Germany During the Holocaust


Shadows Over My Berlin:
One Woman's Story of World War II

BY HEIDI SCRIBA VANCE With Janet Barton Speer, Ph.D.

ISBN: 0-913337-30-7; Hardcover; 200 pages;
Library of Congress Catalog #: 96-41917;
Retail $25.00

Ordinary German lives during the holocaust, by someone who was an ordinary German with a front row seat “With her candor about German response to the Nazis (in Shadows Over My Berlin), Vance invites confrontation with the very current question posed by Daniel Goldhagen in his 1996 book, Hitler’s Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust. Did the Nazis benefit from the collaboration of ordinary German citizens in killing Jews? “Vance answers indirectly: “It was impossible for any of us to know the truth. My talking about (the “Jewish Problem”) could be dangerous to me and my family. And I could not change government policy by myself. Fear is a great immobilizer.” “That answer itself demonstrates that at best, Vance and her family were an exception to the rule, and at the least, demonstrated what Goldhagen proposes, that anti-Semitism was so imbued in society that the removal of Jews from a community was not perceived as a threat to the entire community. Protest would be a threat. “She presents a vivid example of just such a removal, as Nazis come, beat and take away a Jewish couple and an old woman, then return to strip the apartment of all its belongings. “‘Look at this stuff,’ one laughed. ‘Good stuff! Rich! Expensive! We need this in our homes.’” When Vance leaned over the banister to get a better look, Papa was close behind her. “‘Watch it!’ he whispered. ‘If they see you, they may not like it.’” “The permission for the Nazis’ behavior, an acceptance that overwhelms resistance, is palpable in moments such as these and others in the book. Vance notes, “Who was ashamed? Who was not? I didn’t know. Germans kept their opinions, their thoughts, even their fears to themselves.” “Then she immediately observes that the blue-collar masses “…seemed to be in agreement with him (Hitler).” She presents a weak defense when she notes that they didn’t disapprove—“Not outwardly, anyway.” Never was the word “anyway” so revealing.” This is “…a poignant tale of a powerful human being, providing us pictures of little-known history, and a clear-cut presentation of a hotly debated question of ethical behavior: two good reasons to read this book.” —Robert Moyer Winston-Salem Journal Book Review, May 7, 1997 If the Nazis did benefit from the collaboration and complicity of ordinary Germans in killing Jews, Heidi Scriba Vance would know. She was in her late teens and early twenties during World War II. She resided in Berlin and was beginning a career as a ballerina as the war unfolded on her doorstep. Now 80-years-old, she recounts her experiences, as well as those of her parents, doctor, aunts and many friends. In Shadows Over My Berlin, Scriba reveals the forgotten history of ordinary Germans prior to and during World War II.

Shadows Over My Berlin: One Woman's Story of World War II Retail $25 plus shipping and handling Order Shadows Over My Berlin one of two ways!

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			Shadows Over My Berlin: One Woman's Story of World War II BY HEIDI SCRIBA VANCE With Janet Barton Speer, Ph.D. ISBN: 0-913337-30-7; Hardcover; 200 pages; Library of Congress Catalog #: 96-41917; Retail $25.00 Ordinary German lives during the holocaust, by someone who was an ordinary German with a front row seat *“With her candor about German response to the Nazis (in Shadows Over My Berlin), Vance invites* confrontation with the very current question posed by Daniel Goldhagen in his 1996 book, Hitler’s Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust. Did the Nazis benefit from the collaboration of ordinary German citizens in killing Jews? “Vance answers indirectly: “It was impossible for any of us to know the truth. My talking about (the “Jewish Problem”) could be dangerous to me and my family. And I could not change government policy by myself. Fear is a great immobilizer.” “That answer itself demonstrates that at best, Vance and her family were an exception to the rule, and at the least, demonstrated what Goldhagen proposes, that anti-Semitism was so imbued in society that the removal of Jews from a community was not perceived as a threat to the entire community. Protest would be a threat. “She presents a vivid example of just such a removal, as Nazis come, beat and take away a Jewish couple and an old woman, then return to strip the apartment of all its belongings. “‘Look at this stuff,’ one laughed. ‘Good stuff! Rich! Expensive! We need this in our homes.’” When Vance leaned over the banister to get a better look, Papa was close behind her. “‘Watch it!’ he whispered. ‘If they see you, they may not like it.’” “The permission for the Nazis’ behavior, an acceptance that overwhelms resistance, is palpable in moments such as these and others in the book. Vance notes, “Who was ashamed? Who was not? I didn’t know. Germans kept their opinions, their thoughts, even their fears to themselves.” “Then she immediately observes that the blue-collar masses “…seemed to be in agreement with him (Hitler).” She presents a weak defense when she notes that they didn’t disapprove—“Not outwardly, anyway.” Never was the word “anyway” so revealing.” This is “…a poignant tale of a powerful human being, providing us pictures of little-known history, and a clear-cut presentation of a hotly debated question of ethical behavior: two good reasons to read this book.” —Robert Moyer *Winston-Salem Journal* Book Review, May 7, 1997 If the Nazis did benefit from the collaboration and complicity of ordinary Germans in killing Jews, Heidi Scriba Vance would know. She was in her late teens and early twenties during World War II. She resided in Berlin and was beginning a career as a ballerina as the war unfolded on her doorstep. Now 80-years-old, she recounts her experiences, as well as those of her parents, doctor, aunts and many *friends. In Shadows Over My Berlin, Scriba reveals the forgotten history of ordinary Germans* prior to and during World War II. Shadows Over My Berlin: One Woman's Story of World War II *Retail $25 plus shipping and handling* Order *Shadows Over My Berlin* one of two ways! To order by credit card, click... To order by mail and pay by check or money order, mail your payment to: Southfarm Press, Publisher P.O. Box 1296 Middletown, CT 06457 *Be sure to provide your mailing address and phone number with your check.*