It is very difficult today to find exceptional authors who write a life changing novel - may be this is because life in the 21st century, with all its technology and TV is so sterile. So I was glad I stumbled up this novel by Fallada - it kick started my brain and made me think about the lives we lead today in comparison to those lived pre-and during WWII. Living under such a regime must have been, not only extremely stressful, but terrifying and we can't imagine what impact that would have had on the lives of normal, everyday people trying to go about their business. This world is a start contrast to our own and serves to remind us of our own excesses. I won't forget this novel in a hurry, especially given that it is based on a truth that we just can't comprehend today.
The writing style is similar to that of Orwell and other writers of that time and I loved the way crafted his paragraph - switching from past tense into the present in the same paragraph, which put the reader right into the middle of the action, e.g. 'He was standing on the Pier looking into the water, just before the gun sounded. He feels a rush of blood and falls into the dark water beneath, his body swept away.......' All the characters were individuals and there were no stock characters - what I like to call 'stocking fillers' - each one had a life that had a purpose within the story told and each one was complete in his or her own right - not dependant on the actions of the other/others. Clever and timeless writing.
The subject matter was challenging and not always easy to read as you knew it wasn't fantasy. I was pleased he didn't go into graphic detail about how people were tortured - but then this didn't need to be written in - we can leave this to imagination, which in a way, can make the whole scene even more horrific.
Overall an incredible novel, but it doesn't make for easy/light reading.
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ALONE IN BERLIN by Hans Fallada (1893-1947)The time was during the 1930's through World War II -- 1946After having recently finished reading this book, taking place in Nazi Germany, and while reading each chapter, time stood still for me. This novel is full of actual happenings, and in my opinion, the author, Hans Fallada, must have used it as a semi-auto biography.The emotional trap, with which I opened this write-up, was a very frightening thing happening to many people, whose only memories of Nazi Germany, were hidden in a small part of the brain, while growing up during the tender years of early childhood, when we heard and saw and even observed the viciousness and inhumanity of the Nazis. Those of us who survived had to literally trap the past into a small part of our brains, in order to live our lives in the future.We were aware that there were "good Germans", however, we frequently did not know who they were, because if people acted kindly and naturally, there was no question, that they were fine people. Suddenly these same people wore brown or black uniforms, including their children and behaved like monsters, causing terrible things, we learned that we could never trust them again."Alone in Berlin" begins with a German couple, named Ann and Otto Quangel. They were simple people, who lived in Germany all their lives, unaffected by the politics around them. They were friendly with their neighbors, whether they were active Nazis or a Jewish widow, living in the same building. It seemed that they suspected that there were some things not quite right, but the Quangels lived a quiet life. They had an only son named Ottochen. It was the time when the Germans celebrated their march into France. When the Quangels were notified that their beloved son fell, while serving the German army, it caused a rude awakening. This tragic trauma forced the parents to do something, because they suddenly awakened to who and what Hitler was.They decided to compose postcard messages; reminding the German people of what was happening to Germany, and the dangers lurking in every corner. One example of a postcard was the following in German and then translated:" "Ein Deutcher A GermanDeutches Volk Wache auf! German people -- Wake up!Wir müssen uns von Der Hitlerei befreien!" We must free ourselves from the Hitlerei!"Many of the postcards were worded much stronger, but they all had the same message.The postcards were dropped all over Berlin, to be seen and picked up by any passerby. Unfortunately, most of the cards landed in the hands of the Gestapo or SS. The people who happened to pick up the postcards, were generally reported, tortured, some of them were murdered, because the friendly strangers and neighbors, were really loyal to the Vaterland (Fatherland), doing their duties as god Nazis, and exposing innocent people, who they identified as being traitors to the policies of the Third Reich. This horror was also conducted against any citizens, including Christians who, finally, broke under horrible torture.No one was safe or could be trusted, whether strangers or friends.This is the "trap" of living in Germany during those times. The trauma with which people lived, was what caused Fallada to describe how those of us who survived, and with this book he managed to reopen old wounds, terrible memories and a life of fear.Personally, having lived my first eleven years under these conditions, a young Jewish child, having to see and live with seeing my father beaten bloody, by SS bullies, in front of my eyes, at the age of five. He was dragged to Dachau, for the simple reason that he was a Jew. We lived among Christian neighbors, who seemed friendly, until one daythey sported the brown and black uniforms, threatening and strutting the streets. Even their children wore uniforms and became dangerous enemies. No one could ever be trusted again. People even cooperated in order to save their own lives. Many died terrible deaths.The important after word of the story, along with illustrations of cards and propaganda reports, finally illustrated the lies spoken until today: "We didn't know anything was happening." Most of these liars knew very well, because the proof was always available.
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