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Holocaust Survivor True Stories WWII #8
The Man Across the River
Yankel's simple life is upended when the Nazis invade Romania in this biographical novel. As the fascist dictator Ion Antonescu imposes increasingly ruthless antisemitic edicts, the horrors of the Holocaust are visited on Romania's Jewish community. Stripped of their rights, Yankel's family is forced from their home in Czernowitz and sent on a long and dangerous journey across the Dniester River to Transnistria - the Ukrainian killing fields.
Through the ghettos and labor camps of Ukraine, the front lines of the Red Army, and the displaced persons camps of Italy, death stalks Yankel at every turn as he struggles to survive.
This biographical novel, written by Yankel's grandson, is the harrowing story of a young man's remarkable courage, strength, and determination to survive.
This incredible story of perseverance in the face of monstrous evil will stay with you long after you put it down.
Through the ghettos and labor camps of Ukraine, the front lines of the Red Army, and the displaced persons camps of Italy, death stalks Yankel at every turn as he struggles to survive.
This biographical novel, written by Yankel's grandson, is the harrowing story of a young man's remarkable courage, strength, and determination to survive.
This incredible story of perseverance in the face of monstrous evil will stay with you long after you put it down.
198 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
About the author
Zvi Wiesenfeld
1 book6 followersZvi Wiesenfeld is a financial investigator and business writer. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 4, 2021
Always intrigued by Holocaust stories, this one touched me deeply. Yankel Wiesenfeld's presence loomed large in my childhood, a taciturn figure with sad eyes emanating the sweet memorable scent of pipe smoke. He was my grandmother's cousin somehow (no one knows exactly) and as Zvi's book describes, he endured unspeakable horror and tragedy before establishing a beautiful family in America.
March 22, 2021
Zvi Wiesenfeld – The Man Across the River – Reviewed 3/18/21 – Read 3/17-18/21
From a pleasant life to the savage & dangerous journey to the killing fields, the battle to survive!
Yankel’s family operated a small store in Romania till the day that the Nazis invaded, and the fascist dictator imposed ruthless antisemitic proclamations. The family was stripped of all of their rights and then forced to leave their home in Czemwitz and walk to the Dniester River. They crossed the river but not without having to pay to do so. Having been stripped of everything of value, the only thing they have left is their coats. They give them up, and then watch as they are thrown into the water, hearing the man then laugh at them. As they cross the river, one of the soldiers in the other boat picks up someone and throws them into the water, just for fun.
Arriving on the other side they are marched to the ghettos and labor camps of Ukraine. At every turn, death waits for every member of the family. They are forced to work in the rock piles, reducing boulders to smaller-sized rocks. Yankel has already lost his mother on the journey to the camps and then he has to watch his father waste away with no food or clothes to protect them from the weather. Before he is moved again, Yankel suffers the loss of his brother, now he is alone. No matter what happens, he struggles just to stay alive, and even then, he is not sure he wants to.
And the rest of the journey begins…
What did I like? Here is another account of survival from the Holocaust. This is one of the most brutal and horrendous accounts that I have read to date. I am amazed that Yankel survived without going mad. I know from other books that I have read that it did happen to many, some during and more afterward. I know from the things that my father told me about his time there, it was unbelievable the unspeakable things that were done to them. I cried all the way through this book but could not put it down, because these things need to be told so that they will never happen again. If we all would work together and accept the gifts of life that we have then maybe it will not.
What will you like? A ruthless look at the inhumane atrocities that were forced on the Jewish citizens during the Holocaust. Looking at the journey of a young man that survived and made it out of Romania to the US to start his life over again. I just hope that we all learn from these accounts and will work together to teach the world that this is unacceptable. We are better than this!!!!
• File Size: 4899 KB
• Print Length: 200 pages
• Publication Date: 2/11/2021
• Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
• ASIN: B08RJXNBL9
• Genre: Eastern European Literature, History of Eastern Europe, Jewish History
From a pleasant life to the savage & dangerous journey to the killing fields, the battle to survive!
Yankel’s family operated a small store in Romania till the day that the Nazis invaded, and the fascist dictator imposed ruthless antisemitic proclamations. The family was stripped of all of their rights and then forced to leave their home in Czemwitz and walk to the Dniester River. They crossed the river but not without having to pay to do so. Having been stripped of everything of value, the only thing they have left is their coats. They give them up, and then watch as they are thrown into the water, hearing the man then laugh at them. As they cross the river, one of the soldiers in the other boat picks up someone and throws them into the water, just for fun.
Arriving on the other side they are marched to the ghettos and labor camps of Ukraine. At every turn, death waits for every member of the family. They are forced to work in the rock piles, reducing boulders to smaller-sized rocks. Yankel has already lost his mother on the journey to the camps and then he has to watch his father waste away with no food or clothes to protect them from the weather. Before he is moved again, Yankel suffers the loss of his brother, now he is alone. No matter what happens, he struggles just to stay alive, and even then, he is not sure he wants to.
And the rest of the journey begins…
What did I like? Here is another account of survival from the Holocaust. This is one of the most brutal and horrendous accounts that I have read to date. I am amazed that Yankel survived without going mad. I know from other books that I have read that it did happen to many, some during and more afterward. I know from the things that my father told me about his time there, it was unbelievable the unspeakable things that were done to them. I cried all the way through this book but could not put it down, because these things need to be told so that they will never happen again. If we all would work together and accept the gifts of life that we have then maybe it will not.
What will you like? A ruthless look at the inhumane atrocities that were forced on the Jewish citizens during the Holocaust. Looking at the journey of a young man that survived and made it out of Romania to the US to start his life over again. I just hope that we all learn from these accounts and will work together to teach the world that this is unacceptable. We are better than this!!!!
• File Size: 4899 KB
• Print Length: 200 pages
• Publication Date: 2/11/2021
• Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
• ASIN: B08RJXNBL9
• Genre: Eastern European Literature, History of Eastern Europe, Jewish History
February 15, 2021
Grueling
The story of Yankel was grueling. The author spared no expense to tell you what took place and about the horrifying events that Yankel experienced. He didn't, in my opinion, seem to hold anything back.
The story of Yankel was grueling. The author spared no expense to tell you what took place and about the horrifying events that Yankel experienced. He didn't, in my opinion, seem to hold anything back.
August 9, 2021
Should Be Read By Every High School Student In America.
This is an Amazing & Heartbreaking story of a teenagers survival of the great Evil of WII.
Every high school student in America should read this book.
It is Aug. 2021, if this country's youth don't learn this evil history, they will be doomed to repeat it.
May GOD Forgive America.
Such an amazing book.
Please read & share.
This is an Amazing & Heartbreaking story of a teenagers survival of the great Evil of WII.
Every high school student in America should read this book.
It is Aug. 2021, if this country's youth don't learn this evil history, they will be doomed to repeat it.
May GOD Forgive America.
Such an amazing book.
Please read & share.
April 11, 2021
This book was a very difficult book to read. The people of Romania who subscribed to the policy of antisemitism which was brought to its peak by the world's most hated man Adolph Hitler, performed acts of brutality and hate that was up until reading this book, "unimaginable." What one human being can do to another out of pure HATE is just mortifyingly "inhuman." I struggled through this book only to see if there would be some sort of acceptable outcome at the end. I would urge those who enjoy reading as a pastime to avoid this book if you cannot handle the vivid cruelty and vitriolicity that is present in the telling of this story.
I believe that this is the first time that I have ever suggested avoiding a book unless you have a very strong stomach for atrocities because this book is full of them.
Don Halasz
I believe that this is the first time that I have ever suggested avoiding a book unless you have a very strong stomach for atrocities because this book is full of them.
Don Halasz
June 15, 2021
Warning: extremely graphic
Just to give you an idea of my point of view I will begin by saying that I am an elderly gentile Christian widow.
This is a very difficult book to read. Several times I wanted to close it, put it aside and move on to something else but I could not. One desperately wants to believe that the horrors survived by Yankel and his peers are being exaggerated. But if one is honest one knows in his heart that they are not.
I thank God for people like Zvi Wiesenfeld who are keeping these stories alive. Lest we forget.
Just to give you an idea of my point of view I will begin by saying that I am an elderly gentile Christian widow.
This is a very difficult book to read. Several times I wanted to close it, put it aside and move on to something else but I could not. One desperately wants to believe that the horrors survived by Yankel and his peers are being exaggerated. But if one is honest one knows in his heart that they are not.
I thank God for people like Zvi Wiesenfeld who are keeping these stories alive. Lest we forget.
January 4, 2022
The Man Across the River
Yankel was an amazing protagonist , finding life in the midst of pervasive death and despair. The story had more elements of detailed horror than most WWII Jewish biographies or autobiographies that I have read, perhaps due to the fact that it was not his own memories that were described, but perhaps collective images from others. This was, in fact, admitted by the writer.
Yankel was an amazing protagonist , finding life in the midst of pervasive death and despair. The story had more elements of detailed horror than most WWII Jewish biographies or autobiographies that I have read, perhaps due to the fact that it was not his own memories that were described, but perhaps collective images from others. This was, in fact, admitted by the writer.
June 7, 2022
Yankel had a very hard early life
I’ve read many Holocaust survivor stories; Jacob’s story was particularly difficult to read. He was the lone survivor of his family. He never gave up even when it would have been so easy for him to do so. I was inspired by his fortitude, his work ethic and ultimate business success. Yet saddened that his hardship scarred him so much that he suffered from nightmares every night until he died.
I’ve read many Holocaust survivor stories; Jacob’s story was particularly difficult to read. He was the lone survivor of his family. He never gave up even when it would have been so easy for him to do so. I was inspired by his fortitude, his work ethic and ultimate business success. Yet saddened that his hardship scarred him so much that he suffered from nightmares every night until he died.
March 9, 2021
I won this book on Goodreads first reads, thank you!
Wow, this book is simply amazing. Zvi did extensive research into his grandfather’s life. What his grandfather went through was incredible. His grandfather had sheer determination in order to survive.
This book sticks with you after your done. Everyone needs to read this book.
Wow, this book is simply amazing. Zvi did extensive research into his grandfather’s life. What his grandfather went through was incredible. His grandfather had sheer determination in order to survive.
This book sticks with you after your done. Everyone needs to read this book.
March 9, 2021
Incredible!
This incredible story of a survivor of the Holocaust was a true story that I was unable to put down. The pain and suffering experienced by the millions of Jewish people was heartbreaking. A very good book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good book.
This incredible story of a survivor of the Holocaust was a true story that I was unable to put down. The pain and suffering experienced by the millions of Jewish people was heartbreaking. A very good book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good book.
March 20, 2021
This is an incredible book. It is still beyond difficult to even fathom the suffering Yankel went through
But at the same time, I feel like it is worse to go through life ignoring what history has to teach us
The book is incredibly jarring and vivid and brilliant
But at the same time, I feel like it is worse to go through life ignoring what history has to teach us
The book is incredibly jarring and vivid and brilliant
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2021
What a hero
I couldn't put this book down what an amazing incredible man. It was heartbreaking but great to see how wonderful his life turned out to be and all the family he had in his life.
I couldn't put this book down what an amazing incredible man. It was heartbreaking but great to see how wonderful his life turned out to be and all the family he had in his life.
December 13, 2022
This book should be read by everyone. It is a heart-wrenching but inspiring true story of a survivor of the atrocities so many endured and in which so many lost their lives. Just try and put yourself in this young mans place as you read his story.
June 28, 2024
A Must Read
A truly heartbreaking story. As hard as it is to read, it's even harder to imagine how anyone could survive the horrors bestowed upon these people. I believe this is a story that needs to be told and people need to listen so that it never happens again.
A truly heartbreaking story. As hard as it is to read, it's even harder to imagine how anyone could survive the horrors bestowed upon these people. I believe this is a story that needs to be told and people need to listen so that it never happens again.
July 27, 2021
Heartrending
Written in a simple, easy to read style, this story will twine around your heart leaving you forever changed. Good people exist even in hate filled circumstances.
Written in a simple, easy to read style, this story will twine around your heart leaving you forever changed. Good people exist even in hate filled circumstances.
January 4, 2022
Very inciteful
Very well written and researched. Information about the Transenistia holocàust was more in depth than an
hing else I have read.
Very well written and researched. Information about the Transenistia holocàust was more in depth than an
hing else I have read.
March 27, 2022
easy read
It reads easy like a novel . All the atrocities of WWll are touched on. Lots of information about the relationship of Russia, Romania and Ukraine.
It reads easy like a novel . All the atrocities of WWll are touched on. Lots of information about the relationship of Russia, Romania and Ukraine.
May 25, 2022
a wonderful life.
Lousing all of his brothers sister, mother and his father, he used his life to help others and , the number grew and they never stoped!
Lousing all of his brothers sister, mother and his father, he used his life to help others and , the number grew and they never stoped!
November 16, 2022
Another view of the atrocities of the Holocaust. This is about surviving. The author made me feel I was there, right along with Yankel. And a surprise at the end in the author’s notes.
February 8, 2024
Must read
I knew little about this location of WW11. The story is raw and graphic but what other way could you honestly describe the atrocities of the Jews in Europe.
I knew little about this location of WW11. The story is raw and graphic but what other way could you honestly describe the atrocities of the Jews in Europe.
July 7, 2021
Absolutely amazing book. You will be riveted from the moment you pick it up, and it will stay with you for a while.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews