When Germany invaded Poland in 1939; Halina Nelken was a precocious fifteen-year-old; living a middle-class life in Krakow. Like other girls her age; she recorded her personal observations and feelings in a diary. As conditions in Krakow deteriorated and her family was forced into the Jewish ghetto; she continued to write; eventually smuggling her diary out with a Catholic friend. This remarkable book tells the story of Nelken's experiences in the ghetto and later in eight Nazi concentration camps; including Plaszow; Auschwitz; and Ravensbröck. Her diary entries; written between 1938 and 1943; form the core of the volume and are supplemented by recollections written shortly after the war; and by later commentaries and explanatory notes which she added in the mid-1980s. Although there exist numerous published and unpublished memoirs by Holocaust survivors; Nelken's book presents one of the few extant diaries written at the time. Already released in Polish and German editions; it has been hailed as one of the finest works of its kind. Now it is available in English for the first time.
#2010337 in Books Naval Institute Press 1997-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.07 x 6.24 x 9.27l; #File Name: 1557500665320 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great study on the DPRK Special ForcesBy T ChinGreat study on the history and organization of the DPRK Special Forces. Its also one of the VERY few monographs on the topic; and even though it dates back to 1998; its also one of the most recent. A must have; for those studying the military sciences of the Pacific Rim....4 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Excellent resource with a few flaws...By A CustomerI really enjoyed this book. It is really the only book that authoritatively covers this topic. The book's sections on the different SF organizations in the DPRK are based on solid evidence. Some of the information seemed to me to be quite old (from the 60's); but nevertheless is convincing and still relevant considering that the DPRK seems to still operate in many of the same ways.It is not surprising that some of the rhetoric in the book is right-of-center. For instance; Bermudez (like most other American authors on the DPRK) likes to point out atrocities committed by 'communist' guerillas while ignoring the fact that most atrocities committed during the period of 1945-1953 were committed by the Korean National Police; Army of the Republic of Korea; and right-wing youth groups. He mentions atrocities committed by communists during the Yosu-Sunchon Rebellion; but fails to mention the utter holocaust visited upon the residents of Cheju Island by the Korean Constabulary (Army); KNP; and violent right-wing youth groups; by the way; these forces were transported to the island with US assets and advised by US military advisors in the field. Bermudez doesn't seem to be interested in really addressing what motivated the guerillas of the South; but considering the scope of this book; this is just a minor detail.Also rather annoying were the frequent and obvious spelling and grammar issues. I don't think there was much of an editing process! Check out page 22 where Bermudez says that communist partisans were to "ferment unrest". I didn't know you COULD "ferment" unrest(!) I believe the word he was looking for was "foment". These issues with his English are frequent enough to be somewhat of an annoyance; but don't really make the book any less interesting.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Accurate and InformativeBy A CustomerI had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Bermudez as well as reading this book while researching North Korean Special Forces. The book is highly informative and the author exceptionally knowledgeable. It would be interesting to see the latest information he has gathered considering the present economic/food situations.At time of printing; NKSF were the best special forces in the world for their set of missions. Other special forces are better suited for different missions and have different resources available to them.I would recommend this book to anyone looking for reliable background information on the specific topic; as well as anyone interested in the highly ideological and self sacrificial mentality instilled in these people.
