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A New Beginning - The Compelling True Story of One Man's Journey Against Overwhelming Odds Reviewed By Fran Lewis Of Bookpleasures.com
- By Fran Lewis
- Published March 20, 2010
- Biographies & Memoirs
Fran Lewis
Reviewer Fran Lewis:
Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing
Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and
a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently. She is a member of
Who's Who of America's Teachers and Who's
Who of America's Executives from Cambridge. In addition,
she is the author of three children's books and a fourth Alzheimer’s
book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey: Ruth’s story
in honor of her mom. Fran
hopes to create more awareness for a cure of Alzheimer.
She
was also the musical director for shows in her school and ran the
school's newspaper. Fran writes reviews for authors upon request and
for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com
and on ijustfinished under
the name Gabina.
Follow Here To Listen to Fran's Radio Show and Here
View all articles by Fran Lewis
Author: Alfred Langer
ISBN: 9781934938850
Publisher: Langton Street Press
Rudolph and Elsa Langer lived in the small town of Hermannstadt where they felt safe and secure. Working their land and teaching their children respect and honesty they lived what one might called a sheltered life as all of the residents of this small town did. Hidden away from the rest of the world and receiving limited information or propaganda about the war and Germany’s fate, the people never realized until it was too late, that life as they knew it was about to end. This brings me to my review of A New Beginning by Alfred Langer who relates to the reader and the world the true story of the horrific atrocities, terrible conditions inflicted on his family and the people of his town when invaded by the Russians and the Czech. One knock on his door and one piece of paper would forever change the life of the Langer family, his friends and leave them with nothing.
A frightening train ride, indignations and humiliations that were
inflicted on all of the passengers, families separated and made to
live apart and more. Children forced into work camps, others sent
away to work in the mines and families hoping for their return. With
the bare minimum that they were allowed to take they wound up in
Naila and under the care of the Red Cross and their strict rules. The
children were forced to grow up really fast. Living in the barracks
the Langer children were grateful to be able to take part in various
organized activities. When all of their valuables were stolen and
they were forced to live in a cramped space above a shoe factory, the
Langer family learned not only the meaning of keeping the faith but
prejudice too.
With the help of the Red Cross and the American Government,
the Langer family was able to survive.
With enterprising children and a father who would stop at nothing to provide for his family, Rudolph Langer learns the meaning of prejudice, injustice because of his ethnic background and the nearsightedness of people. But, that was about the change.
Reading this true and heartbreaking story of this family I could picture what they went through and feel part of the journey that the author is relating. Closing your eyes you can visualize the atrocities graphically described by the author and inflicted on his family and himself. No matter what was thrown at him or his family they endured, survived and held together as a unit.
Could you live above a shoe factory? Could you survive on food rations in cans? Could you share a bathroom with people that you never met? Could you learn to live without toys, expensive shoes and even Christmas presents? The family of Alfred Langer learned to live without many material things but they not without the love of his parents and family. The stories that he shares about his childhood and the lessons that he imparted on not only his family but his schoolmates will help you to understand that material things cannot replace a family’s love.
At 21 years of age Alfred Langer left Germany to embark on a new beginning and a new life. Imagine coming to a new country and not able to understand or speak the language. Working with his friend Hans at the Manhattan Die Company, as a machinist, he not only became invaluable to the running of the company but also managed to take night classes, learn the language and graduate. Many more hard lessons would be learned as he embarks on a career as a machinist in the Manhattan Die Company working with his friend Hans and eventually marrying a wonderful girl named Irene and a daughter, Christine. Sharing his roots with his wife and daughter, taking them home to Germany, he intertwines his past with his present to make them one.
A man who never gave up and a man who worked in the tool and die industry for over 46 years. He valued friendships, loyalty and honesty in his workers, family and friends. New beginnings are not always bad they are often the start of something even better. A man that some day would realize that wealth and social status are secondary to character, honesty and integrity.
Alfred Langer we are truly blessed that shared your story and your life with us. I am honored to have reviewed this heartfelt, heartbreaking and yet encouraging story of one family who would never take defeat. As your mother said: God did not mean for us to be ruined. You more than proved him right.
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