Wednesday 2 January 2008

Horrors of war




Surviving with Wolves by Misha Defonseca is one of the most extraordinary and poignant survival stories to come out of World War II. Misha was only six years old when her parents were taken away from their home in Brussels and sent to Auschwitz. She was given a new name, a new home, and forced into a new religion. No one told her why her parents were no longer with her. As the family who hid Misha were also about to be caught by the Gestapo, the young girl ran away and headed eastwards, where she believed her parents had been sent.So one day, equipped only with a tiny compass and a few provisions, she set out East to find them. Misha crossed Belgium, Germany and Poland on foot alone - until, close to starvation in a vast forest, she was adopted by a family of wolves. She ate and played with the wolf cubs and was protected by their mother. Finally, at the end of the war, she found her way home to Belgium via the Ukraine, Romania and Italy. She never found her parents. Véra Belmont, French film director made a film of this extraordinary tale; it is on general release in Belgium as from today.

9 comments:

jmb said...

Happy New Year to you Eurodog.

I am not familiar with this book but it sounds very interesting and I will indeed look for it.

Flowerpot said...

that sounds an amazing story, ED. Look forward to reading the book - do you know if the film is to be released over here? Oh, and happy new year of course!

Eurodog said...

jmb, I think it is probably a tough book to read.
flowerpot, I do not know but will let you if I hear of anything.

Whispering Walls said...

Happy New Year ED! Let's hope we can befriend any wolves sneaking around us in 2008.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

That is a book I must read, eurodog.

Unknown said...

Nice post and will read the book...wish I had it today as the weather here is cold and rainy and it makes me want to just sit in my big chair with a book and a nice hot cup of coffee. Ahh. thanks for another great post Eurodog!

LITTLE BROWN DOG said...

A very happy New Year to you, Eurodog. This is a fascinating story, albeit rather a gruelling read. I imagine the film will be well worth seeing.

Cornish Dreamer said...

It sounds like an incredible journey. I will have to put it on my wishlist!

Deborah Lipstadt said...

The whole story is a hoax. The woman is worthy only of our contempt. Don't buy the book.
http://lipstadt.blogspot.com/2008/02/holocaust-hoax-author-admits-she-lied.html