All But My Life by Gerda Weissman Klein is a memior written about the authors's experiences during World War II. Gerda Weissman Klein was a Polish Jew along with her family who encountered many hardship from the German Nazis. When they first invaded, the Jews got threatened by German Nazi who invaded Poland on Spetember 1, 1939. It took the Germans only 8 days to conquer Poland. When they invaded they tooks Jews gold, autmobiles, bicycles, and radios. When they invaded the Jews were forced out of their himes and temple were burned down. Many people along with the Weissman fmaily was forced to rebuild parts of Poland that was destoryed form the attack. Her family was then forced to move into the basement of their own house. They and along with many other people were stamped JEW on their ration cards to recieve less food. ?In addition to beign disrciminated, they had to wear a yellow start to represent that they were a Jews and got punished if they didn't. Gerda as one of the victim was sent out of her own country. Even though so many hardship was forced on the Jews, Gerda stated "to you, life still means beauty, and that is how it should be" (115). Even though many people got killed, there is no excuse to just give up on up beucase life is suspose to be worth cherishing. Gerda's parents were taken to death camps and killed from there along of 3 million other people. Thus, it was hard to make friends beucase many would have to mourn the death of the people they loved for example Suse and Lisel who were friend she made at the camp and died went sent on the death march. Even though it was sad and depressing to see people die there was still always have to be hope in her survival. She said after many of her loved one passed away ""now i have to live," i said to myself, "beucase I am alone and nothing hurt me any more""(206). This shows that in order to not lose hope is to suffer so much and get back up to become a stronger and powerful person. The theme hope related to the whole concept of Holocaust that was learned during sophmore year. Many Jewish people survived beucase they never gave up. If they did the whole entire Jewish commuinty would be gone by now and the German Nazi would take over. They learned they could not give up beucase then what's the point of living? The point of life is go through many obstacles and problems to succed.
At 9:10 a.m. Gerda Weissmann’s life ended; the Nazis invaded Poland and red, black, and white flags with swastikas hung from her neighbor’s windows. Uncertainty turns into upheaval first with the deportation of her brother and then with the loss of her family’s home. Her ill father becomes listless; her mother withdrawals into herself. And almost as quickly as it begins Gerda finds herself in the Bielitz ghetto where she separated from her father, then to a transit camp where she is separated from her mother, and then onto the labour camp, Bolkenhain. This is only the beginning of Klein’s story, a story that ends with the Nazis robbing her of all but her life.This is the book that’s been missing from my course on the Holocaust. We’ve learned about Merin, a member of the Judenrat who lined his pockets; we’ve learned about the difference between labour camps and concentration camps. And according to our syllabus, in the coming weeks we’re going to learn about death marches. But as well as my professor is at telling stories for lectures instead of saying “these are the facts you need to know,” there is something you can only get by reading the memoir of a survivor. The “I” makes it personal; the “I” makes facts visible realities.Even on the written side, All But My Life is one of the most, if not the most, well-written written memoirs I’ve ever read. It’s heart-wrenching, emotional, and personal when other Holocaust memoirs are distant. You relive Klein’s past, and I can understand why in the preface Klein says she is now, finally, emancipated from her burden.It’s so personal, so powerful, and worth every tear I shed. And I would love to read The Hours After, a collection of letters between Klein and her husband, U.S. Army lieutenant Kurt Klein, who liberated her on May 7th, 1945, after the war.
Do You like book All But My Life: A Memoir (1995)?
This book was truly one that I feel i will never forget. Gerda Weissmann is truly a strong survivor, and the way she managed to survive the Holocaust, and win against the Nazis is dumbfounding. Her story not only is heart-warming but inspiring as well. I cannot say that I have read a better book that this in the past five years. The book itself was written not as a non-fiction book, but as a novel. It has symbols, themes, and other elements of literature that one would find in a regular fiction novel. This book goes above and beyond to portray the images and emotions felt throughout the war. I personally enjoyed part two of the book, as I felt that it had the most emotion and suspense. I was always afraid that Gerda would get seriously harmed, but she ends up winning the battle in the end, which lifted my spirit. All three parts in the book clearly dictate the events throughout the war in Europe, before the camps, during the camps, and the aftermath. Each chapter lead to continue reading, leaving me thirsting for the next sequence of events to come. Although it was sad to see so many characters come and go, it added to the boldness and power of the novel. Remarkably written; I would recommend this book to anyone of any age who wants to learn about the Holocaust, because it is so important to never forget.
—Sam Jocas
I read this book for my ninth grade honors English class. I want to start off by saying this didn't feel like an autobiography. From the moment I picked it up I was instantly stuck reading through the accounts of Gerda. The book is seriously that good. The book has elements of literature and is a book everyone can learn something from. Out of all the books I have read, this has quickly become one of my all time favorites. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read to dig into or is looking for a historical book with first hand accounts. Cation to those that haven't read it yet, it is extremely sad at times. all in all it is one of my favorite books, great in every aspect I can think of.
—Really Cool
I should probably start out by saying that I'm not totally obsessed with WWII, Holocaust, concentration camps, terror, misery and death (here it comes...) BUT, I think I enjoy these stories because in each one, there is a story of HOPE, perseverance, and a remarkable accounts of humanity and triumph. It gives me a renewed sense of well-being, humanity, tolerance, strength and hope. No matter how bad my life seems to be, I can more easily remember that I really and truly have it SO very good."All But My Life" is a beautifully written memoir of Gerda Weissmann's experiences through this horrific time. I am humbled by this woman's optimism, courage and determination. I am truly amazed that Gerda is a survivor. At the time of The Liberation, she weighed 68 pounds - and she was 21 years old! (That's about how much my Kati weighs right now, and she's 9!!!) Gerda had typhus and pneumonia shortly after that, and had sustained severe nerve damage to her feet. She recovered from all of the above, and has 3 children, and grand children. Like I said, I think I'm hooked on these type of books because of the outlook on my life that I come away with. Although, there is such a part of the healing process for a survivor to tell their story; maybe that's what I look forward to in my own life - my own survival for my own trial?
—Heidi Pikula
