Goodbye for Always: The Triumph of the Innocents

by Cecile Kaufer, Joe Allen

There was never a more terrible time for Jews in Europe than from 1938 to 1945. The Nazis had overrun a great deal of the continent, bent on the domination of the world and the annihilation of an entire people. The death camps, unknown to most outside Europe, claimed more than six millions Jews during that time. Some endured -- and most have breathtaking stories of survival. Why they survived when so many perished is a matter of coincidence, luck, the will to live and the courage and sacrifice of many others. The full scope of that sacrifice will never be completely chronicled, it is just too vast. Good-bye for Always: The Triumph of the Innocents is the story of the youngest members of the Widerman family, who moved to Paris from Poland, only to be caught up in the horror of the Nazi occupation. In 1942, Cecile and Betty Widerman began a journey into the belly of the worst beast mankind has to offer. For two years they were literally one step ahead of death, as Nazi cruelty sought to envelop them as it had millions of others. How they survived, why they survived and who nearly gave their own lives to protect them is a story of inspiration and will that is sure to live forever.

Genres: History

175 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1997

Reviews

[Debbi]

Beautifully written, two young girls get separated from their family when the Nazis come to take them away. They manage to get to a catholic woman who hides them and six other children throughout much of the war. The girls never give up hope that their parents are coming back for them until after the war. It is quite heartbreaking.
"If we don't remember our history, we are doomed to repeat it."

[Brenda Shaver]

Survival

The author does an amazing job with words to help the reader feel the sadness, horror, strife, uneasiness, and all of the other horrifying feelings encountered during that time. Excellent story of survival in two young children.

[Kim]

Heart wrenching!

The children and the people who risked their lives to save them are amazing! I pray something like this never happens again!

[Dusty]

I thought this was a very good book, but it did leave me with a lot of questions. the American who spoke to them while they were in their dugouts, was he speaking French? This was not made clear, yet the girls didn't speak English. Did Cecile stay in touch with Mamere? I would have liked to hear the story of how her aunt made it through the war. i wonder why it wasn't made clear that Mamere was taking care of Cecile's cousin Jacquet until the very last of the book. why didn't Cecile find a way into the family apt to leave a note for her family after the war? or to get some keepsakes, pictures at least? i need to read this again as i was confusing it with another book i was reading.

[Pam]

Goodbye for Always: The Triumph of the Innocents: Holocaust memoir is by Cecile Kaufer and Joe Allen.
This is the story of the youngest member of the Weiderman family who moved to Paris from Poland to avoid the Nazis only to get caught in the roundups there. In 1942, Cecile and Betty started on their journey into the underworld. As small children, how did they survive while others didn’t? This is the story of thousands who did not make it.


The second time reading this book was incredible. Knowing more about the Holocaust than I did the first time, I am even more amazed at their survival and their attitude towards what happened. It is an amazing book.

[Shariek Gohar]

Wow, incredible

I could not fathom these children being taken from their family. Their will to live and how they survived is amazing. Will never truly understand the horrors of the Holocaust.

[summer jimenez]

Wow is all.

This book is incredibly good and a fast read. Really makes you grateful for all the freedom we have and yet rarely appreciate just how good we have it. To be so young and survive so much is extraordinary.

[Peg]

Children of faith

5stars to encourage all to learn of the children waiting for lost loved ones and their tenacity to survive the horrific journey.

[Lisa J Heckler]

Good Story of Survival

I enjoyed this book very much. I like to read about the holocaust and stories of survival. I recommend this book.

[Nan]

The sadness shined through a simple writing style. It's worth reading, not for the writing, but for the story that should never be forgotten.

[Debbie Pool]

A book to remember so as to never forget.

Well written , touching and best of all, credible. I doubt I will forget these precious lives. I will ponder their lives for some time.

[Rebecca Gibson]

Good for all ages

My 11 year old daughter was riveted and learned about a horrible time in our history... she is now trying to learn as much as she can...