DOC The Diary of Mary Berg: Growing up in the Warsaw Ghetto by From Oneworld Publications in History

Review

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. The Diary of Mary Berg: Growing up in the Warsaw Ghetto: Purchased at .comBy depI first read this book when I was about 16. At that age The Diary of Mary Berg seemed just like a horror story to me. Now that I am a lot older than 16 I know it's a horror story. It is also the truth. Mary and her family were forced into the Warsaw Ghetto when she was just 16; in November 1940. Since her mother was an American citizen; Mary; her sister Ann; and her father had more protection than most of the people in the ghetto. In July 1942 Mary and her family were transferred to Pawiak prison; and from there to Vittel in France; a health resort being used as an internment camp. In March 1944 Mary and her family were exchanged for some German prisoners and sailed for the United States. This book is based on Mary's diary that she started when she was 15 and published in 1945 before the war was over. In reading this book as an adult I can see certain things that didn't mean much to me when I was younger. Mary mentioned a musical contest where a 6 year old boy won the prize. He was a student of Wladyslaw Szpilman; the subject of the book The Pianist. Also; her real name was Miriam Wattenberg which I believe she changed when publishing her book. I especially liked the cover of this newer book. There is a picture of Mary and her sister Ann walking in the ghetto. The star of David is in the background along with Nazi soldiers. A very striking book cover. An absolutely excellent book which I highly recommend reading.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Anne Frank Before Anne FrankBy Jennifer Semple Siegel"The Diary of Mary Berg: Growing Up in the Warsaw Ghetto" was first published in 1945; long before Anne Frank's Diary.I highly recommend this book; it's a difficult read in the sense that Ms. Berg (Miriam Wattenberg) witnessed first hand many atrocities perpetuated by the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto.It's not easy reading about children being slaughtered and the blood of the murdered Jews running in the gutters of Warsaw; but as the rise of fascism is beginning to reassert itself worldwide; including the U.S. (often in the name of Christ); this diary is a good reminder of what can happen when a ethnic group is devalued and demonized by the majority and viewed as less than human.The Nazis acted upon their hatred and institutionalized it; resulting; as we all should know; in the slaughter of 6 million Jews and millions of others.This is a Holocaust diary that will keep you up at night; in a sweat; because pogroms that occurred in Poland; Germany; etc. have also occurred in recent years; for example; in Bosnia; Serbia; Iraq; Afghanistan; Africa; among other places.We should NEVER forget and NEVER repeat.By the way; what originally piqued my interest in this diary was the fact that Mary Berg lived in York; Pennsylvania; where I live; where she was known as Mary Pentin in the local antiques business.In "Holocaust Diary Author Mary Berg Lived in York County for Years;" Mike Argento (The York Daily Record) reveals the secret she had kept from her colleagues for over 50 years and the rather colorful life she created her York County community:http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_27170657/holocaust-diary-author-mary-berg-lived-york-countyLike most citizens of York; I had never heard of her; and when she died in 2013 at 88; "...No obituary was ever published. If there was a memorial service; it was private; very private" (Argento).Once she came to the U.S.; she and her family pretty much kept to themselves; and Ms. Berg had hidden her Jewish background.Moreover; she wanted to forget about her own book and her time in the Warsaw Ghetto.But these things have a way of eventually coming out.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Claudia Millerwonderful and amazing story - I didn't know Americans stuck in Europe suffered the same fate as European Jews