I studied history for the past 4 years as part of my undergraduate. I think thats how I became a history teacher. During this time I didnt get to read many books from cover to cover. I just had to zone in on whatever topic my assignment or essay was on and hope that the person who had the book before me had underlined the relevant parts.
When I finished my degree I decided that one thing that would do me well in my future career would be to read more history books. So I decided that the only books I will read for the next while would be historical. Some would be straight up history books, others would be biographical, others would be history based novels. Did I mention that I’m an exciting guy? No, oh pardon my rudeness. I’m an exciting guy. I butter my bread on both sides and don’t care if it falls.
Anywho, the first book I read was: “I Was a Boy in Belsen” by Tomi Reichental.
This was Tomi’s account of his time spent in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the holocaust. Its an easy read with short, broken up chapters. A good lay out to get me into the swing of this reading lark.
The book tells Tomi’s life story from his early years growing up as a Jewish boy in post WW1 Slovakia. Aged just 4 when the Second World War starts, Tomi tells how life changed in the early years of the war for his family leading up to his capture and detainment in the concentration camp aged 9.
Tomi lost an amazing 35 members of his family due to the atrocities of the Nazi regime. It was very nearly more as himself and his mother were on the verge of death due to malnutrition and illness when the camp was liberated in 1945.
The book tells the story of Tomi’s life in three main parts: During the war, During imprisonment and after liberation. It culminates in Tomi’s early adult life in Israel and his eventual settling in….wait for it…..Ireland.
Since writing the book Tomi now gives talks to schools and institutes, about the story which he didn’t bare to think about for 50 years, through the Holocaust Education Trust of Ireland. Maybe you’d like to get him for your school? Yea, you! Do it!
Overall I found his book as enjoyable a read as this subject can be. His age at the time probably meant that he did not understand a lot of the things that he saw and therefore may have forgotten about some of the more sinister details. Its a book that is well worth a read and I would recommend it to those history students you may have in your classroom who would be mature enough to deal with such a topic with respect.
The most important thing about any books on the holocaust is that they keep this event in our minds and in doing so remind us of the lows the human race can slip to and help us to ensure that it never happens again.
Never Forget.
Dovidenia!!
Mr. Bender's Plog 