My Mother's Footsteps

At the young age of seventeen, the popular Hanne Liese Grischmann is forced to wear a Star of David in her school classes and soon is not allowed to attend school at all. Understanding that Germany is no longer safe for Jews, the young woman travels to Nazi headquarters a number of times to obtain an exit visa when exit visas were impossible to procure. But, in spite of the obstacles, on April 20, 1940, Hanne and her mother leave Germany en route to Bolivia with the unobtainable papers in hand. Thus, an extraordinary tale of determination and adventure unfolds.

In My Mother's Footsteps sketches the life that Hanne found in Bolivia, traces her family's further immigration to Canada, telling her story as a young widow in Montreal. Filled with stories about family and friends, triumph and tragedy, In My Mother's Footsteps spans four generations of the Nador family story. Liberally illustrated with photographs, this memoir bears evidence of the many stages of this family's journey and brings it to life.

Rooted in the harsh realities of the Holocaust, this memoir remembers the spirit and determination of one woman and pays tribute to her life. It acknowledges her spirit and the love she inspired within those who knew her. Perhaps, greatest of all, it treasures family and acknowledges the gifts and sacrifices of previous generations.