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Holocaust Survivor Memoirs World War II #6
Remembering Ravensbrück: From Holocaust to Healing
In her luminous and award-winning memoir, award-winning writer and teacher, Natalie Hess, takes us from a sheltered childhood in a small town in Poland, into, through, and after the horrors of the Holocaust. When her parents are rounded up and perish in the Treblinka concentration camp, a Gentile family temporarily hides six-year-old Natalia. Later, protected by a family friend, she is imprisoned in her city’s ghetto, before she is sent to a forced-labor camp, and finally, Ravensbrück concentration camp, from which, at nine, she is liberated.Taken to Sweden, by the Swedish White Cross busses, she adapts to and grows to love her new home, becoming a “proper Swedish School girl,” until, at 16, she is claimed by relatives and uprooted to Evansville, Indiana. There, she must start over yet again, mastering English, and ultimately earning a PhD in literature. As a married young mother, she and her husband move to Jerusalem where they and their three children experience life as Israelis, including the bombing of their home during the Six Day War. Back in the States, they settle into life in Arizona until Natalie’s husband dies unexpectedly when a teenager runs a stop sign and hits his car. In her grief, Natalie moves to Philadelphia to be with her daughter and discovers that life still holds surprises for her, including love.Hess’s compelling portrait in which terror is muted by gratitude and gentle humor, shares the story of so many immigrants dislocated by tyranny and war. Through her experience as a child separated from her parents, a teenager, young woman, wife, mother, college professor, and later a widow, Hess shows the power of the human spirit to survive and thrive.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 1, 2021
In her luminous and engrossing memoir, award-winning writer and teacher, Natalie Hess, takes us from a sheltered childhood in a small town in Poland, into, through, and after the horrors of the Holocaust. When her parents are rounded up and perish in the Treblinka concentration camp, a Gentile family temporarily hides six-year-old Natalia. Later, protected by a family friend, she is imprisoned in her city’s ghetto, then she is sent to a forced-labor camp, and finally, Ravensbrück concentration camp for women, from which, at age nine, she is eventually liberated. After being taken to Sweden, by the Swedish White Cross busses, she adapts to and grows to love her new home, becoming a “proper Swedish School girl,” until, at 16, she is claimed by relatives and uprooted to Evansville, Indiana. There, she must start over yet again, mastering English, and ultimately earning a PhD in literature. Hess shares the story of so many immigrants dislocated by tyranny and war. Through her experience as a child separated from her parents, a teenager, young woman, wife, mother, college professor, and later a widow, Hess shows the power of the human spirit to survive and thrive.
January 31, 2020
This is Natalie Hess's memoir from a five-year-old living in Poland in 1941 until present day in Pennsylvania at 80+ years old. Her story shows not only her strength but also her will to survive and be grateful for her life.
When Natalie was 5 years old, her parents were exterminated at Treblinka. She went to live with a non-Jewish family but when they became afraid about having a Jewish girl living with them, they sent her to the Jewish ghetto. As the ghetto was being cleared out, she was sent to Ravensbruck and through the help of some people, she survived and was sent to Switzerland at the end of the war - she was 9 years old. After she lived in Sweden for seven years, she was sent to America to live with her aunt and uncle. When she moved to America, she made the trip by herself and didn't know any English at all. She excelled in school and received a Master's Degree from Harvard and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. She met and married John and they had three daughters. They moved to Israel and then back to the US. Over the years, she was a teacher in six different countries. Despite the horrific early years of her life and the memory of those years that was always tucked away in her mind, Natalie managed to have a happy life. She was married for over 50 years and had 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren and was proud of her years as a teacher and educator and the students that she helped. At the end of her memoir, she writes: "Yes, there is constant misery in the world...But we can - for one brief moment each day hear the symphony and sense the miracle of life." (p 238)
When Natalie was 5 years old, her parents were exterminated at Treblinka. She went to live with a non-Jewish family but when they became afraid about having a Jewish girl living with them, they sent her to the Jewish ghetto. As the ghetto was being cleared out, she was sent to Ravensbruck and through the help of some people, she survived and was sent to Switzerland at the end of the war - she was 9 years old. After she lived in Sweden for seven years, she was sent to America to live with her aunt and uncle. When she moved to America, she made the trip by herself and didn't know any English at all. She excelled in school and received a Master's Degree from Harvard and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. She met and married John and they had three daughters. They moved to Israel and then back to the US. Over the years, she was a teacher in six different countries. Despite the horrific early years of her life and the memory of those years that was always tucked away in her mind, Natalie managed to have a happy life. She was married for over 50 years and had 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren and was proud of her years as a teacher and educator and the students that she helped. At the end of her memoir, she writes: "Yes, there is constant misery in the world...But we can - for one brief moment each day hear the symphony and sense the miracle of life." (p 238)
June 14, 2020
.Remembering Ravensbruck: From Holocaust to Hope is by Natalie B. Hess. This is a very interesting book. Natalie was only about six when her parents disappeared. They had known about being picked up and had taken Natalie to play with some friends’ little girl. The friend was a judge and was not Jewish. After a few days, they decided they could not keep Natalie. His mother lived with them and loved to gossip and their little girl was only six and they weren’t sure she wouldn’t talk either. With no relatives, they decided to take her to the ghetto. They got in touch with someone who could help and managed to get Natalie into the ghetto to other friends; but she didn’t have papers so had to be very careful. Helen, who was a dentist, managed to keep Natalie with her in the ghetto and also with her when they were deported. Luckily, Helen was able to keep her with her in the camp they were sent to. Natalie spent her childhood in the camps. Eventually, they were sent to Ravensbruck. Just when it seemed her luck was running out, she was chosen to go on the Swedish buses. Sweden had managed to get several bus loads of Swedish and other nationalities out of the camp. She ended up in Sweden for the remainder of the war. At the age of twelve, the war was over. Natalie was content enough to spend the rest of her life with the family who had taken her in in Sweden; but that wasn’t to be. She had an uncle in the US so it was off to America for the young girl. Natalie goes into details on her time in the camps and Ravensbruck as well as Sweden.
Natalie goes on to tell of her life with her husband and children in Israel and the wars there. Eventually, she becomes a teacher. Interestingly, there is a section about her teaching and she had some very interesting and on-point suggestions for teachers in it. Her life, no matter where she was, was always missing her parents. She always felt like an orphan and that she wasn’t good enough for anyone to keep. She knew this wasn’t true; but it reappeared at different times in her life.
Her life was quite interesting and although very sad is well worth reading.
June 7, 2025
Remembering Ravensbrück (#6 in the series) by Natalie B Hess (Audiobook read on Hoopla app)
An interesting story that started with her privileged childhood before World War II to person who survived RavensBrück concentration camp, first going to Switzerland, then the United States then later to Israel.
In Israel, she, her husband, and their three children are witness to the 6 days war and back to the United States where her husband dies after being hit by a young teenager who chose to run a stoplight.
Though her life has been a series of overcoming tragedies. Natalie still has flashbacks of bad things that happened in her past but she manages to also keep her curiousity and wonder of the world. With her gentle humor and kind ways she encourages others to look on the bright side and appreciate all the special moments on their lives. A truly remarkable woman.
An interesting story that started with her privileged childhood before World War II to person who survived RavensBrück concentration camp, first going to Switzerland, then the United States then later to Israel.
In Israel, she, her husband, and their three children are witness to the 6 days war and back to the United States where her husband dies after being hit by a young teenager who chose to run a stoplight.
Though her life has been a series of overcoming tragedies. Natalie still has flashbacks of bad things that happened in her past but she manages to also keep her curiousity and wonder of the world. With her gentle humor and kind ways she encourages others to look on the bright side and appreciate all the special moments on their lives. A truly remarkable woman.
October 17, 2022
Natalie goes into her life detailing what she went through not so much her time in the camps but her life after the camps and what she experienced trying to feel like she fits in where she doesn't feel like she fits in. She touched on what she went through when the war was going on, but she was little. She really wrote about what happened to her as she was growing up and learning new languages and learning new cultures. She lived in different parts of the world and there were times where she was fearful based on things that she lived through and she described them with such power but yet it didn't make it rule her life.
January 6, 2025
Worth a Read
I enjoyed Natalie's descriptive language and ability to capture the moments in her life described in her book. She's a phenomenal storyteller!
As a history enthusiast with specific desire to learn as much as possible about the Holocaust, I'd hoped for more about Ravensbrück and the events leading up to and just after.
My heart breaks to read some of Natalie's spiritual beliefs. Believing that we "create God" and "We are God" are far cries from the truth we find in Scripture. As Jews, I understand that Natalie and John didn't believe in Jesus as Savior, and that hits heavy on my heart.
Overall a good read and one I would recommend.
I enjoyed Natalie's descriptive language and ability to capture the moments in her life described in her book. She's a phenomenal storyteller!
As a history enthusiast with specific desire to learn as much as possible about the Holocaust, I'd hoped for more about Ravensbrück and the events leading up to and just after.
My heart breaks to read some of Natalie's spiritual beliefs. Believing that we "create God" and "We are God" are far cries from the truth we find in Scripture. As Jews, I understand that Natalie and John didn't believe in Jesus as Savior, and that hits heavy on my heart.
Overall a good read and one I would recommend.
August 7, 2020
The story reads as a travel log
An interesting and at times compellintg story of a child effected by the horrors of the holocaust.
In my opinion, there was at times much to much description that wasn't pertinent to the main story-line.
As a teacher, however, I could thoroughly enjoy the honest descriptions of the teaching experience.
It seemed to me that the holocaust story got lost in the subsequent everyday life-story of the teaching experience, although admittedly, a truly dedicated one.
An interesting and at times compellintg story of a child effected by the horrors of the holocaust.
In my opinion, there was at times much to much description that wasn't pertinent to the main story-line.
As a teacher, however, I could thoroughly enjoy the honest descriptions of the teaching experience.
It seemed to me that the holocaust story got lost in the subsequent everyday life-story of the teaching experience, although admittedly, a truly dedicated one.
May 31, 2021
Exceptional
Natalie wrote not so much about the Holocaust as about how it affected her life. She was very young during the Holocaust when she lost her parents. In 1945 she was sent to Sweden. When relatives were found, she went to America where she married the love of her life. All of this plus many other instances made her a strong woman and always a survivor. You must read this book to realize the strength Natalie had to face life. Congratulations is in order for her many accomplishments.
Natalie wrote not so much about the Holocaust as about how it affected her life. She was very young during the Holocaust when she lost her parents. In 1945 she was sent to Sweden. When relatives were found, she went to America where she married the love of her life. All of this plus many other instances made her a strong woman and always a survivor. You must read this book to realize the strength Natalie had to face life. Congratulations is in order for her many accomplishments.
June 4, 2021
Natalie Hess gives a compelling story of her life's journey from concentration camp to a life rich and satisfying. The story of everyday life, her thoughts and experiences are interesting but I would have liked more of the history and even the Holocaust experiences which probably not well remembered over time but I am only guessing. Indeed, to tell this tale and pass it on to future generations offers the reader a transitional experience of the author's remembrance of her past. I like the learned advice offered towards the end of the book that are only learned by life experiences.
January 8, 2025
I listened to a digital audio audio book of Remembering Ravensbruck. I thought the book would be more about the authors experiences in ravensbruck however most of the book was about what the author did after Ravensbruck.
My favorite part to listen to was about how Natalie went about finding her first husband.
I thought remembering ravensbruck was ok, The author certainly had done a lot of interesting things in her life. I don't know what else I want to say. So I will end my review here.
My favorite part to listen to was about how Natalie went about finding her first husband.
I thought remembering ravensbruck was ok, The author certainly had done a lot of interesting things in her life. I don't know what else I want to say. So I will end my review here.
October 20, 2020
Captivating
One of my favourite books about the Holocaust and beyond. Natalie takes us through her varied life. I was moved to years when she spoke of the relationship with her husband and the amazing love they shared. My heart aches for the pain of her many losses but am inspired by her ability to embrace life through joy and sorrow. I hope to have an Emily moment for each of my remaining days.
One of my favourite books about the Holocaust and beyond. Natalie takes us through her varied life. I was moved to years when she spoke of the relationship with her husband and the amazing love they shared. My heart aches for the pain of her many losses but am inspired by her ability to embrace life through joy and sorrow. I hope to have an Emily moment for each of my remaining days.
August 8, 2020
I enjoyed the book. The unique writing style of the author deserves praise. It was as if the author was speaking directly to the reader. The book is not about the detailed experiences of the author in Ravensbruck at all. The book concentrates on the experiences of the author during her life after Ravensbruck. What an pleasant viewpoint to read!
August 23, 2020
Living the real life
I really appreciate the down-to-earth flavor, the unique sense of humor, the details of every day living, as we live our lives just like Ms. Hess, though with differences. We are challenged to live them to the fullest, live and love and understand our neighbors.
I really appreciate the down-to-earth flavor, the unique sense of humor, the details of every day living, as we live our lives just like Ms. Hess, though with differences. We are challenged to live them to the fullest, live and love and understand our neighbors.
July 2, 2023
Wow what an Intersting story. Lately these books have been about the young ones during the war. As My own daughter approaches 5 years old I cannot imagine her navigating life let alone war torn life without either of her parents. This story was heartbreaking but also so interesting to how it felt to be a young girl in these times.
Read
August 1, 2023Remembering Ravensbuck
Excellent memoir of Natalie. There were very sad parts and also very funny parts. Despite her early years, loosing both of her parents at age 5, Natalie led a very interesting life and enjoyed a nice family. She adjusted to what life threw her way and made the best of situations. A
lovely individual.
Excellent memoir of Natalie. There were very sad parts and also very funny parts. Despite her early years, loosing both of her parents at age 5, Natalie led a very interesting life and enjoyed a nice family. She adjusted to what life threw her way and made the best of situations. A
lovely individual.
February 1, 2025
I was lucky to have taken three classes from Natalie in the TESOL MA program at the University of Arizona. Natalie was fair, kind, generous, practical, and gracious, exactly like the voice of this conversational book. I could picture her and hear her as I read and was honored to learn about her life.
April 6, 2020
Very heartfelt story
This women lived a very rich, blessed life. And as so many children will immediately murdered she was fortunate and she went on to fullfill a wonderful life of teaching others. I think anyone would enjoy this book.
This women lived a very rich, blessed life. And as so many children will immediately murdered she was fortunate and she went on to fullfill a wonderful life of teaching others. I think anyone would enjoy this book.
December 15, 2020
Informative
I’m amazed with the life and story of this wonderful woman. She survived tremendous hardships; nothing less than miraculous that she survived. She pursued life and faced many fears. Encouraged and helped others along the way. What an example!
I’m amazed with the life and story of this wonderful woman. She survived tremendous hardships; nothing less than miraculous that she survived. She pursued life and faced many fears. Encouraged and helped others along the way. What an example!
February 24, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Very well written and presented with such a personal approach that I felt Natalie was sitting next to me telling me her life story.
Very well structured and so pleasantly presented.
Very well structured and so pleasantly presented.
July 7, 2022
A different, extended impact of surviving
This is one of the first memoirs I've read that doesn't solely focus on just during the war, but the extension of its circumstances into a full life. I expected to want to stop reading but couldn't put it down.
This is one of the first memoirs I've read that doesn't solely focus on just during the war, but the extension of its circumstances into a full life. I expected to want to stop reading but couldn't put it down.
March 27, 2020
Holocaust hardly
This hardly touched on the holocaust. More about her life in America. Very disappointed. Sorry. Every story needs to be heard but there are much better stories.
This hardly touched on the holocaust. More about her life in America. Very disappointed. Sorry. Every story needs to be heard but there are much better stories.
July 17, 2020
Very good read!
July 26, 2020
Interesting...a bit slow
It was interesting. Not a real page turner, but good. Very factual and realistic, but not a lot of excitement.
It was interesting. Not a real page turner, but good. Very factual and realistic, but not a lot of excitement.
August 21, 2020
Lovely
It was nice to follow Any throughout her life. What an amazing woman, she overcame such a horrible start to become so accomplished.
It was nice to follow Any throughout her life. What an amazing woman, she overcame such a horrible start to become so accomplished.
May 2, 2021
This book is much less about Ravensbruck and more about the author’s life after the liberation. I enjoyed it but it is not what I expected.
November 24, 2021
Very good read.
August 4, 2023
Outstanding
This book needs to read in order to understand how man's inhumanity can destroy the lives of others and how miraculous Natalie's survival was.
This book needs to read in order to understand how man's inhumanity can destroy the lives of others and how miraculous Natalie's survival was.
September 14, 2025
Interesting story of a woman, who as a child, survived the holocaust. I like to read how they lived their lives I. The aftermath, and this woman really is a hero.
January 28, 2020
Natalie Hess – Remembering Ravensbruck – Reviewed 1/26/20 – Read 1/23/20
A memoir of a 6-year-old girl before and after the Holocaust as she recovers and visits it again.
atalie takes us through the horrors of losing her parents, hiding from the Germans, the labor camps and being rescued. She was taken to Poland, having to learn a new language and lifestyle, and remained there till she was 16. She was found by relatives that lived in the US and again was uprooted only to have to learn another new language and lifestyle. She takes us through the struggles of her life, college, and marriage up to, and including today, as she struggles again to live after the loss of her husband from a freak accident. Now in widowhood she decided to make that trip, and join many other survivors back to the death camps, visiting where she lived, and remembering friends that she lost. Step by Step from 6 to present-day account of another holocaust survivor.
What did I like? This was a much different Holocaust memoir as it includes so much of her life, the days just before the Germans started rounding up people to be taken to the camps. Then the horrors of the dreadful camps. Her suffering in Poland and finally freedom in the US. I was touched by the upheavals that her life took. Losing parents, labor camps, death at her doorstep at any moment, Poland, US, College, Marriage, Widowhood, and her return trip to the beginning of the cycle.
What will you like? Interesting, detailed, emotional and descriptive. Natalie takes this trip through her life and shares all the horrors with lots of descriptive details, but then going on the give us a look at the better side of things with the love of her life, and her children. She struggled through life but did it with grace and love in the end. Her look and views of the life that took her full circle from the days before the war ever started, will have you emotional every step of the way. Excellent read.
• File Size: 25091 KB
• Print Length: 291 Pages
• Release Date: January 27, 2020
• Genre: Jewish Holocaust History, Memoirs, Jewish History
A memoir of a 6-year-old girl before and after the Holocaust as she recovers and visits it again.
atalie takes us through the horrors of losing her parents, hiding from the Germans, the labor camps and being rescued. She was taken to Poland, having to learn a new language and lifestyle, and remained there till she was 16. She was found by relatives that lived in the US and again was uprooted only to have to learn another new language and lifestyle. She takes us through the struggles of her life, college, and marriage up to, and including today, as she struggles again to live after the loss of her husband from a freak accident. Now in widowhood she decided to make that trip, and join many other survivors back to the death camps, visiting where she lived, and remembering friends that she lost. Step by Step from 6 to present-day account of another holocaust survivor.
What did I like? This was a much different Holocaust memoir as it includes so much of her life, the days just before the Germans started rounding up people to be taken to the camps. Then the horrors of the dreadful camps. Her suffering in Poland and finally freedom in the US. I was touched by the upheavals that her life took. Losing parents, labor camps, death at her doorstep at any moment, Poland, US, College, Marriage, Widowhood, and her return trip to the beginning of the cycle.
What will you like? Interesting, detailed, emotional and descriptive. Natalie takes this trip through her life and shares all the horrors with lots of descriptive details, but then going on the give us a look at the better side of things with the love of her life, and her children. She struggled through life but did it with grace and love in the end. Her look and views of the life that took her full circle from the days before the war ever started, will have you emotional every step of the way. Excellent read.
• File Size: 25091 KB
• Print Length: 291 Pages
• Release Date: January 27, 2020
• Genre: Jewish Holocaust History, Memoirs, Jewish History
March 15, 2020
I have the pleasure of knowing Natalie from her role as docent at the National Museum of American Jewish History. She is one of the kindest, most empathetic, and most brilliant people I know, and that shines through in her memoir. This is unlike other Holocaust memoirs because this story is much more than that, in that survivors are so much more than the atrocities they lived through. Natalie details her experiences at Ravensbruck and escaping Germany, and then continues through the rest of her life: living in Sweden, the United States, and Israel, experiencing happiness and loss, growing as a person, and trying to have lots of "Emily moments." Mazel tov, Natalie!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews