A study of the church's role in bringing on secession and promoting the Civil War; by the author of Mississippi: The Closed Society. In this closely documented study; Professor James W. Silver examines the role of the church in the South during the Civil War: what part it played as a powerful social institution in shaping the mind of the South; bringing on secession; and promoting the war; and to what extent its efforts succeeded or failed.
#584890 in Books Ram Oren 2010-08-03 2010-08-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.99 x .66 x 5.17l; .56 #File Name: 0385527195320 pagesGertruda s Oath A Child a Promise and a Heroic Escape During World War II
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An Interesting True StoryBy Lynn Ryan-loebGertruda's oath is the true story of a heroic escape from the terrors of the WWII; but it is also a story of love and devotion. Gertruda; a Catholic woman; is hired by a wealthy Jewish family as a nanny for their son; Michael; in pre-war Poland. As the war progresses and the Nazis conquer Poland and move from there to Vilna; Lithuania; the family is separated by circumstances and death. Gertruda makes a solemn promise to Michael's mother to watch over him; raise him as her own; and ultimately deliver him to Palestine.It is also the story of Karl Rink; a Catholic German man who marries the love of his life; who happens to be Jewish; and has a daughter with her. Down on his luck and unable to find work; Karl is lured into working for the Nazi party before they show their full colors; and feels unable to leave even after they do. Even after his own wife's mysterious disappearance; he continues to serve in the party and move up through its ranks; but while he stands by and watches; he steadfastly refuses to take part in any of the hostilities towards the Jews. He also very wisely sends his daughter to a kibbutz in Palestine to wait out the war where she'll be safe. Later; he becomes more emboldened and risks his own life helping many to escape detection and even death.It wouldn't be fair to rate the writing style of this book as I would a fiction piece; because true events don't lend themselves to flowery embellishments. They must be told as they happened. If this were a novel; I'd say that Karl Rink's refusal to leave the SS even after his wife disappeared was too naive to be believable; but as they say; truth is stranger than fiction. That said; it was an extremely interesting read; and underlines more than ever the hardships and inhumanity that people endured during the war; even outside of the concentration camps. It is a story of bravery; heroics; and deep commitment. I'm glad that I read it2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A touching miracle of love and devotionBy Marylou H. FoleyI have worked with Michael for many years in the travel industry - and had heard comments about struggles thru WWII -and about his nanny - but I had never taken time to find the book. This is an amazing story of personal commitments and inner strength as well as intertwining relationships thru a dark period. That Michael could share these experiences so well and today still do so much to help others understand the humanity of people against such hardships; is inspiring. Michael continues to try to help people break down barriers to ethnic and cultural biases which still threaten our world. I admire Gertrude - and others like her - who gave so much to protect the Jews of Europe from the Nazis. And I admire Michael for being a strong leader in cross-cultural tourism to try to educate today's people. This is a MUST read!!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Truly Righteous GentileBy Sharon BeverlyRemember hearing the lofty notion; a promise is a promise? As Hitler's army advanced through Europe; no Jews were exempt--not even the Stolowitzkys. This extremely wealthy family was no exception.Author Ram Oren's story; Gertruda's Oath: A Child; A Promise; and a Heroic Escape During World War II presents the facts with supposed dialogue of these very real individuals. Obviously no one recorded the conversations but; they aid in the telling of this family's tragic history. Eliminating them would de-personalize the story; rendering it a sterile presentation of facts. For purists; this is non-fiction with fictionalized dialogue.Michael Stolowitzky was barely more than a toddler when separated from his father; who was unable to return to Poland; as Jews were herded out of their homes and into ghettoes. It wasn't much later when his mother; on her deathbed; begged Michael's nanny to protect him and to see that he get to Palestine.Gertruda; Michael's Polish Catholic nanny; vowed to his mother that she would do just that. This remarkable woman endured suffering; personal sacrifices; and bitter hardships to keep her oath. To Gertruda; a promise was a promise.While this book was written for adults; it would also be appropriate for students in grades eight and above. It includes portions that reveal man's inhumanity to one another but; does not dwell on gore or excessive violence. Gertruda's story would be a good choice for supplemental literature in a Holocaust history class.There are thousands of books to read about this period of time but; this story is unique and that is what makes it an exceptional choice to read.
