The Song in the Fiery Furnace: Memories of a Childhood During World War II in Germany by Renate Becker

The “Song in the Fiery Furnace” is a personal, intimate recollection of the author’s youth in Germany from l933 to 1955. It is a representation of a life in the middle of political suppression, war and postwar deprivation, and later on, recovery. A child is an observer mainly, because the parents protect the child as much as they can from real cruel suffering and death. Certain disturbing facts are couched in a matter-of fact, or humorous manner. More shocking events were omitted, because they would have been a repetition of clichés, and would affect some people who are still alive. The anecdotes are seen through the eyes of a child.

The chapter describing the taking of our town by the Texas Rangers, is the translated letter from my father, written in June 1945.

The heroine is my mother , whose gentle and upright manner set the tone in our family.

The essence of the anecdotes is that anything that goes on for a prolonged time, becomes normal for a child, it does not know the difference. Terror can become routine. Through my experience, I can state that a child does not necessarily become neurotic or damaged for life by witnessing horror, as long as here is one vital component: the demonstrated love and care of their father and mother, and also seeing the same attitude among the people they know. This constitutes a child’s world.