Escape to Virginia

I had just finished reading a couple of books of children from the Holocaust. When I saw this book, it caught my interest. The strongest point of this book is the story before the story. Gillette wrote about the lives of two teens who lives were forever changed by the Nazis. Their stories start long before many of the Jewish inhabitants of Germany were getting worried. I read the story of a dutiful daughter who was well liked and well known in her hometown, but whose life changed dramatically. I could feel her confusion about why suddenly her friends were not friendly. Why did her perfectly planned life become a life she no longer recognized? It was so sad to read how people changed towards their neighbors because of the Nazis. Even in England, the children she met were far from welcoming.

The young man in the book just wanted to make a difference, much like the girl. He saw his choices in life getting smaller and smaller. He should have been a star. Intelligent, good athlete, and blond good looks. But he was Jewish and that made all the difference.

Both young adults choose to take part in a special education opportunity in Germany. A farm where Jewish young people were taught life skills to make a difference. A place where they could have hope and possible help their fellow Jewish citizens. Both worked hard and wanted the chance to be something in a time when being Jewish could end your life.

Escape to Virginia From Nazi Germany to Thalhimer’s Farm by Robert H. Gillette

The History Press

History

Pub Date Feb 15, 2016

I was given a arc copy of Escape to Virginia From Nazi Germany to Thalmeirs Farm by Robert H Gillette in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:

Escape to Virginia From Nazi Germany to Thalmeirs Farm is categorized as Creative History, and is filled with interesting facts as well as black and white photograps.

This book talks about how Jewish Mother’s and Father’s would whisper about what was happening in muffled tones but more often than not Children knew something was going on.

Several Jewish Teenagers were sent to England to have a chance, separating them from their families and all they knew. Later they would be sent to Gross Bressen where they would learn to farm and take classes. A man named Bondy ran Gross Bressen wanting to give a place for these Jewish Teens a place to learn and grow.

Twenty Five Teenage girls and boys were selected to head to Thalmeirs Farm in 1938, but those who did not make it to Virginia would be captured and taken to Buckenwald Concentration Camp where they would be prisoners.

After a month of Thalmeirs trying to get the students and Bondy released from Buckenwald he succeeds in getting most of the students released, leaving only a few and Bondy at the camp.

Over a years time Thalmeir and his head lawyer worked tirelessly to get each of the students and the staff of Gross Bressen to come to the United States.

I had never heard of Thalmeir or the Hyde farm before reading Escape to Virginia From Nazi Germany but see now that he is one of the Holocaust’s Unsung hero’s. He was American willing to fight to get these people free and offer them a safe place.

I give this book five out of five stars.

Happy Reading