The Moses of Rovno: The Stirring Story of Fritz Graebe, a German Christian Who Risked His Life to Lead Hundreds of Jews to Safety During the Holocaus

by Douglas K. Huneke

“Fritz Graebe’s courage justifies our faith in humankind.” —Elie Wiesel, author of Night“This book combines a story of high moral passion with all the excitement of a spy thriller. Fritz Graebe, who as a non-Jew risked his life repeatedly during World War II to save Jews from Hitler’s firing squads and death camps, was also an exceedingly astute and clever man who time and again outwitted the Nazis at their own game. Tragically there were too few Fritz Graebes to avert catastrophe for the great majority of European Jews, but his story is a reminder that during even the darkest moments of human history there are individuals who, at great personal cost, say ‘no’ to the darkness and provide beacons of light for the rest of us. As we face our own moral dilemmas, we can only hope that some of Fritz Graebe’s courage rubs off on us.” —Dr. Robert McAfee Brown, professor of theology and ethics, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Lauren Thurston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, accessible telling of Fritz Graebe's story. While some language and facts are now outdated, the essential narrative shines. Graebe both inspires and challenges, forcing us to ask as Graebe's mother did- and what will you do?

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK NOT FOR ATROCITIES THE NAZIS DID BUT THE MAN WHO WAS A GERMAN CHRISTIAN WHO WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN SAVING MANY JEWISH PEOPLE DURING WW2. THE BOOK SHOWED HOW HE HAD HUMANITY AND MORAL IDEAS. HE USED HIS PROFESSION TO SAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE. REMINDED ME OF THE BOOK AND MOVIE SCHINDLERS LIST. HE WAS A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER.

[Dan Mehring, Ed.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leaves me in eager anticipation of a yet unpublished fictionized, but highly accure, research based, retelling by Fritz Greabe's (the real Moses of Raveno's) eldest granddaughter, Ellen Graebe. Although as yet unpublished, the first chapter has already been heaped with praise and was awarded second place, unpublished chapter of a work of fiction, in a Northern California writers compitition and workshop sponsored by the Sacramento Library Association.

[Klaus Metzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wenn Gräbe irgendetwas hatte, was ihn verfolgte, dann war es dieser Alptraum, er hätte geschickter, klüger sein müssen, er hätte mehr tun müssen, um Menschen zu retten. Noch in der Woche, bevor er im St. Lukas-Krankenhaus in San Francisco starb und in der ich ihn täglich besuchte, sagte Gräbe zu mir: "Ich habe versagt, ich habe nicht genug getan...." (Huneke)

Ich las dieses erschütternde Buch über die Weihnachtsfeiertage 2002.