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Always Remember Your Name
The children who survived Auschwitz
by Andra and Tatania Bucci
Published by Bonnier Books
ISBN 9781786582041
Many books and stories have been shared about the Holocaust, but this short story of the lives of two sisters, 4 year old Andra and 6 year old Tati Bucci is a compelling one not to be missed.
It is unfathomable to think that these two little girls, whose father was Catholic and mother Jewish, could have been so cruelly and forcibly separated from their loving mother and shoved off to a children’s camp in Auschwitz, together with their little cousin, Sergio, and thousands of other children.
230,000 children were deported to the death camp, Auschwitz, and Andra and Tati Bucci were amongst the 70 who survived.
Andra and Tati, with their mama and papa, were living a happy carefree life in Fiume, Italy. This is now a city in Croatia after the annexation of this part of Italy by the then Yugoslav government, prior to WWII.
However, not everyone accepted the family’s blend of a Jewish mother and non-practising Catholic father, including their father's mother, and it seems likely that one of these people reported the family to the nazis.
It is worth noting that this book is originally written in the words of the two sisters, both now in their 80’s, in Italian and has been translated into English by Anne Goldstein, a former editor of The New Yorker magazine. They wanted to share their personal story and it is made clear, they are not writers. There is a detailed introduction by Anne Goldstein and so bearing, this in mind, I did not have expectations that it would read as an accomplished author’s book.
However, it is actually quite easy to read, well written, describing their daily lives in Auschwitz, including other children, their cousin, Sergio, and occasional visits from their mama, which were extremely difficult for her to do, with heartfelt explanations. Surprisingly, there are quite a few photos included of their loved ones, most of whom were killed in the death camps. Looking at the photo of their cousin, angelic little Sergio, it really is unthinkable how anyone could have performed "medical" experiments on innocent little children. Later I was pleased to read that there is a plaque acknowledging where he lived before the war.
The story goes beyond the atrocities, onto much happier times when Andra and Tati were liberated. Then they were sent to a wonderful large home in Sussex, England where they were taken care of with many other children and where they discovered happiness and joy once again. Andra and Tati were most fortunately reunited with their parents after the war, their father was interned as a POW for 5 years, and the stories continue until well into adulthood, marriage, children and grandchildren.
It was most pleasing to note that in the last chapters of the book, I read similarities of resilience and a love of living a happy fulfilling life with Catherine Dior’s story, Miss Dior.
Andra and Tati Bucci now regularly speak in schools and take tours to Auschwitz. There life story is well-worth reading, click one of the links below to purchase a copy.
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee
