I grew up hearing only occasional anecdotes of my father's and grandparent's experiences surviving Nazi occupation of Belgium during WWII. Even as my father passes his 72nd year, not much has been revealed of his years with the nuns and within Catholic sanctuary that saved his life. Dr. Vromen's book revealed the cultural context and societal fabric in WWII Belgium that allowed half the country's Jews, including my father and his parents, to survive the war. The book also filled in many gaps in my understanding of the psychological trauma that my father must have endured during that time and the ensuing years.

From a historical perspective, her description of the instrumental role of woman (primarily but not exclusively nuns with various levels of authority) in saving thousands of young lives was extremely powerful. It is reminiscent of reading histories written by Alison Weir or Antonia Fraser, but with a primary emphasis on the heroism of "ordinary" women. Vromen's treatment of the conversion of Jewish children survivors to Catholicism following their dramatic survival is also provocative and demonstrates the potential imperfections (or at least blind spots by modern standards) of some of the Catholic religious heroes. Finally, her discussion of who gets to anoint which individuals are heroes (the "righteous"), though not for the casual reader, is also thought provoking, and extremely relevant in terms of the writing of past events, the white washing of Holocaust responsibility, and the relevance and emotional power of the state of Israel for the ancestors of those who fortunately survived the darkness of WWII Europe.

I sincerely thank Dr. Vromen for translating French documents and making them accessible to English readers like myself, and unveiling the reasons why so many Jews survived Nazi occupation in Belgium - a painfully sharp contrast to what occurred in other communities and countries.

Eric Fajer, Littleton Colorado

For those who know a great deal about the Holocaust, and for those just beginning their study of a period of history about which there can never be enough written, Suzanne Vromen's "Hidden Children of the Holocaust" is both informative and revealing. Written so clearly that the depth of her knowledge and the breadth of her research combine to tell her important story in a remarkably lucid way. Do read this book.

Vromen's brings to light the role of nuns & priests in the rescue of Jewish children in Belgium durint WWII. While a scholarly work, it presents engrossing stories of those involved in the effort and is suitable for any adult's reading. Because of the easy writing style, you do not want to put the book down!