Customer Reviews

Crucible of Terror: A Story of Survival Through the Nazi Storm

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Max Liebster was a handsome and spirited young man, a Jew, living in Viernheim Germany during Hitler's rise to power, and the ensuing Nazi takeover. His style of writing is spare but powerful ("As I witnessed the Hitler Youth parades, my blood turned to ice. I beheld the heaving of swastika flags. I saw the edge of the abyss.") He describes the false security, then the confusion, and finally, the despair of the Jewish situation in Nazi Germany.

He himself was imprisoned in Auschwitz (his father's hometown), Sachsenhausen, and Neuengamme. Like all the concentration camp victims, he witnessed atrocities it is painful even to read about. He carried his father's dead body to the mass crematorium, the last tiny dignity he could bestow upon a broken man.

Never bitter, he describes his wonder at the pervasiveness of the virulent anti-Jewish sentiment that swept the nation. During his incarceration and torment, he converted from Judaism to a messianic Christianity, "Bibelforschers," who were prevalent in the concentration camps. Not the doctrine so much as the living examples of faith that he witnessed won him over - he describes the inner tranquility and compassion that attracted him to the group.

His book is valuable on several counts, probably moreso than I can fathom at present. I enjoyed the insights into his traditional Jewish upbringing and belief system - the faith that to him was Judaism. He describes the differences between the devout and the peripheral practicer, the country and the city Jew. I was touched by the faith of his father, even in such bleak and hopeless surroundings, pronouncing a traditional Jewish blessing on his son, just prior to his own death. And I was surprised at the insight the book gave to the tragic plight of even many Nazis - imprisoned by an ideology futureless and dying, from which there seemed no escape but death.

It was enlightening to see the juxtaposition of the strength and yet frailty of the human psyche - an unbroken inner dignity of faith, but yet a latent emotional frailty in the wake of such numbing human cruelty - to the point that a visit to the site of such trauma provoked a heart attack in the author even some half-century after the fact.

Mostly, I think the benefit of this work is the lesson that survival of the spirit is dependent, not upon an abstract or intellectual faith of doctrine or dogma, but upon a human bond of pragmatic love and recognition of the dignity of the human condition, even in the most vile and desperate surroundings - a faith that is lived in the heart, not merely professed with the mouth. This is what saved Max Liebster in the true sense of the word, and I think there is a lesson for all of us in that fact.

I can't imagine anyone reading this important biography and not being moved, but then I can't imagine those who could perpetrate such atrocities - and yet they were everyday people, as Mr. Liebster demonstrates. A study in the dichotomy of the human condition: cruelty and kindness; weakness and strength; desperation and faith, fear and love. Recommended to students of the Holocaust, of the Jewish and the "other" victims, to students of the reaction of the human condition when under test in what truly is a "crucible of terror."

My only complaint is that the book ended too quickly - I wanted more! I almost gave it a 4 instead of a 5, for this reason, but in the end I couldn't think of what else it needed, only that I resented it ending so quickly. Which may, in the final analysis, be more of a positive than a negative - so I'm going with 5 after all. An important and thought-provoking work.

Mr. Liebster's experience was heart wrenching to say the least. I find that the reviewer from Bakersfield, CA, summed up the book quite nicely, and nothing really needs to be added accept the fact that Mr. Liebster was never ashamed to mention who the "Bibelforschers" were in the concentration camps. He makes no bones about the kindness he experienced from these "Bibelforschers," better know today as Jehovah's Witnesses. In fact he credits his very survival due to their sincere altruism, and upon his release from the concentration camp was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses were also persecuted in these camps, and were given purple triangles to set them apart from the other prisoners. Just for being one of Jehovah's Witnesses, they were subject to 25 strokes upon arrival to the camp. No other group had to suffer this torment upon arrival. Then all the Witnesses were put in the punishment block for further beatings. Although their release hinged on only signing a document renouncing their faith, they refused to do. They faced long sentences and even execution, rather than compromising their faith.

Other religious groups compromised in order to save their skin and gain favor with the Nazis' even to the point of persecuting those of their own nationality or faith. In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses stood alone in keeping their resolve not to compromise even to the point of death. They became targets of the Nazi regime because of their unyielding loyalty to God alone, and not the state.

This book was very inspiring, therefore I encourage all to read it.

While everyone is aware of the persecution and slaugther of the Jews in Europe during the Nazi regime, not much attention has been given to other repressed groups, smaller in number, but not unimportant when it comes to courage, humanity, resolution and faith, Jehovah's Witnesses being a good example of all those. Max Liebster, moreover, is a Jew by birth and a converse Witness by conviction.
This personal account is a lesson to those willing to forget too lightly.

Fascinating first-person account of Mr. Liebster's experience during the Holocaust. I especially appreciate his description of the time period leading up to his imprisonment - his bewilderment at being caught up in events out of his control and his dispassionate view of those Germans caught up in Hitler's programs. He does not demonize the Nazi loyalists that he had contact with, but tries to look pass their afilliations with Nazism and into what caused them to become part of Hitler's system. He highlights very well how many "normal" Germans were swept along by a tidal wave of events out of their control. His descriptions of the time he spent in the camps are very reader accessible - and give you a real sense of what the day to day life was for people in the concentration camps. He also gives great insight as to what it takes for a person to survive such an experience with his spirit intact.

i am a jehovah witness and i have always been proud to be one but reading this book makes me even prouder to be one. this is a hart warming story and i am thirteen so to know that ppl my age went through this is so depressing and heartwarming. it makes me appreciate what i have now.

Max Liebsters book captures the power of human kindness. Were it not for the Bibelforscher/Jehovas Zuegan (Bible Students)(Jehovah's Witnesses)he would have lost all hope and even his life. At risk to themselves they helped Max and other prisoners. This is a story that must be told. It is a must read for anyone studying or interested in the Holocaust.

An outstanding example of what a lack of humanity, under the evil influences of Satanic rule, can produce. This coupled with a persons recognition of spiritual truth and embracing it under such brutal conditions, and the obvious Divine help he recieves through it all.

I do not get to do pleasure reading often. I saw a newspaper article about this man who is still alive & speaking to groups around the world. I thought it might be interesting. What a powerful story of courage to challenge what he had been taught growing & believed was the truth while trying to preserve his own life. I think this is a must read for all that are interested in Nazi Germany. My children will read this book to see what faith in God really means.

First off I am a Jehovah's Witness, and I LOVED this book. While it does have many sad moments, the overall story is beautiful!Why is it beautiful? Because amid the harshest cruelest of circumstances, it is possible to still expierence hope, faith, and love, when one applies Bible principles.

Max overcame many obstacles to become a fine citizen. Many would have lost hope or became bitter. Truly a fine example for others facing hardships. I also read his wife's (Simone Arnold Liebster's book).