Written from the point of view of the child that he was during the hardest years of the Nazi regime in Germany, this memoir is an interesting account of dramatic events. Children do have a particular memory and emotional awareness, therefore such a memoir is an important testimony for reconstructing that historical time. The vicinity with a horrendous criminal and the story of the encounter through the eyes of a Jewish kid make the story even more interesting. A recommended read to anyone interested in Jewish history and Jewish experiences during WWII.

--I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are purely my own and not influenced in any way.--
This was a very interesting book about a young Jewish boy growing up right next to Hitler himself. Even though I've read books like this before, it is still always fascinating to see someone else's perspective, especially with Edgar's father being so actively resistant to the Nazi Party. There's really not much I can really say about it: you know what you're getting into with books like these, and you know certain details that will likely be touched on. I will say that this one is a lot "lighter" in comparison to books like Night or other books of its ilk, but that is never a bad thing: everyone has different experiences! I really loved how indoctrinated the school system was, as it's something that's always fascinated me but is never mentioned that much.
Overall, great book about resilience and resistance that anyone can get something out of, but that could also easily be the first foray into the topic in schools. 3.5/5 stars.

Hitler, My Neighbor
Memories of a Jewish Childhood, 1929-1939
by Edgar Feuchtwanger, Bertil Scali

Other Press

Biographies & Memoirs

Pub Date 07 Nov 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Hitler, My Neighbor through Other Press and Netgalley:

In 1933 the joy of Edgar Feuchtwanger untroubled life comes to an end. He is the only son of a respected editor and the nephew of best selling author Lion Feuchtwanger, but he is a Jew and in 1933 when Hitler is named Chancellor his family looses all rights.

Edgar was only nine when Hitler came into power, destroying his life, his families life. At nine he was stripped of his childhood.

Edgar’s Father would spend several weeks in Dachau and would eventually go home, in 1939 Edgar would be approved to go to England and a few weeks later his parents would be approved.

I give Hitler, My Neighbor five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Even if the author has become an esteemed historian since the days portrayed here, there is no denying this is an awkward read. It is one part warm-hearted reportage of his childhood, full of lovely girl friends and mansions galore; one part a study of the literary bent of his family, including his uncle Lion who was about the only person to out-sell Hitler's Mein Kampf; and the major part a portrayal of life when the chief Nazi is living in a converted mansion over the road from you. That part should be the most interesting, but comes across here as the most clumsily written, which makes this book a bit of a mess, if I'm honest – the hindsight, the incredible riches of exposition and the impossibly well-remembered dialogue just dull the life out of the characters I had wanted to meet, and makes it all an implausible melange of faction. A shame, as the considerations about Hitler – that someone was his neighbour, someone else his dentist, etc – are incredibly valid.

This book was told over the ten years of Hitler's rise to power and the outbreak of World War II. It is the recollection of a man in his nineties, told about when he was five to fifteen.

The perspective of a child to the changing world of Germany, and the adults reactions from thinking Hitler was a fringe player to genuine loathing then fear as he became more powerful was heartbreaking to read and a powerful voice that is often lost when we look back on this point in history.

Even in the darkest times, we can learn so much from the viewpoint of a child. In this case, one who was quite proud to be German ND fond of Hitler way on, to eventually come to hate Hitler and the Nazi party.

I definitely recommend checking this book out. it's a quick but powerful read, and a story worth sharing.

Not as insightful as I hoped, since I was looking for some personal details about Hitler from someone who lived so close to him, but this book details everything from the POV of a child who lived across the street from Hitler & saw him from time to time as Hilter moved into power. The boy's wealthy family pay for visa's and escape Germany just as Hitler begins his true reign of terror.

While the book was orettybgood I don't know why but I found it needed something more as it didn't seem to keep me drawn in the way I thought it would.

I was unable to download this book to my kindle, which was dissapointing, however I found an app that enabled me to read this book. This is the biography of a jewish boy during WWII. It includes pictures of his family and spans a period of years. It was hard to get through considering the sibject matter, but, it was worth the read.

I was so excited to read this when I received it however, I was unable to download this to my kindle this is very disappointing to me! It states I have to put a star review so im putting 3 because even though i didn't read it im sure it was great.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy. I find autobiographies, especially historical ones, interesting so thought I would give this one a go. Granted, it was never going to be an easy read considering the topic. Told from the perspective of Edgar, this recounts the story of being Hitler's neighbour and the horrific sights that he has seen living in the building opposite him. This man has kept a lot of this bottled up over the last 70 odd years following him being sent to England during the war and now feels able to give his story seen through the eyes of the child that he was. Told over the years 1929-1939, this book includes photos of his family taken during this time. Not by any means an easy read, but a very interesting one.