Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs – A Candle and a Promise

The troubling but ultimately triumphant memoirs of Holocaust survivor Hank Brodt

Hank Brodt’s Holocaust memoirs are a necessary reminder of one of the ugliest times in the history of human civilization.

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About the Book

The Troubling but ultimately Triumphant Memoirs of Holocaust Survivor Hank Brodt

Over the years Hank Brodt (1925-2020) has bourn witness to the Holocaust through the spoken word and now also in the written word. Hank Brodt’s daughter Deborah Donnelly has worked for years with her father to make his survivor story into a memorable book.

Writing a memoir allows victims such as Hank Brodt to have a voice and to take ownership over their own story. After all, these memoirs combined will act as the voice of the Holocaust when, in ten years time, victims are no longer with us and able to tell us their stories first-hand.

Although decades passed since the Holocaust it is important that we preserve the memories of those who lived through it and to honor those who perished. We should continue to reflect on the events of the Holocaust so that we can – hopefully – learn valuable lessons from it.

Winner of the Outstanding Creator Award 2022

A well written book about a very terrible time in modern history

A story of resilience, Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs – A Candle and a Promise makes the Holocaust memories of survivor Hank Brodt come alive. It offers a detailed historical account of being a Jewish teenager under the Nazi regime, shedding light on sickening truths in an honest, matter-of-fact way.

Hank Brodt (1925-2020) lived through one of the darkest periods of human history and survived the devastation of World War II. Born into a poor family in Boryslaw (Poland), he was placed in a Jewish orphanage. Losing his whole family when the Germans invaded Poland, he waged a daily battle to survive. Moving from forced labor camps to concentration camps, one of which features in Schindler’s List, his world behind the barbed wire consisted of quiet resistance, invisible tears and silent cries for years on end.

This story of survival includes rare photographs from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum that powerfully illustrate these intimate and shocking memoirs. One recently discovered picture shows Hank Brodt in prison uniform removing the dead on carts at the liberated Ebensee concentration camp on May 7, 1945.

It is hard to believe that someone who endured such horrific events could go on to live a life of gratitude. Through his unwavering compassion towards others, Hank Brodt managed to keep his humanity and find a way to move forward.

He has joined the March of the Living since 2006, walking from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom Hashoah to pay tribute to the millions that died. Lighting the candle, he made a promise to himself to always answer the call to talk. He sadly passed away on 22 May 2020.

The March of the Living

The 93-year old Hank Brodt again joined the March of the Living in 2018. So proud and touching to see survivor Hank Brodt sing during the March of the Living. He joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Rabbinical Choir in leading the hall in Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, for the finale. See the full report here.

Check this interview with Hank Brodt on the publication of his autobiography.

On Memorial Day 2017, an article written by Deborah Donnelly was published in the newsletter of the American Hebrew Academy Hagesher. Deborah described her publisher as tough..! Thanks Deborah (..!)

Some articles appeared on Hank Brodt’s passing on 22 May 2020:

https://hpenews.com/news/15556/local-holocaust-survivor-hank-brodt-dies-at-94/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/obituary-hank-brodt-1925-2020-liesbeth-heenk/

https://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/hank-brodt-who-began-sharing-his-story-of-surviving-nazi-prison-camps-after-moving-to/article_d8572f87-f227-5430-869b-434e5e2cc11b.html

Say his name with me | A reflection sparked by Hank Brodt and fueled by George Floyd

High Point holocaust survivor Hank Brodt, known for sharing his story has died

Further reading on Holocaust Memoirs

Outcry Holocaust Memoirs by Manny Steinberg, Holocaust Memoirs of a Bergen-Belsen survivor and Classmate of Anne Frank by Nanette Blitz Konig, The Mission of Abbe Glasberg by Lucien Lazare, See You Tonight by Salo Muller, Among the Reeds by Tammy Bottner, The Dead Years by Joseph Schupack.

Should you have written a Holocaust memoir yourself, please have a look at our Author Services page.

Details

Author: Deborah Donnelly
Series: Holocaust Survivor Memoirs World War II, Book 2
Genre: Holocaust
Tags: Award-winning Publication, Foreign Rights Available, Holocaust memoir
Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
Publication Year: 2016
Format: paperback
Length: 176
ASIN: B01LY2Y8OC
ISBN: 9789492371218
Rating:

List Price: $19,99
eBook Price: $5,99

Endorsements

This was a well written book about a very terrible time in modern history. Though there are some that say the Holocust never happended this book belies that point. It is written by the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who is now in his 90's but with a wonderful memory of what he went through as a Holocaust victim. Hank describes vividly the inhumane treatment of himself and his fellow prisoners at the hands of the Germansand others from Poland, the Ukraine and other countries under Hitler. It is a vivid reminder of what can happen when lies become truth in the hands of a dictator who mesmerized the people in some parts of Europe who were looking for a scapegoat o which to blame all their problems. Hitler wanted a pure Aryan race who were perfect, no Jews, disabled, homosexuals, or anyone else who disagreed and spoke up about what he was doing. Thank goodness people survived the Holocaust to tell their stories and that their is the Holocaust Museum to document the atrocities. The Troubling but ultimately Triumphant Memoirs of Holocaust Survivor Hank Brodt A story of resilience, Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs - A Candle and a Promise makes the memories of Holocaust survivor Hank Brodt come alive. It offers a detailed historical account of being a Jewish teenager under the Nazi regime, shedding light on sickening truths in an honest, matter-of-fact way. Hank Brodt lived through one of the darkest periods of human history and survived the devastation of World War II. Born in 1925 into a poor family in Boryslaw (Poland), he was placed in a Jewish orphanage. Losing his family when the Germans invaded Poland, he waged a daily battle to survive. Moving from forced labor camps to concentration camps, one of which features in Schindler’s List, his world behind the barbed wire consisted of quiet resistance, invisible tears and silent cries for years on end. This story of survival includes rare photographs from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum that powerfully illustrate these intimate and shocking memoirs. One recently discovered picture shows Hank Brodt in prison uniform removing the dead on carts at the liberated Ebensee concentration camp on May 7, 1945. It is hard to believe that someone who endured such horrific events could go on to live a life of gratitude. Through his unwavering compassion towards others, Hank Brodt managed to keep his humanity and find a way to move forward. After the Second World War, Hank Brodt testified at the trial of Nazi war criminal Amon Goeth in Dachau, Germany. He has joined the March of the Living since 2006, walking from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom Hashoah to pay tribute to the millions that died. Lighting the candle, he made a promise to himself to always answer the call to talk.

– Israel Book Reviews

Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs by Deborah Donnelly is an extraordinary narrative by a survivor of the Holocaust, now in his 90s. His daughter, Deborah Donnelly, gives voice to her father’s very painful and vivid memories of his years growing up in poverty and a growing hostile environment leading to his internment in not one but five concentration camps. As a Jew in Poland growing up with poverty and anti-Semitism in the little town of Boryslaw, Poland, Hank Brodt found a way to adapt and survive. Well written, this memoir touched me with Mr. Brodt’s disturbing and vivid recollection of the suffering endured by him and the people around him in the camps. While I have seen pictures, documentary film clips, and read third-hand accounts of this horrible time, there is something concrete, immediate, and personal in reading the words of a man who experienced these horrors first-hand. Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs is divided into simple chapters that are easy enough to follow. There are photographs that enhance the written word as well with each chapter. It is apparent after reading the book that Mr. Brodt was reluctant to reveal the terrible experience of his time as an inmate in the camps. Despite this, the same resolve that enabled him to live through it all serves as incentive to tell the tale for future generations. We must never forget that the Holocaust was real and it is our obligation to listen to the testimony of the living witnesses. In clear, concise language, Hank Brodt describes how the Nazis, with the collusion of some Poles and Ukrainians, persecuted the Jews living amongst them, with laws taking away property, jobs, and the freedom to even leave their homes. We learn of his suffering at five concentration camps, including Auschwitz. His descriptions are almost too unbearable to read. However, Hank keeps his promise to his mother, whom he never sees again, to not lose hope and survive. That is the theme of this book. Hank Brodt ultimately refused to give up when it would have been easy. He chose life. He defies the plans of the “master race” and their “final solution”. Instead, he lives a full life. He immigrates to the United States after being liberated by the U.S. Army from the last concentration camp. He marries, raises a family and later he even becomes a soldier in the U.S. Army. His children grow up to do important work and there is a happy surprise ending as described in the final chapters. This book is an inspiration. To those who say the Holocaust never happened, I say read this book. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the Holocaust. It should be required reading for high school and college students.

– Steve Leshin for Readers’ Favorite

This was a sad but good book. It breaks my heart to see or hear anything about the Holocaust. I couldn't put this book down. I so appreciate Hank sharing this time in his life so we can understand more the history of the holocaust.. such a heartbreaking horrible time for so many.. but it does need to be shared so the lives and memories of these people do not get lost somewhere in history. I wish I could have given it way more than 5 stars... Thank you so much Hank for sharing this horrible time in your life so that the next generations coming can know and not forget the tragedies that went on during this time in history.

– jb

f you love learning about history through the eyes of those who experienced it, you will love this book. Hank Brodt found hope when he should have found despair. This story is a lesson for all of us, especially in the uncertain world we live in today. I would recommend this book to young adults and up. Narrated by Hank, and written by his daughter, the book is moving and touching, quick and easy to read!

– Jo Ann Rontarini

This account of Hank Brodt's young adult life surviving the Holocaust has truly changed my understanding of human compassion. I am touched and awed by Mr. Brodt's ability to hang on to his humanity during the most horrific atrocities committed by the Nazis. His spirit was never broken. A Candle and a Promise is relevant today in our uncertain political climate. We should never forget what can happen when all people are not treated with equality.

– L. Cicio

This was a well written book about a very terrible time in modern history. Though there are some that say the Holocust never happended this book belies that point. It is written by the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who is now in his 90's but with a wonderful memory of what he went through as a Holocaust victim. Hank describes vividly the inhumane treatment of himself and his fellow prisoners at the hands of the Germansand others from Poland, the Ukraine and other countries under Hitler. It is a vivid reminder of what can happen when lies become truth in the hands of a dictator who mesmerized the people in some parts of Europe who were looking for a scapegoat o which to blame all their problems. Hitler wanted a pure Aryan race who were perfect, no Jews, disabled, homosexuals, or anyone else who disagreed and spoke up about what he was doing. Thank goodness people survived the Holocaust to tell their stories and that their is the Holocaust Museum to document the atrocities. This book should be required reading for all high school and college students so that they will never forget these atrocities and will take a stand to never let them happen again. In fact, everyone should read it.

– Betsy H.

Book Club Resources

WXII: Hank Brodt, a Holocaust Survivor, Shared His Story at HPU

Hank Brodt's narrative in new teachers guide from the N.C.Council on the Holocaust

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About the Author

Deborah Donnelly

Deborah Donnelly was born to immigrant parents. Education and reading were emphasized growing up. Her parents stressed that anything could be accomplished through commitment and working hard.

Deborah is the daughter of Holocaust survivor Hank Brodt (b. 1925). The book, Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs - A Candle and a Promise, was written at her father's request to document his experiences during the darkest period in modern history. Deborah has a BSW and MSW, holds a LCSW and various credentials in trauma and substance abuse. She is married to Dan.

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