Book Title

The Road from Breslau: A Story of My Mother's Experiences in Germany, India, and New York

Genre

Non-fiction

Overview

The story of Marianne, a remarkable woman whose journey in life spanned three continents and who was an eyewitness to some of the most important events of the 20th century. It is based upon her memoirs, writings, and family archives, serving as a case study of the larger German Jewish experience. The narrative is interwoven with historical facts, making it both a biography and a historical account.

Early Life

Marianne was born in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland) in 1908, as an only child. She grew up during World War I and attended the University of Breslau. During her studies, she became a victim of the anti-Jewish racial laws passed by the Nazis in the 1930s.

Kristallnacht and Emigration

On November 9, 1938, on the eve of World War II, Marianne witnessed her husband being taken to Buchenwald concentration camp during Kristallnacht. She managed to free him, and in January 1939, they emigrated from Germany to Bombay, India, aboard one of the last passenger ships leaving Europe before the war. She also secured a visa for her mother, saving three lives from deportation and death.

Life in India

In 1940, her first son was born. Marianne became a widow in 1942 after her husband's death. She witnessed India’s independence in 1947 and the riots following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. She remarried a German-Jewish refugee and had a second son in 1949. After her mother’s passing and India’s independence, she immigrated to New York via Ellis Island in 1953, where she started a new chapter after living in India for 14 years.

Themes and Character

The story of Marianne is marked by adversity but also by bravery, hope, perseverance, and inspiration. Despite many hardships, she remained unbitter, maintaining humor, good cheer, and wit. Her strength and resilience allowed her to adapt to changing circumstances, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.