Our Torment and Survival of World War II Germany

by Ruth Magdalena Violette

A side of World War II not often heard is that of the German civilian, a perspective borne of the suffering that countless Germans endured during this period. In her autobiography, Our Torment and Survival of World War II Germany, Ruth Magdalena Violette provides an uncompromising look into the events and struggles that her family encountered while living in Nazi Germany. As the autobiography unfolds, Violette recalls her father joining the Nazi party in an attempt to improve the family’s life. Shortly thereafter, Violette began noticing slight changes in her neighborhood as Hitler began grasping for more power. Jewish shops in the community suddenly closed while the windows of Jewish homes were vandalized. As the war progressed, the lives of Violette and her family were affected more and more. Many basic necessities including food and coal were in short supply because of rationing. England’s bombing of Germany increased to the point that Violette and her family were forced to move from their home until the war ended. It was during this time that Violette would learn to rely on herself as well as other family members, a topic which she addresses throughout her book.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1998