Fragments of a Forgotten People By: Henry Fast A Remarkable Journey of a Refugee Exiled from Poland The invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War II in Europe as Poland and her western allies declared war on Germany in September 1939.
Germany and the Soviet Union had completely overrun Poland by the first of October.
The opening chapters of Henry Fast's "Fragments of a Forgotten People" describe the impact of the invasion in horrifying detail.
In his astonishing memoir Henry Fast tells the story of his quandary as he and his widowed mother are forced to flee from their home in Bochnia, Poland with hoards of other refugees.
Faced with hardships requiring endurance, physical, mental, and emotional, they are put on starvation rations, ridiculed, and the exposed to the freezing temperatures of winter in Siberia.
Arrested and deported on foot, railroad trains, and boats they are confronted with deplorable crowding, unsanitary camps, and abusive threats.
Henry found escape through his imagination.
He created a world of fantasy, recalling books he had read.
Henry had an active and curious mind.
Among the refugees, Henry was mentored by an engineer, a scientist, and a mathematician.
Each helped in their way to help him in his quest for knowledge.
Fast is a talented story teller.
His character descriptions are colorful and strong.
His narrative is both enjoyable and informative.
The uniqueness of Henry's writing comes across in the positive attitude reflected throughout the trials he faced.
"Fragments of a Forgotten People" is certain to become a classic in the historical journals of World War II.
As Reviewed for Midwest Book Review