Whilst this is by no means the first account of the experiences of the German civilians caught up in the turmoil of the closing months of the Second World War it may, perhaps, be destined to be regarded among the most evocative. It is told by the granddaughter of a young woman who lived with her family in Konigsberg, now Kaliningrad, who discovered the story from her grandmother many years after the events described.

Through this second hand account the reader learns of the impact of the rise of Nazism and the way in which the lives of ordinary people in Germany were slowly, but irrevocably, changed forever. The experiences of civilians in the German eastern provinces were particularly harrowing as they faced not only the collapse of their world as defeat loomed, but also the violence and destruction from the advancing Soviet forces. Those forces had advanced through the Soviet Union territories occupied by the German Army during their blitzkrieg advance of 1941 and had seen evidence of the many atrocities they had committed; as such, they had every reason to wreak a terrible vengeance on the Germans they encountered in their advance.

This story tells of the escape of Inge’s grandmother’s family and the difficulties they subsequently experienced as refugees, before they eventually settled and found new lives in West Germany. It confronts and acknowledges the ‘war guilt’ of the German people, whilst allowing the reader to experience sympathy for the many German civilian refugees who were displaced by the Soviet occupying forces. It is a deeply moving account that balances the need to place the unfolding story in a historical context with a very personal account of the experiences of just one young woman as she struggled to survive as her world fell apart.

A beautifully written story that deals with life under Hitler and how decades on it still affects survivors, it's a story of hope, love, loss and redemption, that touches the heart.

I’m absolutely captivated by world war 2 stories nd peoples struggles. Such suffering yet such amazing strength to live and tell the tales of such hardships. Fab read and highly recommend

This is a true story as told to the author by her grandmother. In between the grandmother's narrative are chapters on the history of the times. I found this to be quite interesting and also horrifying, as are many of the stories of the terrible Nazi regime throughout the second world war.

Well crafted and beautifully written book. A story that deserves to be told. A book that will stay with me for a long time.

I had been looking forward to reading this book. But sadly I just couldn’t get into it. It really wasn’t for me which is no reflection on the author