Budapest 1944

This book is the true account of the March 1, 1944 invasion of Budapest, the occupation, persecutions and final liberation by the Russians on March 1, 1945.The book is not a tale of atrocities - although these loom in the background - it is rather a tale of maintaining relationships in impossible circumstances, surviving the edicts and rules imposed on the Jews, and getting along with neighbours in the cramped quarters of the ghetto.The book could be called a diary, since many of the events are dated, however it is rather a memoir and a novel. It is about a young Jewish girl, her three peculiar sisters, elderly parents, and husbands - although they were mostly absent in forced labour service. It is a story of love, family, staying alive in the incessant air-raids, and avoiding getting deported to the gas chambers.Lolo, the author, is politically astute and it is fascinating to read about the war from the point of view of a country reluctantly on Germany's side. "Hungary has always picked the losing side," she complains.Many questions still asked today are answered. For example: - How did Nazi Germany accomplish the Jewish pogrom with minimal effort? How much did the Hungarian people contribute to the abuse?- Why was the carpet bombing of Budapest necessary? Did it have the alleged effect of demoralizing the people? As Lolo in the book asks during an air raid, "Who is liberating us now, the British or the Americans?"- What was Ralph Wallenberg's role?- How was D-day perceived?The story is predominantly about women - how do you maintain hygiene, modesty, and dignity when twenty people are forced into a one room apartment? How do you get any sleep? The men are depicted as well, but most of them were conscripted into labour service doing atrocious work such as cleaning up bodies after a bombing raid.One sure way of avoiding getting deported was to work for the war effort, usually an armament factory or ammunition depot. What about the bombing?Religion is dealt with sensitively. Most Jews converted in order to stay alive. What does that do to one's deepest beliefs?The most remarkable aspect of the writing is Lolo's sense of humour. She found many of the situations comical and describes the darkest adversity with a tone of irony and humility.This is the first volume of a two-volume text, the second to be published soon. John Rakos, translator, editor