Forgiving Hitler

by Kel Richards

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Christianity

Paperback

First published January 31, 2002

About the author

Kevin Barry "Kel" Richards (born 8 February 1946) is an Australian author, journalist and radio personality.

Richards has written a series of crime novels and thrillers for adult readers which includes The Case of the Vanishing Corpse, Death in Egypt and An Outbreak of Darkness.

Richards currently presents ABC NewsRadio's weekend afternoons, which includes regular Wordwatch segments. Wordwatch is a feature introduced by Richards. Initially developed as a "filler" program for the radio programs to allow time for changes of people or locations, it tapped into an interest by the listening public and several books have been produced based on the show's research. In November 2003 the thousandth episode of the show was produced.

Richards can also be heard on ABC Local Radio programs including Nightlife (national) and Evenings in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Reviews

[katie ୨୧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A compelling read

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fourth book of 2021! This book is incredible written book called ‘Forgiving Hitler’ by Kel Richards. I’ve enjoyed the story and it has touched my heart. I couldn’t put it in her shoes. I couldn’t imagine what she did go through the dreadful times. You won’t regret reading this book.

[Carolyn Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of schoolgirls in an Austrian boarding school travels to Vienna on a Friday night to attend a ball, only to be caught up in a nightmare of the Anschluss.

Katalin 'Kitty' Kalafoni was preparing for a career in the diplomatic corps, but those plans were brought to an abrupt end as she faced discrimination as a Jew.

But even then, the dark shadow of Nazi occupation reached her in Budapest with the brutal treatment of Jews, with her father forced to work in a labour camp and later sent off to a concentration camp.

Then begins an incredible story of survival and courage and hope during World War II, with Kitty nursing an increasingly bitter hatred toward Adolf Hitler and his regime. She wanted revenge on those responsible for the death of family and friends.

But Kitty, who later begins a new life in Australia as Kathy Diosy, also learns about forgiveness in Christ.

Author and radio broadcaster Kel Richards presents Kitty's painful and difficult story clearly and sensitively, although I wish there had been more details about her life in Australia.

It is worth reading to learn how God worked in her life and led her to forgive one of history's most revolting people.

Kitty died in 2014, aged 93, and copies of this book were available before her funeral at St Phil's Anglican Church, Caringbah.

[Josh Corney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, not great. Kel does a great job to make this a very readable book about a Jewish woman living in Nazi Hungary. It's a good read and I enjoyed it, but surprisingly I found her conversion story rushed and shoe-horned in to this biography. It felt a little like Kel wanted it to be in there (after all the title of the book certainly requires it) but didn't really know what to do with it. It did a great job bringing home the barrenness and horror of living in those days as a Jewish woman. However, the book failed to deliver the coherent, overarching message of forgiveness that I also craved. Overall, it's 3/5 for me, purely on the basis that I won't pick this up again.

[Emmeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitty's story is recounted vividly and is a pleasure to read, despite the content at times, however I was a bit disappointed with the concluding chapters. I felt that the momentum of the book halted as the details of Kitty's conversion to Christianity were revealed over the last two chapters. The ending to this book felt a bit awkward and I was unsatisifed with the explantion as to how Kitty came to forgive the experiences of her past. Another chapter or two may have helped to smooth these details out.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though relatively short and simple (I read it in one day), I found the story to be utterly compelling. It put human faces and stories to the horror of the Holocaust and WW2. And Kitty's journey towards forgiveness—in sad & stark contrast to that of her mother—is a beautiful witness to the transforming and reconciling power of the gospel. Loved it.