All but My Life

Hi composition 121 Book Analysis All exclusively My conduct story February 15, 2013 All But My Life All But My Life is a memoir about a schoolgirlish Jewish girl, Gerda Weissmann, who was fitted to underpin the hardships of World War II and the Holocaust. Gerda went d unrivaled and saw more repulsive things in the matter of a few years than any of us go a panache ever film to face in our bread and buttertimes. The fact that a girl this young and hopeless nooky withstand so truly much pain but yet contain so much po decennarytial should be an inspiration to only. Reading this decl be really opened my eye to what the world can bring.After reading Gerdas expedition, I will never again complain of times being tough or deject in my life. This book really meant a lot to me for that very reason. It is amazing that no matter what Gerda had to face in those years she would constantly be looking for struggled. Regardless of the circumstances she pushed forward and longed for the time that it would all be over. As the book is coming to a close Gerda writes, As I Finish the wear chapter of my book, I feel at peace, at last. I have discharged a burden and paid a debt to many nameless heroes, reprieveing in their unmarked graves. A burden is a flagitious load and Gerda definitely had one to get off her shoulders. Up until this book Gerda was never able to tell anyone her full journey. She wasnt able to look at the times spent with the friends she made during the hardships of the Holocaust. The debt she paid to many nameless heroes was that she was able to get the story out to people. Gerda was able to shargon first blow over experiences to people that just may not understand the fight these young girls and other Jewish people put up during these years.The book had to be written because Gerda knew that her journey needed to be told because of the small gist of survivors on that point were. She was one of the lucky ones who were able to gather the str ength to get through this horrific time in history. Thus, as much as she valued to probably forget, the book had to be written. In my opinion All But My Life was written to and for anyone who wants to be moved by a sinewy and inspiring young girl. Also it was written for those who were unable to survive the Holocaust.For those who will never be able to sh atomic number 18 their hard fought journey and are now just another number to total of lives lost during the Holocaust. Gerdas long and counterbalancetful journey didnt just take vagabond in one location or even just one concentration bivouac for that matter. Her journey had several stops along the way and consisted of days and days of traveling in the harshest conditions. The journey of Gerdas story begins in phratry of 1939 in her hometown of Bielitz, Poland (4). Bielitz is where Gerda spent roughly the first cardinal years of her life (43).In the early summer of 1942 Bielitz is Judenreined which means free of Jews basica lly. Gerda and her family are split and to travel in different directions. Gerda is headed toward Sosnowitz, Poland and gets thither in June 1942 (96). From Sosnowitz, Gerda is displace to her first concentration mob in Bolkenhain, Germany (113). While at Bolkenhain, Gerda worked locomote machines day in and day out however, all in all the girls were treated pretty well at Bolkenhain compared to other concentration camps. Gerda would later(prenominal) found out that Bolkenhain was like heaven in comparison to what was to come.Soon Gerda and the rest of the girls are sent to another concentration camp called Marzdorf in September of 1943 (145). Marzdorf was nothing like Bolkenhain and was purely miserable for Gerda. Luckily Gerda doesnt expend a great deal of time at Marzdorf and soon ends up in Landeshut during the month of September of 1943, another concentration camp with ten other girls originally from Bolkenhain (152). After spending some time threading supplies for the Ger man army in Landeshut, Gerda is transported to her final concentration camp in may of 1944, Grunberg (166).After spending a significant amount of time in Grunberg the concourse is transported toward Germany. Gerda feels that the end of the war may be very near. As the meet continues on the root ends up in helmbrechts barracks in the spring of 1945 (194). The group spends about a month in the barracks of Helmbrechts with less than half the amount of people left than they had started with. With just a couple hundred girls be the mere group left heads toward Czechoslovakia (201).In May of 1945 Gerda and a handful of others hail in Volary as the war slowly comes to an end (207). During her journey, Gerda is influenced by numerous people. Some she knew prior to leaving Bielitz and others she met along the way. All of which influenced every one of Gerdas actions. Gerda would lose all of these people except for one. Gerdas brother, Arthur, may have been the most influential person to her. He was there since her childhood and they acted as best friends. When Gerda was sixteen she saw her brother for the last time as he was called to leave Bielitz (21).Gerda had enormous love for her family and her cause and father and also Niana were also very influential to her. Her father was her salvation. If not for what he had told her about suicide she may not ever have had the will power to go on with the cruel experiences of her journey. However, Gerdas parents do not survive the Holocaust and she sees them and Niana for the last time in the summer of 1942 (92). Prior to leaving Bielitz, Gerda has what I would say is her first boyfriend. Abek is always care for Gerda although she never really loves him.He too would not survive the Holocaust. As a child, Gerda and Isle meet and they are bestfriends. They spend nearly the whole journey together until Isle passes away days before the war ends (205). During her travels from camp to camp Gerda also makes really good friends with Suse and Liesel. These were dickens girls were there to booster each other through the hardships of the Holocaust. Suse died the day of liberation (213). While paltry to further shelter Liesel also passed away (215). During Gerdas time at Bolkenhain she meets in my mind her avenging angel, Frau Kugler.Although the Frau Kugler was supposition to be sort of an enemy, she saves Gerdas life and they develop a sort of friendship. However, once deported to a new camp they never see each other again (137). Once the war ends Gerda meets Kurt Klein. Kurt is an the Statesn soldier that feels for Gerda for he too lost his parents due to the Holocaust. The two grow strong feelings for each other and Kurt is partially the reason for Gerdas fast and strong recovery. The two eventually move back to America and get married (246).When Gerda and Kurt meet for the first time she is simply confused. She wonders wherefore he cared so much about her. She couldnt figure it out. As time passed t hey met again and she loved seeing him. While apart she longed for the succeeding(prenominal) time they would unite. I didnt expect the hand of fate in this story. I expected for Gerda to end up having feelings for Abek. However, Kurt was the one for her. While at the concentration camps Gerda encountered several guards. I was surprised by how many of the guards did what they could to abet the victims as much as possible.Their motivation must have been maintenance of what could have happened to them if they did not treat the Jews like animals. I can not take of any other reason someone could possibly think what was going on was ok. During Gerdas time in the Holocaust she is somehow able to gain strength to continue on while others are not able to. It was the words of her father that kept her from committing suicide even during the most gruesome times. The only thing that kept her positive was the thought that someday she might see her family again and be able to buckle under t o her home in Bielitz, Poland.The title, All But My Life to me means something very simple. Gerda Weissmann Klein endured thousands of things as a teenager. She saw many horrific and breathtaking images. Met numerous friends along the way, but none of it was life to her. She went through everything but none of it was a normal life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it has truly affected me. My simple reaction is just amazement of how a girl can endure so much and still continue on with life with a positive outlook. This book will change the way I value life itself.