A captivating historical epic of post-World War One Germany through World War Two, its aftermath, and the Cold War.
By Paul Marzell
Heimat is an inspiring tale of resilience, hope, and the pursuit of a brighter future. In 1929, four ambitious young men embarked on a life-changing journey from Germany to the United States, fueled by their dreams of success and a fresh start. Matthias, a baker, sought to escape a difficult family situation, while Josef, a skilled watchmaker, joined him on a whim. Edo, a gifted tailor, made the daring decision to leave behind government-sanctioned anti-Semitism and pave the way for his family’s eventual emigration. Finally, Feliks, an ambitious ethnic Polish teenager, set out on his own path due to the limitations of his family farm.
Their plans took an unexpected turn when they heroically saved an American diplomat’s life at a bustling Berlin train station. This act of bravery forged an unbreakable bond between them and the diplomat, who became their unwavering ally throughout their journey. Together, they navigated the challenges of broken promises, the trials of the Great Depression, Prohibition-era America, cultural assimilation, and the turmoil of World War Two.
Amidst these trying times, Matthias grappled with conflicting emotions as he received heartfelt letters from his loved ones urging him to return to a resurgent Germany. The Nazi regime seemed to offer economic prosperity and a renewed sense of national pride. However, the war severed his ties to his family for five long years, and Matthias found himself on a path he could never have anticipated. He found work in a shipyard, building vessels that would bring destruction to his beloved Heimat. Meanwhile, Feliks enlisted in the US Army, fought in the Pacific, and later with resistance fighters in Poland. Josef, unfortunately, was conscripted to serve in the German Wehrmacht and witnessed the devastating horrors of war in Russia. Edo participated in the historic Nuremberg Trials, ensuring that justice was served and the world learned from the atrocities committed by Nazi war criminals.
Where to find Heimat
INSPIRATION TO WRITE THE NOVEL
Heimat is a German word that represents a profound sense of identity and belonging in the hearts and minds of Germans; it is not merely a physical location marked on a map. The novel serves as the backdrop for a captivating tale of fiction, where the names, characters, places, and events are all born from the depths of my imagination. The inception of this story took shape during my research of my family’s lineage, a journey that commenced when my first grandchild was born eleven years ago. While delving into the customary resources for tracing ancestry – such as census records and baptismal certificates – I was also blessed with a wealth of invaluable documents passed down by my father, who ventured from Germany to the United States in 1929. Among these precious artifacts were his birth certificate, immigration papers, passport, and an array of government forms from both Germany and the United States. However, the true gems of this collection came in the form of letters – poignant missives from his mother, sisters, and other relatives in the years preceding and following the profound upheaval of World War Two. These letters not only served as a guiding thread for the narrative, but they also provided a captivating story within themselves. Many of these letters were written in the Sütterlin Schrift, a script no longer taught in Germany. I painstakingly transcribed them into modern German script and subsequently translated them into English. Admittedly, my translations lack precision, as my fluency in German leaves room for improvement. Nonetheless, I managed to extract enough clarity from these letters to show the conflict arising from an immigrant’s dual allegiance to both his homeland and adopted country, as well as the fervent hopes of a mother yearning to reunite with her son.
Paul F. Marzell 