E/96: FATE UNDECIDED

Toronto; Azrieli Foundation, 2009. Softbound. 8vo. XXV, 130 pages. 23 cm. First edition. Azrieli series of Holocaust survivor memoirs; Series II. "The son of a diamond merchant in Antwerp's famous diamond exchange, Paul-Henri Rips was ten years old when the Nazis invaded Belgium in May 1940 and ended what he calls his ‘golden childhood' forever. He imbues his fascinating memoir with his child's-eye perceptions of the events unfolding around him and the diverse cast of characters who inhabited Belgium and France during the Nazi occupation. Unflinchingly describing Nazi and Flemish perpetrators of antisemitic violence, Paul-Henri also brings to life resistance fighters, collaborators, black marketeers, soldiers, Christian nuns and priests, Roma and ordinary Belgian and French citizens. Drawing upon childhood references to make sense of what was happening to him, and delving into events and geographic areas often neglected in Holocaust research, his account is a unique combination of place, time and perspective. Ultimately, what Paul-Henri Rips carries away with him from his harrowing experiences are two admonitions from his father: ‘A klapt vargayt, a wort bestayt' (A blow will go away again, but a word lasts forever) and ‘Sei a mensch' (Be a decent human being) . His story is a testament to his father's belief in the importance of holding on to one's own humanity in the face of unfathomable inhumanity. " (Publishers description) . Subjects: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) - Belgium. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) - France. Jewish children in the Holocaust - Belgium - Biography. Jewish children in the Holocaust - France - Biography. Jews - Belgium - Biography. Jews - France - Biography. Holocauste, 1939-1945 - Belgique. Holocauste, 1939-1945 - France. Enfants juifs pendant l'Holocauste - Belgique - Biographies. Enfants juifs pendant l'Holocauste - France - Biographies. Juifs - Belgique - Biographies. Juifs - France - Biographies. Rips, Paul-Henri, 1929-. Great condition. (HOLO2-103-32).