Customer Reviews

From the Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes: The Autobiography of Robert Clary

5 star:		(9)
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3 star:		(1)
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This is an excellent book from Clary's point of view. It was so good to know more about him, as he is featured prominently in "Hogan's Heroes". There was only one page I had to glue together so that my young children could also read the book. It runs the range of emotions while remaining exciting and well-written.

In recommend this book as a standout memoir for those interested in Holocaust studies, Showbiz lives, and inspiring tales. Born in France, Clary survived the Nazi death camps. The book describes Clary's two lives: survival of several Nazi camps, and a career in showbiz afterwards. The last and 14th child of his Polish born Jewish father (and mother), Robert Max Widerman was raised on the Ile St Louis at 10 Rue de Deux Ponts in Paris. After some neighbors complained to the Vichy French police that Jews still were living in the building, the French police deported Robert and 12 members of his immediate family on 9/23/1942. Of those deported, only Robert survived. The book details Clary's arrest in 1942 at the age of 16 and his 31-month-long incarceration in three Nazi concentration camps in Drancy, Upper Silesia, and Poland, as well as Buchenwald, where he was liberated by the Allies on April 11, 1945 (he put on a show for the troops). Would you believe that Clary got his stage name at Buchenwald, and not in some cigar filled Hollywood agent's office? Clary details how a friend "lost" his file at Buchenwald, which saved him from sure death on the death march of the prisoners. After the war, Clary went back to singing inParis and was discovered by Harry Bluestone while entertaining in a dance hall in 1947. A meeting with Merv Griffin led to an introduction to Eddie Cantor's daughter Natalie, whom he married. He went on to be discovered on Broadway in "New Faces of 1952", and then become famous as the character Corporal Louis Lebeau on Hogan's Heroes. This is an inspirational story of how he survived these two lives.

Robert Clary's autobiography is short and easy to read. You will find yourself unable to put the book down as he talks of his childhood in France, his hopes, ambitions and dreams, all interrupted by his 30+ month imprisonment in the concentration and labor camps of Nazi Germany. His ability to keep his spirits up and those of his fellow prisoners through song and dance is amazing. After being freed by Patton's Third Army he returns to Paris to rebuild his life and restart his quest for fame and fortune. This would be a very good book to read for old and young alike. I am buying another 20+ to give to my high school social studies class as a study in dealing with adversity, learning of intolerance and keeping sight of your dreams.
This is truly a great book.

"From the Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes", is a fascinating account of Robert Clary's experiences growing up amid the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of France. Robert proves to be a remarkably 'lucky' individual who has had to face extra-ordinary circumstances and yet has not allowed the scars of Genocide to prevent him from finding personal joy, while allowing that joy to touch others. His exuberance and boyish charm punctuates the pages of his book as he recounts his innocent childhood, the horrific 31 months in Nazi prison camps from the age of 16, and the eventual realization that almost every member of his beloved family had been literally wiped out. His remarkable flight out of purgatory leads him to a renewed zest for living and to his own personal success on stage, television and pictures. His personal insights of the personalities that he met along the way, as well as his jaunt on Hogan's Heroes, keeps you from putting the book aside. Robert Clary literally leaves you wanting more.

This book is an insightful look at Clary's life. For those who grew up with him on Hogan's Heroes or still watch it in re-runs today (me), this book really provides some background on him and how he became who he is today. I've been a fan since I was a child and though the book doesn't focus on any particular part of his career, it provides a detailed look at his history.

From The Holocaust To Hogan's Heroes is the autobiography of Robert Clary (born Robert Max Widerman in Paris in 1926), who is perhaps most famous for his portrayal of Corporal Louis Lebeau in the widely syndicated television comedy series Hogan's Heroes. But unlike his jovial television character, Robert Clary's personal experience with World War II was much more horrific - he was among those deported to the Nazi concentration and extermination camps at age 16 in 1942, and although he barely survived, his parents, two sisters, two half-sisters, and two nephews did not. From The Holocaust To Hogan's Heroes is a powerful, highly recommended biographical journey that enfolds the reader in a strong life with the will to survive and pass on personal knowledge of the past's abominations to the present generation.

I was very impressed with Robert Clary's autobiography. He told of his life with honesty and realism. The nightmare he endured could have destroyed him, or embittered him, or silenced him.

It did silence him for awhile--and understandably so. The only way to survive such horror is to shut down one's emotions and/or block the memories.

But Robert Clary has told his story to teens in high schools, in speeches and interviews elsewhere, and now in his book.

Don't forget...but do forgive.
That's true courage.

I saw Mr. Clarey speak at my highschool 20 years ago and he left 3,000 students in tears, it was a life changing experience for me, it is a great book and a true story. I canno believe the uneducated gentlemen below had the gall to question if Mr. Clarey was in a concentration camp, you review just lets any one who reads it know your IQ level.

This was a great little book that I read from cover to cover without a break. I truely could not put it down. He describes all that happens to him without going into graphic detail but you are left knowing the horrors of war and hatred and what they can do.
would recomend it to everyone.

Many (yikes, too many) years ago in High School, Mr. Clary came to speak about his time in the concentration camps. It was very powerful. I naively thought he did this just for us as a special event, but later learn he did this for many school. When I found this out, I could not accept it because I could not see how he could tell the story, relive the events, over and over. His presentation was very emotional - but it wasn't acting, it was real! When I saw Schindler List (stories from other survivors) it shocked me to see some of his own experiences mirrored in theirs. Later in life, I wished I had thanked him personal for what he did.

This book is a very well written Autobiography. Clary is a good story teller and appeared to be fairly open about his real life decisions. The "Style" of the book is like a living room conversation. The stories he tells of himself, his family and friends, around the time of the concentration camps are harsh, but there is also so much good that went on - people putting themselves at risk to aide other.

The book is far more than that. His move to America and early take on the culture of the time is fun to read. Although very talented, you can see that his path was guided by a strong work ethic and honesty in dealing with people.

Don't worry - the Hogan's Heroes days are in there as well!

If you grew up in that era, I could almost say this is a must read book. The story behind the "little Frenchmen" who spent so many evenings on that little screen in your living room will fascinate you and educate you. If you can GET a teenager to read it (or anything!), there are so many lessons that spring from a life of working hard to make your own luck.