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Shadows of Berlin


A captivating novel of a Berlin girl on the run from the guilt of her past and ...
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Had you heard of Jews living as "U-boats" during the war before reading the book? How did hiding in plain sight provide safety, and how did it increase danger?

Created: 04/28/22

Replies: 17

Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Had you heard of Jews living as "U-boats" during the war before reading the book? How did hiding in plain sight provide safety, and how did it increase danger?

Had you heard of Jews living as "U-boats" during the war before reading the book? How did hiding in plain sight provide safety, and how did it increase danger?


Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
djcminor

Join Date: 03/14/19

Posts: 208

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I was not familiar with Jews living a U-boats, so that concept was new to me. I have read true accounts of people hiding in plain sight; certainly, danger was involved, but they often escaped notice as well--at least for a time.


Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Laura C

Join Date: 04/30/21

Posts: 26

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I had never heard this term before in regard to Jews hiding in plain sight. It seems so audacious that I can understand how it could work but it has to be a very scary way to try to save oneself.


Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
robertaw

Join Date: 04/20/16

Posts: 83

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I had never heard the term. It was a choice made out of desperation and the hope to survive. I'm sure it was a terrifying choice just as it was for those who went into hiding. No doubt there was constant worry about being caught.


Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carriem

Join Date: 10/19/20

Posts: 237

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I had never learned or read about Jews living in U-boats thus hiding in plain sight and yes it could work but at the same time one would always have to be on the outlook and live in fear in the Nazis became aware of this way of living.


Posted Apr. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 408

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

Several years ago I read the book "The Last Jews in Berlin" by Leonard Gross, so I was familiar with the concept if not the actual term -- which provides a perfect image of their situation. "hiding in plain sight" works because it is counter-intuitive, but it is incredibly risky if it fails, because one is right there out in the open.


Posted Apr. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Tired Bookreader

Join Date: 08/19/11

Posts: 214

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

There is so much we still do not know that happened during such a dark time; there are events that are probably too shameful and horrific to even be mentioned. Hard to believe, but many books that have been published recently have given new information and examples of what people will do to stay alive. There should be no judgment.


Posted Apr. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorinned

Join Date: 10/13/14

Posts: 176

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I had not heard the term "U-boats" used in connection with the Jews during the holocaust. Living in plain sight would have been extremely risky and scary and brave.


Posted Apr. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cindyr

Join Date: 05/25/21

Posts: 30

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I had not heard the term U-boats, before reading SHADOWS IN BERLIN. One reads so many books about WWII and what people did to survive, I'm sure there many more terms of desperation and courage which will be revealed. I fully agree with Tired Bookreader that we, each and everyone of us will never know the full truth and the idea of judging someone, anyone for what they did is atrocious.


Posted Apr. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 444

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I also had not heard the term living in U Boats. But I do know they found places to stay and were always on the run. Often staying in people’s barns and elsewhere never knowing if they would be caught.


Posted May. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
catherynez

Join Date: 01/27/18

Posts: 98

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I also had not heard of the term living as U boats. It would be scary and risky for the Jewish people to live in plain sight. You would always be anxious about getting caught and the consequences.


Posted May. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 436

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I was not aware of that. I can't imagine the fear and worry about hiding effectively during that time.


Posted May. 02, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cindyb

Join Date: 04/14/20

Posts: 115

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I had never heard the term living in U boats. It makes sense though as acting as you’re part of the German community was a way to try to survive. It would take bravery and poise to pull it off.


Posted May. 06, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susanr

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 201

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I've never heard the term. It must have been scary for Jewish people to hide in plain site during the war. You'd have to be very careful about what you said, where you went and you'd have to avoid anyone who knew you.


Posted May. 09, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
swchis39

Join Date: 09/26/12

Posts: 181

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

This was a new term for me. How brave the people were.


Posted May. 13, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Molly Mae

Join Date: 02/12/22

Posts: 35

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I had not heard such a phrase before, but it makes sense considering the time period. Hiding in plain sight meant that one seemed less suspicious because they didn't act like they had something to hide, but the downside to that is, obviously, that one is more accessible to one's persecutors.


Posted May. 13, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Navy Mom

Join Date: 04/12/12

Posts: 294

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

This is the first time I had heard the "u-boat" term, but I was aware that there were Jews that went undercover and that other Jews sought them out. I wasn't aware that
there were as many as this book implied.


Posted May. 25, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sharalynnep

Join Date: 12/04/11

Posts: 63

RE: Had you heard of Jews living as &...

I have read many books about the holocaust and never came across that before. I also was not aware of people like the Red Angel turning in other Jews to save themselves but I guess people did what they had to do to survive. Sad.


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