A Jewish girl is trapped amidst the Nazi regime in World War II with no way out, and no friends or family that can help her. How does she survive? She changes her identity and pretends to be a Nazi. The Nazi Officer’s Wife is the memoir of Edith Hahn and how she narrowly avoided extermination during the Holocaust. The story not only shows her survival, but it recounts her earlier life as well and shows her constant struggle against anti-Jewish sentiment. As times get harder for Edith in Vienna, she finds that she eventually can’t even rely on her family and friends for help.
What makes The Nazi Officer’s Wife unique is Edith’s strong intellect and how she uses that to survive. Ironically, it’s this intellect that Edith must hide in order not to draw too much suspicion onto herself. While Edith hides her wit and edgenuity away from the public, the reader still gets to experience it throughout the book as it details the thoughts inside of her head. One of the most engaging parts of the book is getting to know Edith and the way that she thinks. Due to the extreme measures that she finds herself in, she is a very cautious person, and through her writing we get to see that she is extremely careful in making every decision that comes her way. Additionally, the book does a great job of discussing the idea of morality. For example, when Edith is forced to work in a box factory for the Reich, one of her managers secretly gives her tips on how to get her work done quicker. During times like these, Edith and the reader find that even in inhumane bodies such as the Reich, there can be decent people inside of it.
Overall, The Nazi Officer’s Wife is a thrilling, devastating story that shows a unique way in which someone survived one of the worst genocides in history. From its deep exploration of themes of morality to its emotional moments with Edith struggling to survive, this book is a must read for sure. I would highly recommend it.
The novel you reviewed reminds me a lot of The Zoo Keeper's Wife; also set during World War II. Based on your review, I would definitely read The Nazi Officer's Wife!
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