij in het getto van Skarżysko. Op zijn veertiende werd hij bevrijd. Maar hoe moet je verder met je leven, als je niet weet wat een normaal leven is?
Veel jongens om hem heen werden baldadig en soms zelfs agressief. Professoren spraken uit weinig hoop te hebben in deze jongens en bang te zijn dat zij voor altijd 'asocialen' blijven. Door de juiste hulp is Waisman wel goed terecht gekomen.
Waisman verteld over hoe hij zijn 'revalidatietijd' ervaarde en welke uitdagingen en angsten hij had. De jongens aten bijvoorbeeld nog steeds met hun handen, in plaats van met mes en vork. Maar je leest ook over dat zij de juiste hulp kregen en hoop hebben op een betere toekomst.
Aangrijpend relaas
Het verhaal van Waisman is erg aangrijpend. Hij weet de eerste weken na zijn bevrijding niet wat normaal gedrag is en zit daarom erg in de knoop met zichzelf. Je kunt je wel voorstellen dat deze jongens boos zijn op de wereld en dit op een bepaalde manier proberen te uiten.
Ondanks dat het een aangrijpend relaas is, leest het boek wel erg vlot weg. De schrijfstijl is prettig en goed leesbaar doordat de zinnen soepel in elkaar overlopen. Robbie schrijft duidelijk wat er gebeurde, waardoor je niet achter blijft met vragen en omdat het een persoonlijk verhaal is maakt het dit boek erg emotioneel.
De auteur vult zijn relaas aan met foto's van Waisman, de andere jongens en de hulpverleners. Het gebruik van beeldmateriaal maakt dit boek aangrijpender en persoonlijker, maar je vormt hierdoor wel een beter beeld van Waisman en wat hij heeft meegemaakt. Hij blikt ook terug op herinneringen naar het leven voor de bevrijding, waardoor je het gevoel hebt dat je ieder stukje van zijn geschiedenis te weten komt.
Respect
Waisman verteld in De jongen uit Buchenwald hoe hij zijn leven heeft vormgegeven en waarom hij, na jaren, is gaan praten over wat hij heeft meegemaakt. Ondanks dat elk Holocaust verhaal een beetje hetzelfde bespreekt, is dit toch weer een uniek verhaal over een man waar je alleen maar respect voor hebt.
De jongen uit Buchenwald is een aangrijpend persoonlijk verslag en belicht een ander onderdeel over een tijd die nooit vergeten wordt.
May 5, 2023
Aangrijpend verhaal dat zeker het lezen waard is!
Zelf had ik wel wat moeite met de schrijfstijl. Er waren vaak veel (onduidelijke) tijdsprongen waardoor het voor mij niet lekker weg las. Ik had het persoonlijk sterker gevonden als het verhaal chronologisch verteld was.
Desalniettemin wel een verhaal dat (zoals vele anderen) verteld en gelezen moet worden! Daarnaast ook prettig dat dit niet een zoveelste verhaal is over het leven tijdens de oorlog, maar vooral hoe je na zulke verschrikkingen het leven ná de oorlog weer kan/moet oppakken.
Zelf had ik wel wat moeite met de schrijfstijl. Er waren vaak veel (onduidelijke) tijdsprongen waardoor het voor mij niet lekker weg las. Ik had het persoonlijk sterker gevonden als het verhaal chronologisch verteld was.
Desalniettemin wel een verhaal dat (zoals vele anderen) verteld en gelezen moet worden! Daarnaast ook prettig dat dit niet een zoveelste verhaal is over het leven tijdens de oorlog, maar vooral hoe je na zulke verschrikkingen het leven ná de oorlog weer kan/moet oppakken.
January 18, 2022
Beth says:
In this memoir for teens (which would be of interest to adults, too), Robert Waisman shares his story of surviving the Buchenwald concentration camp during WWII. While he focuses mostly on what happened to him in the immediate years after the camp was liberated when he was 14 years old, he flashes back to his time in the camp and to life with his family before he was separated from them. While there are many books about Holocaust survivors, his story of adjusting to life as an orphan living after the war was a unique perspective. It was also interesting to note that one of his companions at Buchenwald was the now-famous author Eli Wiesel.
In this memoir for teens (which would be of interest to adults, too), Robert Waisman shares his story of surviving the Buchenwald concentration camp during WWII. While he focuses mostly on what happened to him in the immediate years after the camp was liberated when he was 14 years old, he flashes back to his time in the camp and to life with his family before he was separated from them. While there are many books about Holocaust survivors, his story of adjusting to life as an orphan living after the war was a unique perspective. It was also interesting to note that one of his companions at Buchenwald was the now-famous author Eli Wiesel.
March 10, 2022
Όποιος από εσάς βγει ζωντανός από εδώ μέσα πρέπει να αφηγηθεί όσα έγιναν. Ο κόσμος πρέπει να θυμάται. Για να μην ξαναζήσει".
Ό,τι κι αν έχουμε διαβάσει για το Ολοκαύτωμα, δεν υπάρχει περίπτωση το βιβλίο αυτό να μην μας συγκινήσει και να μην μας φέρει δάκρυα στα μάτια κατά τη διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης. Πρόκειται για τη σπαρακτική αφήγηση ενός Πολωνοεβραίου, επιζώντα από το διαβόητο στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης, του Ραχμίλ - Ρόμεκ - Ρόμπι Γουέϊσμαν - Βάισμαν. Ραχμίλ ήταν το εβραϊκό του όνομα, το οποίο και εγκατέλειψε νωρίς θέλοντας να γλιτώσει από τη φρικτή μοίρα που περίμενε τον λαό του. Έτσι υιοθέτησε το πολωνικό Ρόμεκ και, πολύ αργότερα, όταν είχε την τύχη να επιζήσει και να μεταναστεύσει στον Καναδά το γύρισε στο αγλλικό Ρόμπι.
"Ονομάζομαι 117098", είπα στον Αμερικανό στρατιώτη που με ρώτησε πώς με λένε.
Αυτό ήμουν μονάχα για τρία ολόκληρα χρόνια.
Το 117098.
Με τρομοκρατούσε ακόμη και ένα λευκό λουλούδι. Ακόμη και η ελπίδα που γεννιόταν μέσα στη λάσπη.
Συμβόλιζε την ελευθερία, μα εγώ ήξερα μονάχα τη σκλαβιά".
Το παραπάνω απόσπασμα δείχνει ποιες ήταν οι μύχιες σκέψεις του Ρόμεκ όταν, στις 11 Απρίλίου του 1945 Αμερικανοί στρατιώτες απελευθέρωσαν το στρατόπεδο της φρίκης με το όνομα Μπούχενβαλντ στο οποίο είχε ζήσει τρία περίπου χρόνια. Μαζί με τον Ρόμπι υπήρχαν στο στρατόπεδο περισσότερα από χίλια ανήλικα εβραιόπουλα. Τα αγόρια αυτά ήταν, φυσικά, ορφανά τα περισσότερα και είχαν αντικρίσει το χειρότερο πρόσωπο της ζωής. Οι Σύμμαχοι θα μεταφέρουν τα 428 από αυτά, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του Ρόμεκ, σε ένα ίδρυμα επανένταξης στο Εκουί της Γαλλίας. Θεωρούσαν, όμως, ότι τα αγόρια αυτά δεν θα μπορούσαν ποτέ πια να ζήσουν μία φυσιολογική ζωή. Αυτή η πεποίθηση δεν ακουγόταν, φυσικά, παράλογη τότε. Διότι, πώς μπορεί άραγε κάποιος να ξεχάσει την ανείπωτη φρίκη;
Τα αγόρια του Μπούχενβαλντ όμως διέψευσαν όλες τις δυσοίωνες προβλέψεις για το μέλλον τους. Τα περισσότερα από αυτά κατάφεραν εν τέλει να κάνουν μία νέα αρχή και να συνεχίσουν κανονικά τη ζωή τους. Κάποια μάλιστα, μεταξύ των οποίων και ο ίδιος ο συγγραφέας, έγιναν και επιτυχημένοι επιχειρηματίες.
"Γιατί τα ξέχασα όλα αυτά; ψιθύρισα προς τ�� φωτεινό αστέρι, ελπίζοντας ότι θα μπορούσε να με ακούσει. "Γιατί ξέχασα το σπίτι μου;"
Και τότε, μια σκέψη με συντάραξε. Τα αστέρια αυτά δεν είχαν πάψει ποτέ να λάμπουν. Έλαμπαν ακόμη και πάνω από τα στρατόπεδα συγκέντρωσης, σαν φάροι, για να μας δείχνουν τον δρόμο που έπρεπε να πάρουμε για να γυρίσουμε στο σπίτι.
"Τα αστέρια", είπα σιγανά. "Να κάτι που οι ναζί δεν μπόρεσαν να καταστρέψουν".
Διότι τελικά ο άνθρωπος μπορεί να αντέξει τα πάντα. Αλλά μπορεί και να θάψει βαθιά όσα τον πονούν και να κάνει μία νέα αρχή. Τα αγόρια από το Μπούχενβαλντ δεν είχαν άλλη επιλογή. Δεν διάλεξαν αυτά να κλειστούν στο γκέτο. Ούτε να αποχωριστούν από τους γονείς τους. Ούτε να ζήσουν όσα ήθελαν διακαώς να ξεχάσουν. Παρ' όλες τις δυσκολίες όμως διάλεξαν τη ζωή. Και τα κατάφεραν.
Αφορμή για να διηγηθεί ο Ρόμπι όσα είχε προσπαθήσει να λησμονήσει τα περισσότερα χρόνια της ενήλικης και "φυσιολογικής" ζωής τους, ήταν η είδηση σε ένα κανάλι του Καναδά -εκεί όπου είχε μεταναστεύσει μετά τον Πόλεμο-, ότι ένας καθηγητής σχολείου δίδασκε ότι το Ολοκαύτωμα δεν συνέβη ποτέ.
Έτσι ο Ρόμπι, μετά από πολλά χρόνια, αποφάσισε να ξαναγίνει Ρόμεκ και να τα διηγηθεί όλα. Τα ευτυχισμένα παιδικά του χρόνια στο Σκαρζίσκο - Καμιένα της Πολωνίας όπου γεννήθηκε και μεγάλωσε μέσα στην πολυπληθή οικογένειά του. Την αβεβαιότητα που έζησε η οικογένειά του με την εισβολή των Γερμανών στην Πολωνία και τη φρίκη του γκέτο. Την υποχρεωτική εργασία του σε ένα εργοστάσιο οβίδων. Τον αποχωρισμό από την οικογένειά του και τον τριετή εγκλεισμό του στο Μπούχενβαλντ. Την απελευθέρωση, την αντάμωση με τη μοναδική αδελφή του, η οποία είχε επιζήσει του Ολοκαυτώματος και την προσπάθειά του να αρχίσει μια νέα ζωή στον Καναδά.
Αυτό το βιβλίο περιέχει την ιστορία του, όχι γραμμένη σε μία ευθεία γραμμική αφήγηση, αλλά από την απελευθέρωσή του και έπειτα, διανθισμένη όμως με όλες εκείνες τις αναμνήσεις που ήθελε διακαώς να λησμονήσει.
"Το αγόρι από το Μπούχενβαλντ" δεν είναι μία μαρτυρία για την καθημερινότητα σε ένα στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης, παρ' όλο που περιέχει πολλές πληροφορίες για τη ζωή ενός Εβραίου κρατούμενου των ναζί. "Το αγόρι από το Μπούχενβαλντ" είναι μία αληθινή μαρτυρία για την προσπάθεια που κατέβαλαν τα παιδιά που επέζησαν από το Ολοκαύτωμα και τις δυσκολίες που συνάντησαν στην προσπάθειά τους αυτή, να επανέλθουν στη ζωή μετά την καταιγίδα, την απώλεια των δικών τους, του σπιτιού τους και της πατρίδας τους.
Τα παιδιά αυτά τα κράτησε στη ζωή, κατά τη διάρκεια των δύσκολων χρόνων του εγκλεισμού τους, μονάχα η σκέψη των δικών τους και του σπιτιού τους. Όταν συνειδητοποίησαν, μετά την απελευθέρωσή τους ότι ο οικείος κόσμος των παιδικών τους χρόνων, τον οποίον ήξεραν πριν από τον Πόλεμο, είχε χαθεί πλέον οριστικά και αμετάκλητα, βίωσαν ένα ακόμη τεράστιο ψυχολογικό σοκ και ένιωσαν πως δεν είχαν πια κανέναν σκοπό στη ζωή τους. Το βιβλίο περιγράφει, μέσα από τη μαρτυρία του Ρόμπι με ακρίβεια και ενάργεια τις σκέψεις τους, τα συναισθήματά τους και τις απίστευτες ψυχολογικές δυσκολίες που αντιμετώπισαν κατά τη διάρκεια της επανένταξής τους στην αληθινή ζωή.
Η αφήγηση του Γουέϊσμαν είναι έντονα συναισθηματική - και πώς θα μπορούσε άλλωστε να μην είναι; - και αιχμαλωτίζει την προσοχή του αναγνώστη από την πρώτη σελίδα. Εν κατακλείδι, πρόκειται για ένα από τα καλύτερα βιβλία που έχουν γραφτεί για το Ολοκαύτωμα που αξίζει αλλά και πρέπει να διαβαστεί από όλους.
Αναδημοσίευση από το βακχικόν
Ό,τι κι αν έχουμε διαβάσει για το Ολοκαύτωμα, δεν υπάρχει περίπτωση το βιβλίο αυτό να μην μας συγκινήσει και να μην μας φέρει δάκρυα στα μάτια κατά τη διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης. Πρόκειται για τη σπαρακτική αφήγηση ενός Πολωνοεβραίου, επιζώντα από το διαβόητο στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης, του Ραχμίλ - Ρόμεκ - Ρόμπι Γουέϊσμαν - Βάισμαν. Ραχμίλ ήταν το εβραϊκό του όνομα, το οποίο και εγκατέλειψε νωρίς θέλοντας να γλιτώσει από τη φρικτή μοίρα που περίμενε τον λαό του. Έτσι υιοθέτησε το πολωνικό Ρόμεκ και, πολύ αργότερα, όταν είχε την τύχη να επιζήσει και να μεταναστεύσει στον Καναδά το γύρισε στο αγλλικό Ρόμπι.
"Ονομάζομαι 117098", είπα στον Αμερικανό στρατιώτη που με ρώτησε πώς με λένε.
Αυτό ήμουν μονάχα για τρία ολόκληρα χρόνια.
Το 117098.
Με τρομοκρατούσε ακόμη και ένα λευκό λουλούδι. Ακόμη και η ελπίδα που γεννιόταν μέσα στη λάσπη.
Συμβόλιζε την ελευθερία, μα εγώ ήξερα μονάχα τη σκλαβιά".
Το παραπάνω απόσπασμα δείχνει ποιες ήταν οι μύχιες σκέψεις του Ρόμεκ όταν, στις 11 Απρίλίου του 1945 Αμερικανοί στρατιώτες απελευθέρωσαν το στρατόπεδο της φρίκης με το όνομα Μπούχενβαλντ στο οποίο είχε ζήσει τρία περίπου χρόνια. Μαζί με τον Ρόμπι υπήρχαν στο στρατόπεδο περισσότερα από χίλια ανήλικα εβραιόπουλα. Τα αγόρια αυτά ήταν, φυσικά, ορφανά τα περισσότερα και είχαν αντικρίσει το χειρότερο πρόσωπο της ζωής. Οι Σύμμαχοι θα μεταφέρουν τα 428 από αυτά, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του Ρόμεκ, σε ένα ίδρυμα επανένταξης στο Εκουί της Γαλλίας. Θεωρούσαν, όμως, ότι τα αγόρια αυτά δεν θα μπορούσαν ποτέ πια να ζήσουν μία φυσιολογική ζωή. Αυτή η πεποίθηση δεν ακουγόταν, φυσικά, παράλογη τότε. Διότι, πώς μπορεί άραγε κάποιος να ξεχάσει την ανείπωτη φρίκη;
Τα αγόρια του Μπούχενβαλντ όμως διέψευσαν όλες τις δυσοίωνες προβλέψεις για το μέλλον τους. Τα περισσότερα από αυτά κατάφεραν εν τέλει να κάνουν μία νέα αρχή και να συνεχίσουν κανονικά τη ζωή τους. Κάποια μάλιστα, μεταξύ των οποίων και ο ίδιος ο συγγραφέας, έγιναν και επιτυχημένοι επιχειρηματίες.
"Γιατί τα ξέχασα όλα αυτά; ψιθύρισα προς τ�� φωτεινό αστέρι, ελπίζοντας ότι θα μπορούσε να με ακούσει. "Γιατί ξέχασα το σπίτι μου;"
Και τότε, μια σκέψη με συντάραξε. Τα αστέρια αυτά δεν είχαν πάψει ποτέ να λάμπουν. Έλαμπαν ακόμη και πάνω από τα στρατόπεδα συγκέντρωσης, σαν φάροι, για να μας δείχνουν τον δρόμο που έπρεπε να πάρουμε για να γυρίσουμε στο σπίτι.
"Τα αστέρια", είπα σιγανά. "Να κάτι που οι ναζί δεν μπόρεσαν να καταστρέψουν".
Διότι τελικά ο άνθρωπος μπορεί να αντέξει τα πάντα. Αλλά μπορεί και να θάψει βαθιά όσα τον πονούν και να κάνει μία νέα αρχή. Τα αγόρια από το Μπούχενβαλντ δεν είχαν άλλη επιλογή. Δεν διάλεξαν αυτά να κλειστούν στο γκέτο. Ούτε να αποχωριστούν από τους γονείς τους. Ούτε να ζήσουν όσα ήθελαν διακαώς να ξεχάσουν. Παρ' όλες τις δυσκολίες όμως διάλεξαν τη ζωή. Και τα κατάφεραν.
Αφορμή για να διηγηθεί ο Ρόμπι όσα είχε προσπαθήσει να λησμονήσει τα περισσότερα χρόνια της ενήλικης και "φυσιολογικής" ζωής τους, ήταν η είδηση σε ένα κανάλι του Καναδά -εκεί όπου είχε μεταναστεύσει μετά τον Πόλεμο-, ότι ένας καθηγητής σχολείου δίδασκε ότι το Ολοκαύτωμα δεν συνέβη ποτέ.
Έτσι ο Ρόμπι, μετά από πολλά χρόνια, αποφάσισε να ξαναγίνει Ρόμεκ και να τα διηγηθεί όλα. Τα ευτυχισμένα παιδικά του χρόνια στο Σκαρζίσκο - Καμιένα της Πολωνίας όπου γεννήθηκε και μεγάλωσε μέσα στην πολυπληθή οικογένειά του. Την αβεβαιότητα που έζησε η οικογένειά του με την εισβολή των Γερμανών στην Πολωνία και τη φρίκη του γκέτο. Την υποχρεωτική εργασία του σε ένα εργοστάσιο οβίδων. Τον αποχωρισμό από την οικογένειά του και τον τριετή εγκλεισμό του στο Μπούχενβαλντ. Την απελευθέρωση, την αντάμωση με τη μοναδική αδελφή του, η οποία είχε επιζήσει του Ολοκαυτώματος και την προσπάθειά του να αρχίσει μια νέα ζωή στον Καναδά.
Αυτό το βιβλίο περιέχει την ιστορία του, όχι γραμμένη σε μία ευθεία γραμμική αφήγηση, αλλά από την απελευθέρωσή του και έπειτα, διανθισμένη όμως με όλες εκείνες τις αναμνήσεις που ήθελε διακαώς να λησμονήσει.
"Το αγόρι από το Μπούχενβαλντ" δεν είναι μία μαρτυρία για την καθημερινότητα σε ένα στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης, παρ' όλο που περιέχει πολλές πληροφορίες για τη ζωή ενός Εβραίου κρατούμενου των ναζί. "Το αγόρι από το Μπούχενβαλντ" είναι μία αληθινή μαρτυρία για την προσπάθεια που κατέβαλαν τα παιδιά που επέζησαν από το Ολοκαύτωμα και τις δυσκολίες που συνάντησαν στην προσπάθειά τους αυτή, να επανέλθουν στη ζωή μετά την καταιγίδα, την απώλεια των δικών τους, του σπιτιού τους και της πατρίδας τους.
Τα παιδιά αυτά τα κράτησε στη ζωή, κατά τη διάρκεια των δύσκολων χρόνων του εγκλεισμού τους, μονάχα η σκέψη των δικών τους και του σπιτιού τους. Όταν συνειδητοποίησαν, μετά την απελευθέρωσή τους ότι ο οικείος κόσμος των παιδικών τους χρόνων, τον οποίον ήξεραν πριν από τον Πόλεμο, είχε χαθεί πλέον οριστικά και αμετάκλητα, βίωσαν ένα ακόμη τεράστιο ψυχολογικό σοκ και ένιωσαν πως δεν είχαν πια κανέναν σκοπό στη ζωή τους. Το βιβλίο περιγράφει, μέσα από τη μαρτυρία του Ρόμπι με ακρίβεια και ενάργεια τις σκέψεις τους, τα συναισθήματά τους και τις απίστευτες ψυχολογικές δυσκολίες που αντιμετώπισαν κατά τη διάρκεια της επανένταξής τους στην αληθινή ζωή.
Η αφήγηση του Γουέϊσμαν είναι έντονα συναισθηματική - και πώς θα μπορούσε άλλωστε να μην είναι; - και αιχμαλωτίζει την προσοχή του αναγνώστη από την πρώτη σελίδα. Εν κατακλείδι, πρόκειται για ένα από τα καλύτερα βιβλία που έχουν γραφτεί για το Ολοκαύτωμα που αξίζει αλλά και πρέπει να διαβαστεί από όλους.
Αναδημοσίευση από το βακχικόν
June 30, 2021
No podía ser de otra manera 5 estrellas como la copa de un pino. Si digo que ha sido una historia triste no digo nada nuevo, pero también ha sido una historia de esperanza y superación.
March 26, 2021
This is a much more primal memoir than we got from Elie Wiesel, amazing that they were together and both lived and succeeded to give us these histories. Robbie gives us more of the feelings that came afterward, the anger, and fear of never being, frankly, human again. And the deepest anger, against God and his own father, who had promised him it would be okay. I learned a great deal here, and was amazed at what the French and Swedish devised to bring these boys back into their humanity and society, very impressive.
December 29, 2021
"Μόλις ανέφερα το όνομα της, ο παλιός πόνος επέστρεψε. Να την ξεχάσω, μου λες. Πώς, όμως, ξεχνιέται ένας άνθρωπος που ζει και ανασαίνει;"
February 10, 2022
Κάτι μεταξύ 3.5 και 4
April 7, 2022
В такое тяжелое время мне очень помогают книги про то, как люди пережили Вторую мировую. Да, это чтиво тяжелое. Но они выжили, они научились снова жить. И меня это успокаивает.
May 25, 2021
Having never heard of "The Buchenwald Boys," I was eager to read this memoir and learn more. It is filled with painful recollections and describes the slow process of healing as the narrator, Romek Wajsman, came to terms with the abuse and degradation he and others endured during the Holocaust as well as the loss of most of his family members. He even nursed a deep hatred and feelings of blame for his father for years. Romek was liberated from Buchenwald in 1945 when he and 427 other boys left the concentration camps. The boys were understandably angry, confused, and had a penchant for violence prompted by their prior experiences and the struggle to survive. But the boys were eventually brought to a rehabilitation shelter in France where they began to face their demons and find ways to move forward. Parts of the story are humorous while also being heartbreaking [Romek having to learn how to use utensils to eat, for instance, and how the boys were mistaken for Hitler Youth by the French at first since they were wearing the clothing of that group. The story shuttles between Romek's memories of living in a city in Poland (Skarzysko-Kamienna) as the city is overrun by Nazis, his time in the concentration camp, and the aftermath when he was free yet still tethered to the past and confused about the future. Romek describes the many individuals who provided support and love and helped steer him in a more positive course. His story is infinitely valuable because of its uniqueness, but I found parts of it hard to follow because it moved back and forth in time. I tend to like most stories that do so, but in this case, a chronological narrative would have been more effective for me. I appreciate the honesty of this memoir, which will surely serve as an example to others who are facing their own struggles. And it certainly adds to the canon of Holocaust literature, giving readers one more important story from a survivor.
May 21, 2021
I feel like I’ve been sitting at my keyboard awhile struggling for the right words to review this book. It’s definitely one that left me speechless, in a good way. I’ve read NIGHT by Elie Wiesel, and a couple other accounts of surviving Nazi concentration camps, but it never gets easier to read about it. The horror and shock of it strikes me fresh every time, and it should.
I feel like this book does a really great job balancing the reality of what happened with an understanding of its audience as young readers. The authors give a frank account but seem to know when to zoom in or zoom out on the scene being described. There’s a gentleness to the way the story is told. Like it’s not only being told my someone who’s survived, but someone who understands and connects with other kids. I’m not doing a great job explaining this. I guess maybe what I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t surprise me at all that Waisman speaks to schools. It seems like he has a gift for it.
A lot of the story focuses on Romek’s recovery from imprisonment in Buchenwald. At first he has very few memories of his life before with his family, or of happiness. At the beginning of each (or most) chapters, he flashes back to a memory, sometimes difficult ones. As he has time to grieve and to heal, those flashbacks show his memories gradually returning. And the progression of them shows its own journey through trauma and anger and loss and until finally he’s able to remember happy moments from his childhood.
BOY FROM BUCHENWALD is an inspiring story about grief and healing. It’s about the way that we need each other. It’s about the worst ways in which we hurt one another and the best ways we help one another heal. I loved it, and I think it’d make a great addition to a classroom library or Holocaust study.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I feel like this book does a really great job balancing the reality of what happened with an understanding of its audience as young readers. The authors give a frank account but seem to know when to zoom in or zoom out on the scene being described. There’s a gentleness to the way the story is told. Like it’s not only being told my someone who’s survived, but someone who understands and connects with other kids. I’m not doing a great job explaining this. I guess maybe what I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t surprise me at all that Waisman speaks to schools. It seems like he has a gift for it.
A lot of the story focuses on Romek’s recovery from imprisonment in Buchenwald. At first he has very few memories of his life before with his family, or of happiness. At the beginning of each (or most) chapters, he flashes back to a memory, sometimes difficult ones. As he has time to grieve and to heal, those flashbacks show his memories gradually returning. And the progression of them shows its own journey through trauma and anger and loss and until finally he’s able to remember happy moments from his childhood.
BOY FROM BUCHENWALD is an inspiring story about grief and healing. It’s about the way that we need each other. It’s about the worst ways in which we hurt one another and the best ways we help one another heal. I loved it, and I think it’d make a great addition to a classroom library or Holocaust study.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 22, 2022
Boeken zoals deze, waar iemand zijn ervaring deelt over een verschrikkelijke periode in onze geschiedenis, namelijk Wereldoorlog 2, zijn kostbaar. Ze zorgen ervoor dat de mensen die hun menselijkheid en hun stem verloren toch gehoord kunnen worden én dat deze gruwel nooit vergeten kan worden en dat ontkenning niet mogelijk is.
Dit boek geeft mondjesmaat wat van Robbie’s ervaring mee als Buchenwaldjongen maar is vooral een boek waarin je leest dat de oorlog nooit volledig voorbij zal zijn voor degene die hem beleefd hebben vanop de eerste rij en hoe Robbie vecht om iets van zijn leven te maken en überhaupt in leven te (willen) blijven.
Een boek waarin je leest dat ook goede mensen bestaan en dat het belangrijk is om daarin te blijven geloven. Dat jaren van een nummer zijn in plaats van een mens met een naam, niet zomaar verdwijnen. Dat het vinden van je eigen identiteit na de oorlog en de gruwel van vernietigingskampen, wanneer je identiek opgeborgen zit en enkel overlevingsmodus aanwezig is, moeilijk is. Heel moeilijk.
Een boek waarin Robbie zijn ervaringen met je deelt zodat het een, nooit vergeten zal worden, twee, nooit ontkent kan worden en drie, je leert dat bevrijding niet staat voor mentale en fysieke bevrijding. Boeken over dit onderwerp zijn altijd belangrijk en verdienen altijd je leestijd. Altijd.
Dit boek geeft mondjesmaat wat van Robbie’s ervaring mee als Buchenwaldjongen maar is vooral een boek waarin je leest dat de oorlog nooit volledig voorbij zal zijn voor degene die hem beleefd hebben vanop de eerste rij en hoe Robbie vecht om iets van zijn leven te maken en überhaupt in leven te (willen) blijven.
Een boek waarin je leest dat ook goede mensen bestaan en dat het belangrijk is om daarin te blijven geloven. Dat jaren van een nummer zijn in plaats van een mens met een naam, niet zomaar verdwijnen. Dat het vinden van je eigen identiteit na de oorlog en de gruwel van vernietigingskampen, wanneer je identiek opgeborgen zit en enkel overlevingsmodus aanwezig is, moeilijk is. Heel moeilijk.
Een boek waarin Robbie zijn ervaringen met je deelt zodat het een, nooit vergeten zal worden, twee, nooit ontkent kan worden en drie, je leert dat bevrijding niet staat voor mentale en fysieke bevrijding. Boeken over dit onderwerp zijn altijd belangrijk en verdienen altijd je leestijd. Altijd.
April 19, 2022
Un pezzo di storia non scontato e che è non solo utile, ma necessario conoscere e non dimenticare. Si va avanti e poi improvvisamente di torna indietro, sembra di perdere il filo e invece sono gli sbalzi della memoria e i ricordi che affiorano dirompenti e inaspettati. Ho apprezzato in particolare l’ottica di un bambino che ha già vissuto troppo per essere ancora ingenuo, ma che ingenuamente ancora non capisce molte cose. Emozione nella vicenda figlio/padre e nei legami di amicizia.
July 21, 2022
Νομίζω πως περισσότερο ήταν μια εσωτερική μάζη του συγγραφέα-επιζήσαντα με τους δέμονές του παρά μια αφήγηση για την ιστορία του.
Όπως και να έχει δεν είναι σε καμιά περίπτωση κακό αλλά δεν ήταν και εκείνο που δεν ήθελα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου.
Περισσότερο αυτό:
" Όποιος από εσάς βγει ζωντανός από εδώ μέσα πρέπει να αφηγηθεί όσα έγιναν. Ο κόσμος πρέπει να θυμάται. Για να μην ξαναζήσει".
Όπως και να έχει δεν είναι σε καμιά περίπτωση κακό αλλά δεν ήταν και εκείνο που δεν ήθελα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου.
Περισσότερο αυτό:
" Όποιος από εσάς βγει ζωντανός από εδώ μέσα πρέπει να αφηγηθεί όσα έγιναν. Ο κόσμος πρέπει να θυμάται. Για να μην ξαναζήσει".
November 22, 2022
This is a wonderful book. I had never heard of the Boys of Buchenwald, nor the OSE and their work with children who survivied the Holocaust. Truly an amazing story. The photographs add a lot to the book.
I believe this is marketed for ages 9 and up. I noticed in the ending the author thanked a counselling psychologist who "ensured that the journey from trauma to healing was reflected properly-that all of us in our wounds can find a light to guide us."
I would say that is what is different about this story from other Holocaust survivor stories I've read. It tells a very complete story from start to finish from many points of view: physical survival, trauma survival, survivor's guilt, so much anger, and recovery, physical, emotional and spiritual.
An interesting point was immediately after rescue, many of the children got measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella, and whooping cough. "As if our bodies has been hiding the germs, and they came out as soon as it was safe."
I believe this is marketed for ages 9 and up. I noticed in the ending the author thanked a counselling psychologist who "ensured that the journey from trauma to healing was reflected properly-that all of us in our wounds can find a light to guide us."
I would say that is what is different about this story from other Holocaust survivor stories I've read. It tells a very complete story from start to finish from many points of view: physical survival, trauma survival, survivor's guilt, so much anger, and recovery, physical, emotional and spiritual.
An interesting point was immediately after rescue, many of the children got measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella, and whooping cough. "As if our bodies has been hiding the germs, and they came out as soon as it was safe."
August 2, 2024
An amazing story, felt really like I was living next to these boys, truly heartbreaking!!
January 3, 2025
Sobre la increíble labor de la OSE (Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants) durante y después del holocausto. He conectado mucho con la historia.
June 5, 2021
1,000 children under 18 were liberated from the Nazi work camp in Buchenwald at the end of World War II. Robbie Waisman was one of them and knew he needed to share his story after he emigrated to Canada and became aware of a teacher who said the Holocaust was made up by a conspiracy of Jews.
September 7, 2023
Ook weer zo'n boek dat moeilijk is om echt een sterren waardering te geven.
Boek geeft een goed beeld van hoe een jonge jongen kort na de oorlog weer moet leren om in de maatschappij te leven. Niet belerend maar een duidelijk relaas.
Boek geeft een goed beeld van hoe een jonge jongen kort na de oorlog weer moet leren om in de maatschappij te leven. Niet belerend maar een duidelijk relaas.
October 20, 2021
In 1942, 11-year-old Romek Waisman was marching to work at a munitions factory in Poland when a SS officer pulled him out of line and ordered him to get in a truck headed for a death camp. Like all the other men already in the truck, Romek had been ill. But fate stepped in and Romek was given another chance to live.
In April, 1945, American troops liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, where Romek had eventually been sent. He was one of a 1,000 children who had survived the Holocaust and placed under the protective services of the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants or OSE. In June 1945, Romek, along with 426 other boys, including Elie Wiesel, was sent by train to Écouis, France, where they could be rehabilitated. Ironically, the boys were dressed in Hitler Youth uniforms that had been found in a storage room in Buchenwald so that they could discard their striped lice infested camp pajamas. On the trip to Écouis, many of the French people who saw them, mistook who they were and began throwing rocks at them.
At Écouis, there was plenty of food, clean sheets and bathrooms, but after years of starvation and mistreatment, the boy were somewhat feral. That, combined with anger, caused them to behave violently at times, to steal, and to hoard.
In between learning how to adjust to life after living under Nazi oppression for so long, Romek slowly regains memories of his loving family and his happy childhood before the Nazis invaded Poland and his experiences working in the munitions factory and later in Buchenwald. Throughout his ordeal, Romek held on to the idea that after the war and liberation, he would return to his home in Poland, where his family would all be there waiting for him. Much of his journey, then, is about coming to terms with the reality of what happened.
At one point, Romek's older sister is found and he journeys back to Germany to see her, but when she tells him she will be married soon and moving to Palestine, he returns to Écouis. There, he also meets a wealthy French couple Jean and Jane Brandt, who want him to meet their children. Jane begins taking Romek on cultural excursions, but when they offer to adopt him, he declines.
After finally accepting the fact that only he and his sister survived, in 1948, at age 17, Romek emigrated to Canada, to begin a new chapter in his life and where he changed his name to Robert (Robbie) Waisman. Robbie married and had children, but it was many years before he could speak about his experiences under the Nazis.
Boy From Buchenwald is a riveting read, and certainly one that is needed now as more and more survivors of Nazi atrocities are dying off. Robbie tells his story in an almost stream-of-consciousness manner, which might be confusing to some readers since it isn't always linear. And many of the incidents that Robbie writes about may also be difficult for them, but, despite that, this is a book that should be read and discussed. Robbie and his friends were so traumatized by what they experienced, yet they were still able to go on and lead productive lives. Ultimately, then, this book is quite inspiring and shows just how strong the human instinct to survive can be.
Pair this book with Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein for another important survivor story.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an eARC gratefully received from NetGalley
In April, 1945, American troops liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, where Romek had eventually been sent. He was one of a 1,000 children who had survived the Holocaust and placed under the protective services of the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants or OSE. In June 1945, Romek, along with 426 other boys, including Elie Wiesel, was sent by train to Écouis, France, where they could be rehabilitated. Ironically, the boys were dressed in Hitler Youth uniforms that had been found in a storage room in Buchenwald so that they could discard their striped lice infested camp pajamas. On the trip to Écouis, many of the French people who saw them, mistook who they were and began throwing rocks at them.
At Écouis, there was plenty of food, clean sheets and bathrooms, but after years of starvation and mistreatment, the boy were somewhat feral. That, combined with anger, caused them to behave violently at times, to steal, and to hoard.
In between learning how to adjust to life after living under Nazi oppression for so long, Romek slowly regains memories of his loving family and his happy childhood before the Nazis invaded Poland and his experiences working in the munitions factory and later in Buchenwald. Throughout his ordeal, Romek held on to the idea that after the war and liberation, he would return to his home in Poland, where his family would all be there waiting for him. Much of his journey, then, is about coming to terms with the reality of what happened.
At one point, Romek's older sister is found and he journeys back to Germany to see her, but when she tells him she will be married soon and moving to Palestine, he returns to Écouis. There, he also meets a wealthy French couple Jean and Jane Brandt, who want him to meet their children. Jane begins taking Romek on cultural excursions, but when they offer to adopt him, he declines.
After finally accepting the fact that only he and his sister survived, in 1948, at age 17, Romek emigrated to Canada, to begin a new chapter in his life and where he changed his name to Robert (Robbie) Waisman. Robbie married and had children, but it was many years before he could speak about his experiences under the Nazis.
Boy From Buchenwald is a riveting read, and certainly one that is needed now as more and more survivors of Nazi atrocities are dying off. Robbie tells his story in an almost stream-of-consciousness manner, which might be confusing to some readers since it isn't always linear. And many of the incidents that Robbie writes about may also be difficult for them, but, despite that, this is a book that should be read and discussed. Robbie and his friends were so traumatized by what they experienced, yet they were still able to go on and lead productive lives. Ultimately, then, this book is quite inspiring and shows just how strong the human instinct to survive can be.
Pair this book with Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein for another important survivor story.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an eARC gratefully received from NetGalley
July 26, 2021
First sentence: I remember where I come from.
Premise/plot: Boy from Buchenwald is a memoir of Holocaust survivor Robbie Waisman (Romek Wajsman). It isn't your typical straight forward, strictly chronological memoir. The memoir open with Romek (and other boys from Buchenwald including Elie Wiesel) arriving in France after liberation. Much of the focus is on what happens next, what happens after liberation, how does one move forward with one's life. Physically there is much to recover from--but emotionally and psychologically, there isn't really a time table for that.
Plenty of this book focuses on the time he spent waiting, waiting, waiting, still waiting to find out any definitive news of what happened to each and every family member. Is he the only one from his family to survive? Or are there a few others--siblings perhaps--that are just in other displaced person camps?
The book contains flashes of his life before liberation. These are italicized mainly. And I think the structure of the book recreates his healing process. He had to come to terms with his whole story and that involved remembering. But remembering wasn't easy--it was overwhelming. The way forward involved coming to terms with all his past--the good, the terrifying, and each and every emotion in between.
My thoughts: At times I felt a little disconnected with this one but perhaps that is because the author himself was struggling to connect his past to his present to his future. I appreciate that this one focuses mainly--though not exclusively--on what happens after liberation. There are plenty of memoirs that focus on what happened during the war years, they leave readers with a happily ever after when the camps are liberated by the Allies. This one chooses a different path--the one less taken perhaps.
How does one move forward? How does one come to terms with what happened all the while moving forward? How does one go about grieving (and healing) when the wounds are that DEEP and the pain and sorrow so strong? How do you learn to trust again? (Or do you?) And what about the feelings of guilt and fear and anger, etc. How can you avoid giving into despair?
As I mentioned this one focuses on the first year or two--perhaps three???--after liberation as he is growing up and learning to live one day at a time.
Premise/plot: Boy from Buchenwald is a memoir of Holocaust survivor Robbie Waisman (Romek Wajsman). It isn't your typical straight forward, strictly chronological memoir. The memoir open with Romek (and other boys from Buchenwald including Elie Wiesel) arriving in France after liberation. Much of the focus is on what happens next, what happens after liberation, how does one move forward with one's life. Physically there is much to recover from--but emotionally and psychologically, there isn't really a time table for that.
Plenty of this book focuses on the time he spent waiting, waiting, waiting, still waiting to find out any definitive news of what happened to each and every family member. Is he the only one from his family to survive? Or are there a few others--siblings perhaps--that are just in other displaced person camps?
The book contains flashes of his life before liberation. These are italicized mainly. And I think the structure of the book recreates his healing process. He had to come to terms with his whole story and that involved remembering. But remembering wasn't easy--it was overwhelming. The way forward involved coming to terms with all his past--the good, the terrifying, and each and every emotion in between.
My thoughts: At times I felt a little disconnected with this one but perhaps that is because the author himself was struggling to connect his past to his present to his future. I appreciate that this one focuses mainly--though not exclusively--on what happens after liberation. There are plenty of memoirs that focus on what happened during the war years, they leave readers with a happily ever after when the camps are liberated by the Allies. This one chooses a different path--the one less taken perhaps.
How does one move forward? How does one come to terms with what happened all the while moving forward? How does one go about grieving (and healing) when the wounds are that DEEP and the pain and sorrow so strong? How do you learn to trust again? (Or do you?) And what about the feelings of guilt and fear and anger, etc. How can you avoid giving into despair?
As I mentioned this one focuses on the first year or two--perhaps three???--after liberation as he is growing up and learning to live one day at a time.
February 26, 2022
I would say this is a 2.5 for me.
For one side it is a story definitely worth telling. It is easy to think of the concentration camps as hell and the liberation as a piece of heaven on earth. While the first is the case, it is not true for the second at all. Indeed, how could this be? All the experience would be very fresh in their memories, not to speak about all the loved ones they had lost. This book tells a little bit of this story but, unfortunately, not in the best way. At least not according to my taste.
There are two main things I disliked: the constant interruption of the narrative and the too detailed descriptions.
Though I understand that maybe Robbie was starting to remember things that he suppressed and the intention of interrupting the flow of the story is to give this idea, I do not like the style. It felt like a movie flashback, not as someone living and experiencing things in the moment. My personal preference would be for dividing the book in two parts: before and after the liberation rather than constantly interrupting the story after the liberation with flashbacks. Then, if Robbie remembers something, they would just refer to it.
Second, I find it very unlikely that Robbie remembers so many details ranging from clothes to vivid descriptions of interactions between people. Maybe he does or maybe they were added. This makes me feel like I am reading a fiction novel rather than a real story. Furthermore, a lot of these details are irrelevant. They seem to add nothing to the story, so why include them?
In the end, I do not find it particularly well written with the book landing somewhere between an historical account and a story based on true events, while feeling like neither. I might consider re-reading it just because it is an interesting and worthwhile story. Who knows if I change my mind.
For one side it is a story definitely worth telling. It is easy to think of the concentration camps as hell and the liberation as a piece of heaven on earth. While the first is the case, it is not true for the second at all. Indeed, how could this be? All the experience would be very fresh in their memories, not to speak about all the loved ones they had lost. This book tells a little bit of this story but, unfortunately, not in the best way. At least not according to my taste.
There are two main things I disliked: the constant interruption of the narrative and the too detailed descriptions.
Though I understand that maybe Robbie was starting to remember things that he suppressed and the intention of interrupting the flow of the story is to give this idea, I do not like the style. It felt like a movie flashback, not as someone living and experiencing things in the moment. My personal preference would be for dividing the book in two parts: before and after the liberation rather than constantly interrupting the story after the liberation with flashbacks. Then, if Robbie remembers something, they would just refer to it.
Second, I find it very unlikely that Robbie remembers so many details ranging from clothes to vivid descriptions of interactions between people. Maybe he does or maybe they were added. This makes me feel like I am reading a fiction novel rather than a real story. Furthermore, a lot of these details are irrelevant. They seem to add nothing to the story, so why include them?
In the end, I do not find it particularly well written with the book landing somewhere between an historical account and a story based on true events, while feeling like neither. I might consider re-reading it just because it is an interesting and worthwhile story. Who knows if I change my mind.
January 15, 2022
What an incredible story! I read this book in the course of 2 days, and I would have finished it in one if my eyes hadn’t been burning from tiredness at night. Yes, it is horrifying and incredibly painful to read this story of childhood Holocaust survival, but this is also a story of friendship and love, and how much good there is in the world even in the darkest of times. It is a story of hope. This is a story told by Romek Wajsman, a Jewish boy who grew up in Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland, but ended up in Buchenwald, a concentration camp during World War II. Romek, who changed his name to Robbie Waisman as an adult, tells two stories at the same time. One is the story that begins after the liberation of the Buchenwald Orphans, who worked, hid and survived in the camp. Romek was one of about a thousand of these boys. The other story is of his life before, told in vignettes about his childhood in Skarżysko-Kamienna before the German’s invaded Poland, as well as during his time working in Nazi factories as a slave, and then in Buchenwald trying to survive to see another day. This is an inspiring and eye-opening book for students who are interested in the Holocaust as well as those just learning about it. It would pair well with Night by Elie Wiesel, who actually appears in this story several times. A must read for adults and students!
March 26, 2021
I was lucky enough to receive and advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. What an incredible story! The Boy from Buchenwald is a memoir about the author Robbie Waisman's survival of the awful Buchenwald Concentration Camp, and his reintegration into to society after liberation. I have always been interested in reading this kind of a story. Many of the Holocaust books that I have read had focused solely on what the person went through during their time in the concentration camps. However, not many of them go into detail about how they survived liberation and what they went through in order to reinsert themselves back into normal life. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Elie Wiesel in the book and found a new perspective on the impact that he had on the other Buchenwald boys. I am now also very curious to learn more about the OSE (Child's Aid Society) and the the work that they did for the children during and after WWII. Overall, I think that The Boy from Buchenwald is a wonderful story that does a really good job of introducing the Holocaust to Children. I would give this book a Five out of Five stars.
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April 13, 2021Even though this is a story of resilience and eventual rehabilitation, it's also incredibly tragic, as any Holocaust memoir is. At first I thought it would be too hard for the 9-11 year old age group for which it is written but I realize that the kids, like Robbie Waisman, who lived through it were that age when it happened. Robbie, or Romek, was 8 when his family's life in Poland started changing. After years of child labor in a munitions factory, Robbie eventually landed in Buchenwald as a young teen. His memoir covers the time of his release from the camp and his learning to become human again. The recovery process triggers many memories - of happier times in early childhood and of horrors he witnessed during the war. Robbie Waisman has lived a long and fulfilling life in Canada and only began talking about the war years when he learned of a teacher who was teaching that the Holocaust was a hoax. His memoir is an important addition to the world's Holocaust literature. I think it would be good if a parent or teacher read this with kids.. or at least made themselves available for questions and discussion. To be published in May 2021.
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