Barefoot in the Rubble

by Elizabeth B. Walter

As a survivor of Ethnic Cleansing, it is clear from her memoir that Elizabeth Walter suffered then, and long afterwards, both for herself and her loved ones. What also comes through her account, however, are less publicized, but resonant and compelling connections between victims of that Ethnic Cleansing and victims of the Holocaust. Elizabeth Walter knew, and suffered with, a few of the two million Volksdeutsche who perished in the Vertreibung. Two million (the currently accepted number for the ethnic German deaths in the Expulsion) is a hefty figure, even by World War II and Holocaust standards, and even for a people whom many in this country still imagine "had-it-coming." Elizabeth Walther also shares with Holocaust victims, and historical slavery and oppression, the knowledge that free and secure people did not really care about her fate. Nobody cared about the Jews in 1942, or in 1943. At least not anybody with any power to help them in any significant way. In a similar sense, nobody cared about the Donauschwaben in 1944. If people thought about their situation at all, the "Schwobe" were guilty by reason of race;" just like the Jews since the time of St. Augustine.... and the Haitians since the inception of the slave trade.

Genres: Biography

266 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Lisa DiPietro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an eye opener about what happened to the ethnic Germans b/c who they were and what they were born into. My grandmother and her family were kicked out of Yugoslovia and lost everything.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your family lived in Romania, Yugoslavia or Hungary and they spoke German, this is a must read book. Elizabeth Walter accounts what happened to her and her family during this time and the conditions they survived. I know Elizabeth and her husband Mike in Chicago (Barrington), but I knew her brother, Joe (Seppi), even better. I never knew what they had gone through as children and am happy that Elizabeth has documented their experiences.

Joe went on to be a high ranking executive at the Allis Chalmers corporation and greatly respected in his field. However, he did not forget his roots. He served as a Vice President of the Milwaukee Donauschwaben and President of the Donauschwaben Foundation nationally.

Elizabeth's story is not too different from many others I know and we are inspired with their bravery. The story of Germans being persecuted during World War II is not well known and Elizabeth brings it too us through a child's eyes. My husband's family lived in Hungary and mine lived in the Ukraine. But they also had to leave everything and RUN, but the Hugery family was not able to RUN and this book brings to light what it was like.

[Liz Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book even though it pulled at my heart. What they went through was horrible.

[Frau Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethnic cleansing is real. It is still happening. I liked this book. It described very accurately the horror of the Holocaust. It didn't happen only in Germany. The Donau-Schwaben were also persecuted and driven from their homes.

[Colleen Lahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A piece of World War II history that I was completely unaware. How the family made it through & found each other is amazing.

[Alexandra Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book that tells the story of survival for Ethnic Germans post WWII. The Ethnic cleansing that took place after World War II is a part of history which many of us know nothing about. Ethnic Cleansing is not limited to one race, people or country. Sadly, this is still going on today. Books like this are a must read, too!!

[Donna Frasor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to the ethnic cleansing of Germans in Europe after WWII. It is a book written by a survivor who recreates a picture of her childhood in Yugoslavia before and after the Russian takeover. Although it was educational, I found her writing to be choppy.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent