Hunger in Holland

by Cornelia Fuykschot

What was life like in occupied Holland during World War II? What was it like for a nation to find itself overwhelmed by a foreign power? How did people survive the repressive Nazi occupation? This compelling first-person account is an eye-opening experience.As seen through the eyes of twelve-year-old Cornelia, Hunger In Holland chronicles the steady deterioration of normal, everyday life; the loss of freedom and security; and the role of the law as food and many of life's amenities became scarce. Young Cornelia takes on the responsibility of begging for food and helping to hide her father from the Nazis, who had shipped every man they could find to the munitions factory to work for the Nazi war effort. She captures the day-to-day struggle for survival and vividly illustrates the strength, ingenuity, and dogged determination needed to carry on. Fuykschot sketches the changing lives of ordinary people; their efforts to go to school, to work, to clean house, to find food, to maintain some semblance of normalcy against a backdrop of bombing raids and the daily terror of the Nazis.Hunger in Holland is a moving description of a horrific period in world history, a testament to those who survived, and a valuable lesson for those who have never known the terror of war.

Genres: Nonfiction

175 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 1995

Reviews

[Jack Chaucer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for a fascinating book given to me by my mother-in-law, who lived through the Nazi occupation of Holland as a child just like this author. I have a new respect for the Dutch and how they survived for so long as the Germans pillaged the country for every resource they could get their hands on to support Hitler's war machine. This middle-class family of four also had to get by without their father for 20 months while he was shipped off to a prisoner camp. The two daughters grew up fast and followed their mother's example of working hard, rationing and controlling what they could to stay alive in the most miserable of circumstances. One by one, all the conveniences of modern life were shut off, right down to running water and electricity. They were down to one cup of hard, shriveled up peas a day to live on before the Allies finally liberated the country in 1945. I highly recommend this book for its unique perspective on World War II and the perspective gained by the reader. You'll never take your freedom and 3 edible meals a day for granted again.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My opa was actually in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation (he was born in 1937), so it was personally intriguing for me. He didn't really speak of that time in his life, possibly because I was a kid at the time, or maybe even because it was too tramatic for him. So to have an account of what life was like for the non-Jewish Dutch citizens during that time was heartbreaking, but also fascinating.

The book was written by a woman who was a young teenager at the time, and she details what her family went through in the span of about 4 to 5 years. Great, great read. Highly recommend it.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom lived in Nazi-occupied Holland from the ages of 5-9 years old. Having just visited her childhood home for the first time this spring, I was intrigued to find out what it must have been like during the occupation. The author does a great job of painting a vivid picture of everyday wartime life that left me feeling grateful for my freedom. Good book--obviously published on a shoestring budget, but a good read nonetheless.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a WW2 novel similar to Anne Franks diary, in that it is written from the eye's of a young girl. All similarities end there, though. I found the struggle and detail about living through the occupation most intriguing.

[Virginia]

Very detailed description of life under the German occupation and how families survived.

[Liz Hietkamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

My parents were both children during this time period, and neither discussed it much. This provided some insight into their lives.

[Julie Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most life changing books, for me personally, that I have ever read.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about the starvation in Holland during the Nazi occupation.