Leo bretholz made a daring escape from the nazis by jumping off a moving train en route to auschwitz. His childhood in vienna, living the holocaust as a life event, loss, danger and the exhileration of escape and survival unfold with the suspense one usually expects from a fictional thriller. On march 8, 2014, leo died at the age of 93 at his home in pikesville, md. Seven years on the run in wartime europe has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace.
Leo bretholz march 6, 1921 march 8, 2014 was a holocaust survivor who, in 1942, escaped from a train heading for auschwitz. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Young leo bretholz survived the holocaust by escaping from the nazis and others not once, but seven times during his almost sevenyear ordeal crisscrossing wartorn europe. Michael olesker books list of books by michael olesker. I saw her sending me away from v ienna, the city of my birth, four years earlier when the nazis began rounding up jewish males. The title of this book is leap into darkness and it was written by leo bretholz, michael olesker. There he was protected by book, written with michael olesker, a nun, sister joan darc. In 1968, leo began working in book retail and lived in holland for two years.
Cspan has agreements with retailers that share a small percentage of your. Leo bretholz is the author of leap into darkness 4. Seven years on the run in wartime europe, which he wrote with former baltimore sun columnist michael olesker in. Leap into darkness seven years on the run in wartime europe. Seven years on the run in wartime europe by leo bretholz, mr. It was published by anchor and has a total of 288 pages in the book. A harrowing, actionpacked account of the authors series of audacious escapes from the nazis final solutionrivetinga fascinating and moving piece of history library journal.
Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Leo bretholzs memoir tells of being liberated twice. Young leo bretholz survived the holocaust by escaping from the nazis and others not once, but seven times during his almost sevenyear ordeal crisscrossing wartorn. Michael olesker is a former syndicated columnist for the baltimore sun newspaper and author of five nonfiction books.
The screenwriter, baltimore journalist michael olesker who also coauthored the book, offered it to andromeda without knowing faye and bretholz were related. Throughout the book he escapes the nazi regime several times, including from a train that was headed towards auschwitz. Bretholz, leo 2007 holocaust survivor oral histories. Leap into darkness would be the first of her films with a distinctly jewish focus, and theres a bashert quality to the screenplay falling into her lap. Over the years, ive heard from many century clubbers who want.
Bretholz chronicled his escape from the transport in his book leap into darkness. Leap into darkness by leo bretholz, michael olesker. The book begins with hitlers entry into austria in 1938. To see all the books featured in 31 days of great nonfiction reads, go to the series page. Young leo bretholz survived the holocaust by escaping from the nazis not once, but seven times during his almost sevenyear ordeal crisscrossing wartorn europe. Shop warworld war ii books and collectibles abebooks. Leo bretholz escaped the holocaust by staying on the run and remaining one step ahead of the nazis who hunted him. Seven years on the run in wartime europe, which he wrote with former baltimore sun columnist michael olesker. Written with coauthor michael olesker, he tells of his plight as he initially escapes to seventeen year old leo bretholz was a jewish boy from vienna, whose life changed dramatically when the nazis occupied austria in 1938. That night in 1942, i saw my mothers face before me in the darkness. He lectured extensively about his holocaust memories. Leo bretholz, michael olesker, doron rabinovici foreword hardcover. Leo bretholz books list of books by author leo bretholz.
First he swam the river sauer at the germanbelgian. Olesker, michael and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Young leo bretholz survived the holocaust by escaping from the nazis and. Olesker, michael and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now. A survivors journal from nazioccupied poland by ruth altbeker cyprys. He has also written a book on his experiences, titled leap into darkness. Leap into darkness 1st first edition text only michael olesker leo bretholz on. Decades later he led a campaign for reparations from the french railway that carried thousands. In 1962, leo found out that his mother and sisters died in auschwitz. He fought for reparations from companies that took victims to camps. Bretholtz book, coauthored with baltimore sun columnist michael olesker, is also well written. Seven years on the run in wartime europe by leo bretholz, michael olesker.
In leap into darkness leo tells his story, growing up as a tailors son in vienna, he loses his father at age nine and that is only the beginning of the losses he will suffer. Seven years on the run in wartime europe by leo bretholz with michael olesker. Leap into darkness is a 1998 memoir by holocaust survivor leo bretholz and coauthor michael olesker. Written with coauthor michael olesker, he tells of his plight as he initially escapes to luxembourg by swimming the river sauer out of germany, then his tale takes us to belgium, occupied and. Michael olesker a harrowing, actionpacked account of the authors series of audacious escapes from the nazis final solutionriveting. More about leo bretholz about michael olesker michael olesker is a former syndicated columnist for the baltimore sun newspaper and author of five nonfiction books. He leaped from trains, outran police, and hid in attics, cellars, anywhere that offered a few more seconds of safety.
To see the robust bretholz tell of his journey in explicit detail, as he has at numerous holocaust observances, is the personification of a heartfelt deliverance from hitlers calumny. Bretholzs story, told in 263 suspenseful pages with the help of the sunpapers resident raconteur, michael olesker, is as well plotted as any adventure novel. First leo swam the flooded river sauer at the germanbelgian border. Seven years on the run in wartime europe bretholz, leo. He wrote a memoir, leap into darkness, and appeared in a documentary, survivors among us. Leap into darkness is a 1998 memoir by holocaust survivor leo bretholz and coauthor michael olesker synopsis. Rent leap into darkness seven years on the run in wartime europe 1st edition 9780385497053 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. Leap into darkness is a 1998 memoir by holocaust survivor leo bretholz and co author michael olesker. Leap into darkness seven years on the run in wartime. This is his true story of how he remained seven years on the run in wartime europe. Leap into darkness is the sweeping memoir of a jewish boys survival, who survived the holocaust by escaping from the nazis not once, but seven times during his almost sevenyear ordeal crisscrossing wartorn europe. The book is an exciting read about leo bretholz attempts to escape the nazi. Leo bretholz arrived in the united states in 1947 and settled in baltimore, where he worked in the textile business and then as a bookseller for many years.
It is factual and not overly sentimental, but spares no one. He particularly objects to an attitude he observes in recent years in austrian, namely that the. A fantastic story told by the man for whom it was a reality leo bretholz set out to write a book, not because he is a bookwriter, but because he has a story to tell. Memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut opdyke. These we remember memorial book web by chizuk amuno. Unbroken will the extraordinary courage of an ordinary man, bernhard rammerstofer. Seven years on the run in wartime europe by leo bretholz. We have new and used copies available, in 3 editions.