Frauen: German Women Recall the Third Reich [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

I agree with just about all the comments of all the other reviewers of this book, both positive and critical. The author interviewed a wide array of German women that lived through the Third Reich and were able to tell about it during the time she interviewed them (mostly the mid-to-late '80s). I am as upset about the treatment of Jews in the Holocaust as anyone, yet I agree with the reviewer who pointed out that the author focused all the passion of her interviews just about exclusively to this topic. I would have very much liked to have seen more about other aspects of lives and decisions made during the Third Reich, such as the people giving up their civil rights so quickly after the Nazis were in power and then so soon after that there was no such thing as free speech and I don't know what it was like in Germany before the Nazis, but there was definitely zero freedom of the press during the Third Reich. One thing I learned that I did not know before was that people would be arrested for even the barest comment that Germany might not win the war (not to mention any criticism of Jewish stores being boycotted). Shoot, a person could be arrested apparently just for showing any outward sign of compassion to Jews or prisoners and informers were everywhere. Anyhow, it is fascinating reading and I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this era of history. I had not realized some things before I read this book, such as the role of women in Nazi Germany. Women were definitely repressed far beyond what I had realized before. The most frustrating thing for me in reading this book was the poor translations (or poor editing of translations). There were sentences that no matter how many times I read them, they simply did not make any sense to me at all. Also, often words or phrases were left untranslated, and knowing no German myself, this too was frustrating, nicht? I also would have liked to hear less of the personal slant of the author's perspective. All in all, though, I think I would have given this book 5 stars if it has been edited to reasonable readability. Yes, some of the German style of pigeon-English would have been lost, but then again, these women (or most of them) were not speaking English anyhow; they were speaking German, and what they said was translated into English. Why not translated into a more readable English? I believe a lot more people would read and benefit from reading this book had that been the case. I love the diversity of the women interviewed -- not only in social status and roles they played during the Third Reich but also their different ways of coping and different attitudes toward life. Some lived in great fear; others made little room in their hearts or minds for fear, because they were too busy doing what was clear they must do -- whether hiding a Jew or whatever. Very interesting stuff and terribly relevant even today in a world that still has not yet learned how to come to terms with its problems without war and the crimes endemic of war.

This book is incredible, one I'll re-read several times through the years. I've been living in Germany for the past three years, and will soon return to America. The people here, while VERY friendly, are quite reserved, so it's amazing that Alison Owings was able to get so many women from that era to open up about this sensitive subject. Not only do I applaud Ms. Owings's effort, but I thank the women who shared their lives and thoughts with her. We should never be afraid to look at the past - even the horrors.

Yes, Alison Owings writes more like a journalist than a historian. No matter. This is an excellent book and well worth reading. While Owings is much more "present" in the book than your typical historian, she writes with a raw honesty that compensates for any lack of subtlety on her part. Fundamentally, her work is an exploration of complex ethical decisions and her own reactions to them. Their story becomes part of Owings's story, and that's what history is all about. Some reviewers criticized her for not writing the book they wanted her to write. This is an unfair criticism, but does show that the topic is not exhausted. Another reviewer criticized her approach to oral history, with which, as a historian, I found no fault. I highly recommend this book for lay readers with an interest in the social history of the Third Riech. Readers who liked this book may also like Philip Hallie's LEST INNOCENT BLOOD BE SHED.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars frauen
i am german, 45 years of age, living in the u.s. since 1991. i grew up with the so-called guilt and shame of the post-war generation who was trying to understand. Read more

Published on May 19 2000 by rita wasserman

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed, but not fatally
Owlings' book is a thought-provoking, and not infrequently tragic, account of Nazi era Germany as seen from an often unrepresented viewpoint. Read more

Published on April 12 2000 by toonrmeusa

3.0 out of 5 stars interested reader
Owing's book is good but could be improved. For one, she focuses too much attention on the Jewish question. Read more

Published on Jan 21 2000

2.0 out of 5 stars Good topic, bad book....
It's wonderful that someone decided to do an oral history of German women during the Nazi era. It's less fortunate that Alison Owings undertook this work. Read more

Published on Nov 5 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Very thought provoking stories. Of course I want to align myself with the "good women" however I realize that we are all part of the "good" and... Read more

Published on Mar 24 1999

2.0 out of 5 stars Pushed one topic only
I was very intrigued to start reading "Frauen" after completing "The Good War" by Terkel. Read more

Published on Mar 22 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars A profound and interesting collection of oral histories
I think it's fascinating to read this collection of German women, elderly now, telling the stories of their lives. Read more

Published on Feb 23 1999 by Rosanna Landis Weaver

2.0 out of 5 stars There are many excellent first and second hand accounts of
the horrors of the Nazis. This is not one of them. The recommendations from other authors (on the book sleeve) seem like professional quid pro quo, as the same authors are given... Read more

Published on Feb 17 1999 by Tim Hare

5.0 out of 5 stars a very enlightening and rewarding book
This book was one of the best books I have ever read.To read about women like myself going through all the trials and tribulations of war really opened up my eyes. Read more

Published on April 30 1997

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!