[.ca] A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City (ISBN 0805075402)

The Spoils of War:
This is one of those rare books that kept me up reading all night. It is that compelling. It is 1945 and the Soviets are marching into Berlin. The civilians, already starving and bombed regularly, try to prepare themselves. Young women are hidden as stories of rape emerge. The few valued possessions are hidden. The writer of this book is an educated journalist and her prose is powerful. There is no self pity in her writing, only the gritty accounts of hunger and fear. She speaks some Russian which is both valuable and dangerous. She doesn't demonize the conquering army. She finds among them the very young, the kind, the providers and protectors as well as the dangerous thugs that must be avoided. In order to survive, she must constantly be on guard. The German men, wounded and starving, home from the front lines are made to share their women, food,and lodging. The women, not only have to survive brutal rapes but have to protect their men. To read this account is to experience the cramped air raid shelters, the constant hunger, the glass and rubble underfoot, and to marvel at the strength of the human spirit. You will not be able to put it down.

A shocking reminder...:
I read this book keeping in mind not only the described facts by the (anonymous) author, but the terrible circumstances it was written under... in my opinion it is a very valuable document that tells us about the terrible (and wonderful) things we all are capable of under war conditions, perhaps useful to wake up and keep in mind the effects our actions have on other human beigns... in my opinion, a series of facts that must not be forgotten, ever. An excellent reading, no doubt, light and deep at the time...