Synopsis
At the close of the Second World War, twenty-million people, mostly of German descent, faced the largest ethnic cleansing and forced migration the world had ever known. They fled their homes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and went West. But most could not safely stay in Western Europe. Germany was in shambles. America’s doors were closed.
So, what happened to them?
Running Away From Stalin is the account of one man who survived, and thrived.
At the age of two, his family fled Jospeh Stalin’s Soviet Union for the falsely assumed safety of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany. That went badly and by the age of five Alfred was living a new life in one of the most isolated regions on the the planet–the Paraguayan Chaco–among subsistence Mennonite farmers and hunter-gatherers. Seven years later, in 1955, the family immigrated to Canada. In the new land of freedom Alfred worked and studied hard to eventually become a highly respected university professor. Now in his eighties, he brings us reflective lessons on how we might build a future the avoids the worst of the past.
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Reviews
“Hecht has done far more than merely record one family’s history; he has put lifeblood into the remote facts of history. May our hearts beat with renewed compassion as a result of reading his book.”
— Sean Arthur Joyce, Laying the Children’s Ghosts to Rest
Running Away From Stalin is a powerful and moving story about survival, family, and strength through adversity. The personal connection and emotion behind the writing really shines through, and makes it a story that stays with you long after you finish. It’s clear that this book was written with passion and purpose and to honor a history that deserves to be remembered. Highly recommend giving it a read.
— Eric Mili
Mark Hecht 