The thought of a Jewish SS officer is preposterous and off-putting, but people took extraordinary steps to protect themselves and their loved ones in Nazi Germany. In this true story, the author shares the story of Yochanan Berger, who reluctantly confessed his dark past to only a few people late in his life. Born in 1920, Berger grew up near Berlin in a strict Orthodox family, with his life shaped by faith and community until he was captivated by a young Catholic woman. They fell in love and despite objections, married. ...
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The thought of a Jewish SS officer is preposterous and off-putting, but people took extraordinary steps to protect themselves and their loved ones in Nazi Germany. In this true story, the author shares the story of Yochanan Berger, who reluctantly confessed his dark past to only a few people late in his life. Born in 1920, Berger grew up near Berlin in a strict Orthodox family, with his life shaped by faith and community until he was captivated by a young Catholic woman. They fell in love and despite objections, married. Shortly later, a friend in the national records office warned him of what was to come and gave him a new identity: Johan Ludwig. When a Gestapo officer doubted his identity and pressed him to enter the SS, Berger agreed to protect himself and his family. Upon receiving his commission, Berger was assigned to a sub-camp of Dachau where slaves made war munitions. He administered the camp as ordered but also secured care for victims of medical experiments, smuggled a baby out of the camp, and even killed a menacing SS officer. Discover the story of a man whose love for family and will to survive forced him to make unthinkable decisions.
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