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Don't Ask My Name: A Hidden Child's Tale of Survival
Born Jewish in Hungary in the 1930s, little Erika became a “Hidden Child,” one of many Jewish children who were provided with false identities and survived the Second World War as Christians. The lies she had to tell and the secrets she was forced to keep sent her on a lifelong search for identity, until she is finally ready to tell her gripping true story. Erika is only three when her divorced mother officially converts to Catholicism in hopes of protecting the family from the rising tide of antisemitism, but this is not enough to shield them from persecution, especially after the Germans occupy Hungary in the 1940s. Obtaining false identities and papers, they retreat to a small farming village where no one knows their true background, only to find themselves caught between the clashing German and Russian armies, both of which pose a constant threat to their lives and freedom. Now refugees in a fierce war zone, Erika and her family endure a harrowing struggle for survival that will forever leave its mark on her and her loved ones. DON’T ASK MY NAME is a compelling memoir of a woman’s journey through one of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 9, 2022
Who are “The Hidden Children of the Holocaust”? Erika Hecht was born in Hungary. Jewish.
In 1937 Erika is three years old when her mother had them converted to Catholicism as did many Jewish families in the expectation that this would be enough to save them, until it wasn’t.
Even with false papers these families had to continually move from place to place forced to flee caught between the Nazis as well as Russian soldiers who were not always friendly or considerate.
After the horrors of WWII when Erika’s family are able to return home her mother intends to keep up their Catholic charade as anti-Semitism is still flourishing. Erika is sent to a Catholic boarding school.
As well as grappling with an increasingly difficult mother Erika by age eighteen has attended eight different school, in three different languages, in three countries.
“My background as a Hidden Child survivor, a displaced person, and a Catholic girl did not leave room to connect or to form attachments.” (Chapter 17)
Erika Hecht tried to erase her horrible memories until a NY magazine article in 1991 described a conference for “The Hidden Children of the Holocaust”. “It refers to Jewish children who were provided false identities and survived WWII as Christians.” It is the first time Erika has seen anything, in writing, relating to her own experiences.
At the conference Erika finds she is not alone and decides it is time to tell her true story.
In 1937 Erika is three years old when her mother had them converted to Catholicism as did many Jewish families in the expectation that this would be enough to save them, until it wasn’t.
Even with false papers these families had to continually move from place to place forced to flee caught between the Nazis as well as Russian soldiers who were not always friendly or considerate.
After the horrors of WWII when Erika’s family are able to return home her mother intends to keep up their Catholic charade as anti-Semitism is still flourishing. Erika is sent to a Catholic boarding school.
As well as grappling with an increasingly difficult mother Erika by age eighteen has attended eight different school, in three different languages, in three countries.
“My background as a Hidden Child survivor, a displaced person, and a Catholic girl did not leave room to connect or to form attachments.” (Chapter 17)
Erika Hecht tried to erase her horrible memories until a NY magazine article in 1991 described a conference for “The Hidden Children of the Holocaust”. “It refers to Jewish children who were provided false identities and survived WWII as Christians.” It is the first time Erika has seen anything, in writing, relating to her own experiences.
At the conference Erika finds she is not alone and decides it is time to tell her true story.
April 12, 2021
Don't Ask My Name by Erika Hecht is a memoir of a woman who's life and identity has been affected from WWII and all of the extreme measures that she and her family had to go through, just in the attempt to survive.
This book was so interesting and so unique. I do not think I have read such a fascinating account of a person that had their Jewish identity and religion altered to Catholicism and the fallout and identity struggles that occurred all thereafter. Yes, I knew that there were many Jewish citizens of occupied lands that were forced to do so much in order to avoid deportation or worse, however I have not read any accounts as to what really "happened" to these individuals in regards to their identities, their personal lives, and the struggles that they faced long-term...long after the war was over.
It was really hard to see so many things happen to one family, one person. Not only did they lose family members, lose everything that they had and worked for, the author also lost her identity. It seemed for years, decades, her entire life it seems, was altered and affected by her mother's attempts to save her and others in the family. The internal and external struggles that were written about were very sad and difficult to read, but is most certainly needed.
A gripping, and heartbreaking account that was a fascinating read. I want to thank the author for her bravery in her account and for sharing her story with us.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and East End Press for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
This book was so interesting and so unique. I do not think I have read such a fascinating account of a person that had their Jewish identity and religion altered to Catholicism and the fallout and identity struggles that occurred all thereafter. Yes, I knew that there were many Jewish citizens of occupied lands that were forced to do so much in order to avoid deportation or worse, however I have not read any accounts as to what really "happened" to these individuals in regards to their identities, their personal lives, and the struggles that they faced long-term...long after the war was over.
It was really hard to see so many things happen to one family, one person. Not only did they lose family members, lose everything that they had and worked for, the author also lost her identity. It seemed for years, decades, her entire life it seems, was altered and affected by her mother's attempts to save her and others in the family. The internal and external struggles that were written about were very sad and difficult to read, but is most certainly needed.
A gripping, and heartbreaking account that was a fascinating read. I want to thank the author for her bravery in her account and for sharing her story with us.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and East End Press for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
May 2, 2021
Erika was forced to become a Christian and lie about her heritage during WWII. Even after her mother controlled her identity. She led a turbulent life with her mother. I liked the unique story. I was very intrigued how her father supported a great number of people. She never really relates what business her father was in and I was curious. I was also curious why her parents actually divorced which is never addressed either. Although they suffered, Hecht's family had far more resources than most Holocaust survivors. I liked that pictures were included. She was able to find homes they hid out in and included pictures of them in a trip made in 1993. Thanks to Edelweiss and East End Press for the advance copy.
May 10, 2022
I guess I forgot to write a review but I will say I am someone who very rarely will pick up a nonfiction book and I happened to start this one and it captivated me like omg it was so good and the story but both new to me and just captivating.
June 26, 2021
I loved this book. It was so much more than a WWII survival story. It was as much about the dynamics between mother and daughter. To an 11 year old child who really was the enemy the Nazis? the Russians? or her mother?
Some of the scenes were so harrowing and richly described, that I can’t get the descriptions out of my mind.
I really hope that someone decides to make a motion picture from this. It would be a fabulous movie!!
Some of the scenes were so harrowing and richly described, that I can’t get the descriptions out of my mind.
I really hope that someone decides to make a motion picture from this. It would be a fabulous movie!!
June 16, 2021
Don’t Ask My Name is a different sort of Holocaust memoir. Her mother had the entire family convert to Catholicism to protect themselves from the increasing anti-Semitism in Hungary. While her parents were divorced, it was amicable even after both married other people. The Catholic outside the house, Jewish inside the home, facade did not protect them from discrimination or from being forced to wear yellow stars.
When the Germans invaded Hungary, her father arranged for false identities and a place for them to hide as Christians in a small village where a trusted employee lived. Times were hard and they had to pretend not to recognize cousins who also were hiding there. There was privation but relative safety until near the end of the war when the town moved back and forth between Russian and German occupation. After they were exposed as Jewish, they had to flee and spent harrowing times in hiding, scrounging for survival.
After the war, they continued to be outwardly Catholic as her mother feared new persecution. Erika was sent to Catholic school after Catholic school though she found freedom through her education. The great majority of the memoir focuses on the war, but we are brought up to date in a fast final chapter.
Don’t Ask My Name is an excellent memoir. Erika has no interest in making herself and her family look perfect. Her occasional pettiness and resentments are laid bare. Her mother’s erratic anger and occasional cruelty are painfully recalled. It becomes increasingly clear her mother is mentally ill, perhaps broken by the strains of the war. Despite her mother’s behavior, her daughters love and care for her and in time come to realize how much the dual identity has affected her and them.
This is a great memoir. Erika writes vividly, quickly sketching a scene with the kind of details that make it immediate and rich with atmosphere. There is this authenticity to her story, how it was sometimes banal and boring to be hiding, for example. The tedium of it as well as the anxiety gives it so much more realism. This memoir is as much about the family dynamics as it is about escaping the Nazis.
Don’t Ask My Name was released on June 15th. I received an ARC from the publisher through Shelf Awareness.
Don’t Ask My Name at East End Press | IPG
Erika Hecht essay at Vermont Holocaust Memorial
When the Germans invaded Hungary, her father arranged for false identities and a place for them to hide as Christians in a small village where a trusted employee lived. Times were hard and they had to pretend not to recognize cousins who also were hiding there. There was privation but relative safety until near the end of the war when the town moved back and forth between Russian and German occupation. After they were exposed as Jewish, they had to flee and spent harrowing times in hiding, scrounging for survival.
After the war, they continued to be outwardly Catholic as her mother feared new persecution. Erika was sent to Catholic school after Catholic school though she found freedom through her education. The great majority of the memoir focuses on the war, but we are brought up to date in a fast final chapter.
Don’t Ask My Name is an excellent memoir. Erika has no interest in making herself and her family look perfect. Her occasional pettiness and resentments are laid bare. Her mother’s erratic anger and occasional cruelty are painfully recalled. It becomes increasingly clear her mother is mentally ill, perhaps broken by the strains of the war. Despite her mother’s behavior, her daughters love and care for her and in time come to realize how much the dual identity has affected her and them.
This is a great memoir. Erika writes vividly, quickly sketching a scene with the kind of details that make it immediate and rich with atmosphere. There is this authenticity to her story, how it was sometimes banal and boring to be hiding, for example. The tedium of it as well as the anxiety gives it so much more realism. This memoir is as much about the family dynamics as it is about escaping the Nazis.
Don’t Ask My Name was released on June 15th. I received an ARC from the publisher through Shelf Awareness.
Don’t Ask My Name at East End Press | IPG
Erika Hecht essay at Vermont Holocaust Memorial
August 3, 2021
It’s shocking that we humans are so completely aggressive, not compassionate and simply brutal!! I’m so sorry the author went thru all that she did!! Thxs for enlightening the world!!❤️❤️
March 28, 2022
A very intense and interesting autobiography of survival through the Second World War.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews