Die Gedanken sind frei: Meine Kindheit im Elsass

by Tomi Ungerer

Tomi Ungerer ist neun Jahre alt, als deutsche Truppen 1940 das Elsaß besetzen. Die französischsprachigen Lehrer werden durch deutsche Lehrer, die bereits in der Wehrmacht gedient hatten, ersetzt. Deutsch wird die offizielle Sprache, Französisch bei Androhung strenger Strafen verboten, aus Jean-Thomas, von allen Tomi genannt, wird Hans, der in der Schule jetzt in Sütterlinschrift schreiben muß. Tomi Ungerer erzählt vom Alltagsleben, vom Kieg, von der Libération. Und er erzählt die Streiche und Erlebnisse eines heranwachsenden Buben und berichtet, wie sich dort, wo Unterdrückung herrscht, Widerstand regt: er lernt schnell, statt "Heil Hitler!" "Ein Liter!" zu rufen. In der Familie Ungerer wurde nichts weggeworfen, alle Schulhefte und Bilder, die der kleine Tomi malte, sind erhalten. Es ist überraschend, die Anfänge zu sehen: bereits als kleiner Junge hält er alles, was er sieht und was ihn berührt, in Bildern fest.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography, World War II, France, War

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer was a French illustrator best known for his erotic and political illustrations as well as children's books.

Reviews

[Helen O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an intriguing & interesting book about author Tomi Ungerer’s Alsace childhood under the Nazis. Alsace is right between Germany and France so historically it was been the place of occupation through the centuries. It should be essential reading for current day people to understand how Nazi propaganda was used to instil hatred for “the other” especially the Jewish Alsace people who were essential to the area and well liked.
He was lucky he was not Jewish or his war experiences would have been grim. In fact his mother was a hoarder of everything he ever drew or wrote so choosing which pictures to put in must have been very difficult with such a wealth of items. Pages 96 to 100 show pictures of Adolph Hitler. Apparently the Germans knew how children enjoy collecting things so produced cards of the dictator to collect.

Ungerer’s understanding of the horrors of the Holocaust was made clear soon after the war ended when returning prisoners appeared, gaunt and traumatised. He states that “the war and the Nazis have influenced my work to this day.”

I found this handsome book in one of my many community book swap places.

[Monica Edinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

From this blog post. (Includes the links to the articles mentioned here.)
Last July I was so pleased to read The New York Times profile of Tomi Ungerer and learned that his books were being brought back into print in this country. For those unfamiliar with his art, check out this gallery of images. There is also this PW article on the relaunching. But I want to also draw attention to his wonderful memoir, Tomi: A Childhood Under the Nazis. Ungerer was eight when the Nazis occupied his home in Alsace in 1940 and his family seems to have saved everything. The result is a fascinating and gorgeous book. Ungerer tells his story straightforwardly and fleshes it out with copious primary sources. Covers and interiors of his schoolbooks (full of Nazi imagery), drawings, stamps from the period, photogeaphs, and much more fill every page.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diese lebhaften und einfühlsamen Kindheitserinnerung des Elsässischen Karikaturisten sind einerseits lesenswert, weil die Zerrissenheit der Elsässer zwischen Deutschland und Frankreich und die jeweiligen Nationalisierungsbemühungen sehr plastisch und nacherlebbar geschrieben sind. Vor allen Dingen ist dieses Werk aber aufgrund der zahlreichen beeindruckenden Kinderzeichnungen des jungen Tomi Ungerer anschauenswert, die insoweit mehr sagen, als tausend Worte.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations throughout the book are absolutely amazing. Memoir of growing up in Alsace during the war as seen through the eyes of a child. A great introduction to the difficult lives of the Alsatians as they were passed back and forth as part of France and Germany and I'm now interested to learn more about Alsace during the war.

The last paragraph of the book really moved me:
"I packed my rucksack and walked into life, stepping over prejudices and jumping over a lot of conclusions. These excursions into the real world taught me that we are each of us born with a life sentence (which is easier to survive with a smile), that a conscience is more effective when tortured, and that we rid ourselves of prejudices only to replace them with other ones. I learned to transfuse my fear, insecurity, and anger into my work- trauma can fuel talent, if you have any. The pragmatic vision that I developed, concerning the good and evil in myself and in others, has no definite borderlines. I learned from relativity, which is food for doubt, and doubt is a virtue with enough living space for every imperfect, sin-ridden, life-loving creature on Earth." - page 175, "Tomi- A Childhood Under the Nazis" by Tomi Ungerer

[Chrissie]

An autobiography about the children's author Tomi Ungerer his life in Alsace under the Nazi Occupation. The Three Robbers was a favorite of my children. Here is a link about that book at You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBqdcv... . The autobiography sounds stunning! A child's life in France under the Occupation.

[WildesKopfkino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieses Buch hat mich erwischt – voll auf die Zwölf! Die Gedanken sind frei von Tomi Ungerer ist wie ein wilder Ritt auf einem alten Klappfahrrad durchs besetzte Elsass – mit Wind in den Haaren, Dreck am Hosenbein und einem Lächeln, das irgendwo zwischen Kindheit und Kriegsrealität baumelt. Ich hab selten so gelacht und gleichzeitig so viel geschluckt. Ungerer, dieser Teufelskerl, schafft es, den Krieg mit einer kindlichen Frechheit zu erzählen, bei der man gar nicht weiß, ob man gerade über eine Anekdote lacht oder doch eine Träne wegblinzelt.

Da gibt’s Streiche, bei denen ich dachte: „Hätt’ ich auch gemacht – oder wenigstens versucht.“ Und dann haut er wieder eine Beobachtung raus, so glasklar und bitter, dass einem kurz der Baguette-Bissen im Hals stecken bleibt. Besonders genial finde ich die Art, wie er Sprache benutzt – als wär sie ein Gummiband, das er nach Belieben dehnt, schnipsen lässt oder einem frech an den Kopf knallt.

Alain Claude Sulzer hat das übrigens ganz großartig ins Deutsche gebracht – ich hab nie das Gefühl gehabt, etwas sei auf dem Übersetzungsweg verloren gegangen. Ganz im Gegenteil: Da steckt jede Menge Leben drin, jedes Wort schillert wie ein Kiesel im Fluss der Erinnerung.

Ein Buch, das nicht still und ehrfürchtig gelesen werden will, sondern laut – mit Grinsen, Kopfschütteln, Nicken und gelegentlichem „Ach du meine Güte!“ Ich hab’s verschlungen wie früher die Nutellaschnitten nach der Schule. Wer nur brave Memoiren mit sauber gefalteter Vergangenheit lesen will, ist hier falsch. Wer aber einen elektrisierenden Mix aus Schelmenstück, Zeitzeugnis und Sprachkunst erleben will – rein da!

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know I don't like it when novels throw in the obligatory WWII reference. It's the way sentiment is unearned feeling (I didn't get that quote right, but you get it -- it's a cheap and flimsy trick). This is the opposite of that. A true, honest, heartfelt, well considered firsthand account of things we haven't really heard before. It would be an awesome book even if it only contained the portrait of the budding artist, with lots of pictures of ephemera such as his childhood drawings and influences (e.g., postcards, toys, etc.). But it also shows how people try to pass their bigotry along through every form of law or communication. No one is spared; his observations about the French are as trenchant as those about the Germans. One of the most impactful parts of his story was his observations about his own mother, who was a terrible bigot and snob, and tried to pass along her distorted, privileged views to her son. Fortunately, it didn't take, and he became a clear-eyed spokesman for human equality. Having lived in 3 countries, the author translated and updated his book. Of course I read the English-language version, and the authorial voice is delightful.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new author for me who was mentioned in a book I read recently. What a happy discovery. I loved his very straightforward manner of telling what happened to him and his family during the occupation. His drawings, stamps, postcards, toys and endless other things still owned by the family added so much to the tale. His mother was fabulous, fooling the Germans at every opportunity. She was a one woman resistance. Excellent

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was incredibly interesting, a unique perspective on World War II which broadened my understanding of the war experience - and of Nazi methods of taking over the culture - beyond what I expected. The book is full of photographs and illustrations, including fascinating cartoons and propaganda and a spread from a book comparing Jewish faces with “Aryan” ones so that teachers can teach their pupils how to identify Jews.

[Diane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible book-and i quit on page 15! Whether it’s his mother serving rabbit droppings covered in powdered sugar to guests-and thinking that’s funny-or his cousin hurling newborn kittens at a wall to kill them-this is an awful family and a terrible read. Note to author: maybe it wasn’t your mother’s beauty that made her unlikeable.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars in truth.
Having read many books of this era, this is set apart from perspective of a child, changing as the world around him changes to Nazi focus and then to recovery following. With so much destroyed after WW II occupation, the photos of artifacts and primary sources is unreal and makes the story he tells real.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just so much in this book to be absorbed. Although it is a young adult book, I learned the war from a different perspective. The reader could spend so many hours studying the pictures he drew as a child. It is hard at times to put down because of the illustrations and photographs.

[Terri R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting and visually striking, but somewhat disjointed in form and substance. Might be interesting to compare the French version; he clearly got a little confused being a youngster during Germany and France fighting over where Alsace belonged.

[Denise Kruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recollections and mementos of a childhood in Alsace (Strasbourg) as Hitler takes over and is finally defeated. Tomi Ungerer was (naturally) greatly influenced by this and has many complicated experiences. Fascinating and a worthwhile read.

[Kiersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating and the pictures of his collection from the Nazi Regime era are astounding. Recommended to everyone. His mother is my hero.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing story, beautifully illustrated. Opened my eyes to a part of WWII history that I hadn't explored.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

engaging because of the enormous amount of memorabilia---his childhood drawings, Nazi propaganda, simple observations of a child

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spend the time carefully inspecting the drawings. There is so much detail. What a treasure of childhood memories from a child living under the Nazis.

[Essannia Dahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ma mère ne jetait rien.
Moi non plus” et grâce à cette qualité -ou défaut selon votre façon de voir les choses -, l’artiste Tomi Ungerer a pu retrouver ses dessins d’enfant, ses journaux intimes, lettres, photos et autres documents qu’il a incorporés dans ce petit livre sur les souvenirs d’une enfance assez spéciale. Ungerer est né 1931, en Alsace. Ce territoire a été annexé par l’Allemagne en 1870, redevenu français en 1918, puis annexé une nouvelle fois par le troisième Reich jusqu’à la libération en 1945. A travers les yeux du gamin qu’il fût, l’auteur retrace le quotidien vécu sous l’occupation, la propagande nazie, la politique de germanisation mise en place notamment à l’école -changement de nom, interdiction du français...- et comment la famille a pu y survivre grâce à la ruse et l’habileté de la mère. Ce récit empreint d’humour et d’auto-dérision a été enrichi par les illustrations drôles et innocentes qui le rendent plus agréable à lire.
En outre, l’auteur souligne le fait que les soldats américains et français ne se sont pas forcément comportés mieux que les allemands ce qui est très louable car il est facile de vilipender les vaincus tout en sanctifiant les vainqueurs alors qu’en réalité, le bon et le mauvais existent des deux côtés. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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« A Childhood Under The Nazis » is a nice little book about what it was like to grow up under the Nazi occupation in the Alsace province.
Told by an adult, through the eyes of a child, this funny memoir describes the arrival of the Germans, their war propaganda and their endeavor to erase the french identity by banning the French language fir example. It also recounts day to day anecdotes showcasing how the mother’s charm and wit would help the family get away from some nazi exactions and other small acts of resistance. What makes the book even more enjoyable are its rich illustrations: diary entries, childhood drawings, posters, photographs and other documents which were kept by the mother who never threw anything.
It was nice to read about WW2 in this unique and nuanced record which emphasizes the fact that the victorious armies were not necessarily any better that the defeated one.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first encountered Tomi Ungerer when I saw his very dirty cartoons in Evergreen Review in the late 60s so it came as quite a surprise to me to find out years later that he's a respected children's book illustrator. Anyway, this book is a memoir of his childhood in Alsace during the German occupation. Appropriately, it's also a scrapbook of his drawings and of photos and ephemera of that era. His father died when he was around four years old and he drew from an early age. An early drawing is of Mickey Mouse (later condemned as degenerate art by the Nazis) and later ones show caricatures of friends, school days, German occupiers and depictions of battles as the war got closer to home. The occupation began when he was nine. Everyone had to start speaking German and even had to change their names from French forms to German ones. He includes pages from his copybook where the kids had to write out quotations from the Fuher and do drawings of swastika flags and other symbols. Another poster (not by him) shows the German broom sweeping away "Gallic trash" like Jeanne d'Arc and the rooster symbol of France, showing how Alsace is returning to its Germanic roots at last. Of course the Alsatians identified themselves with Alsace, neither France nor Germany. Ungerer has some good stories about how his pretty, clever mother outwitted the Nazis and collaborators - accused (accurately) of speaking French at home, she went to the general's office and said something like "Yes, yes we are speaking French in our home - because when the glorious Fatherland finishes conquering France, who will be able to educate the French about the beauty and splendor of the Third Reich??" (etc., etc.) which of course charmed the general so much he gave the family carte blanch to speak French. The book ends with the Americans defeating the Nazis and treating prisoners as badly as the Germans had treated French prisoners, which Ungerer observes with sadness. Now I'd like him to write a book about how he came to America with a suitcase and $40.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tomi Ungerer is one of my favourite children's authors and illustrators so I was super excited to finally read his memoir. It especially interested me because his story touches on a period that I think, even half a century later, has had a profound impact on my childhood as well as the childhoods of many others.

Reading his book was like rummaging through my oma's attic, full of memories from the wars: old photographs, letters, postcards, clothes, and toys. But what I really loved about Tomi Ungerer's memoir was his childhood illustrations, seeing the Nazi occupation from a child's perspective.

I cannot wait to see Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story this year at TIFF!

[Christie]

One more World War 2 memoir, by another children’s artist (I've also read No Such Pretty Pictures by Anita Lobel). Tomi
Ungerer was born near Strasbourg in Alsace, considered German by the French and
French by the Germans, and he lived there with his family during WW2.
This memoir traces how the Nazis conquered the area, and eventually all
of France, and how life really just continued, children went to school,
people continued to fall in love and many people just tolerated a
different regime, while the threat of the camps was there, but wasn’t
entirely credible.

[Samy Amar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible tale of the war from a point of view you don't see often. Tomi Ungerer's writing style works beautifully here- there's a child-like vision on things that completely flip what we usually know of WWII. The illustrations and photos only make this a thousand times better. For such a short book, it packs so much in anecdotes, vision, and lessons that I can't recommend it enough

[Jamie Krehbiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomi Ungerer is an amazing children's books author. He is also from Alsace and grew up under the Nazi regime. He details how his charming and clever family survived. The books is lovely and filled with photographs. I also learned quite a bit more about Alsace's history.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely chilling drawings by the author as a child as well as others. A must read in Holocaust literature.

[Mickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating...I should force my kids to read this when they imply that their world is less than satisfactory.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked seeing his early drawings. His collection of propaganda was fascinating and included quite a few pieces I'd never seen before.

[Kris McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent fusion of memoir, history and assemblage of an artist's early work. Well worth a look!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it was like for him as a child in Alsace when it was occupied by the Nazis. Full of drawings and illustrations.

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An autobiography of Tomi Ungerer, author and illustrator, who grew up in Alsace during the Nazi era of Germany. Included are many primary resources of the time period.