The Last Jews in Berlin

By: Leonard Gross

Narrated by: David de Vries

When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, approximately 160,000 Jews called Berlin home. By 1943 less than 5,000 remained in the nation's capital, the epicenter of Nazism, and by the end of the war, that number had dwindled to 1,000. All the others had died in air raids, starved to death, committed suicide, or been shipped off to the death camps.

In this captivating and harrowing book, Leonard Gross details the real-life stories of a dozen Jewish men and women who spent the final 27 months of World War II underground, hiding in plain sight, defying both the Gestapo and, even worse, Jewish "catchers" ready to report them to the Nazis in order to avoid the gas chambers themselves. A teenage orphan, a black-market jewel trader, a stylish young designer, and a progressive intellectual were among the few who managed to survive. Through their own resourcefulness, bravery, and at times, sheer luck, these Jews managed to evade the tragic fates of so many others.

Gross has woven these true stories of perseverance into a heartbreaking, suspenseful, and moving account with the narrative force of a thriller. Compiled from extensive interviews, The Last Jews in Berlin reveals these individuals' astounding determination, against all odds, to live each day knowing it could be their last.

©1992 Leonard Gross (P)2019 Tantor

Very good and worthwhile book

This book reminded me somewhat of "The Dressmakers of Auschwitz" as it is a collection of individual stories for a certain group of Holocaust victims--in this cases, Jewish of Berlin. This kind of collected stories portrays the human suffering and makes it all the more real than straight history. It is well written and excellent narration.

Very good WWll Jewish lives in Berlin

I liked the narrative process. I could easily put myself there. Well worth the listening time.

excellent

Well written, engaging and well read. Characters come alive and draw the listener into their experiences.

Uplifting story of resilience and cunning

Despite Hitler’s declaration that Berlin was Juden-frei, this accounts tells the stories of Jews who refused to leave Berlin during WW2. The resilience and cunning needed to survive is fully on display here. As the author states, no Jew survived in Berlin without the help of some Germans who opposed the Nazi regime. Their stories and sacrifices are detailed here as well. Together, these accounts are both surprising and inspiring.

Amazing real life adventure.

I couldnt stop listening. Great listen for WW2 history buffs and Adventure fans of any era.The courage and Innovativeness of these Stories is exciting and inspiring.