Hans on his mother’s lap

Hans’s cousin Willeke, his sister Rita, Hans himself, and Hans’s half-sister Fiep

God receives none but those who are forsaken… He has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace.

Martin Luther

in Weimer Ausgabe (translated)

By I. Caroline Crocker

Seven Miracles

Coming in 2028

The Beginning

Henri Daniel (Hans) Wallig was born to a famous Jewish musician, Henri Hartog Wallig, and his narcissistic wife, Aleida. Energetic, often mischievous, and sometimes reckless, he had a difficult childhood.

Hope

Hans was a talented actor, writer, entrepreneur, and salesman, but stickability was a challenge. He met and married the beautiful, kind-hearted Esther Mok in 1933, and they had two beautiful daughters and an adorable son. Life should have been wonderful–except.

War

World War II began, and the Netherlands was occupied. Hans and Esther were forced to leave their beloved Meriam, Edith, and Hansje in a children’s home and go into hiding themselves. It was to no avail. Like 60,000 other Dutch Jews, almost the entire family ended up in Auschwitz (Hansje died before arrival). How was it that Hans ended up as one of the mere 1,150 who survived? How did he recover? More to the point, did he?

Wait for it!

In a book that will hopefully be published in 2028, you’ll hear Hans’s story as if from his own lips. The true story of an Auschwitz survivor.

Hans and Rita with their children

From left to right, Han’s daughter Edith, Hans, his daughter Meriam, his nephew Frits, his sister Rita, and his nephew Jan

Hans in his latter years with his third wife Josephine

Award-Winning Author

Caroline Crocker

Caroline’s story is that she has worked as a biology professor, the chief executive officer (CEO) of a startup company, the president of a nonprofit, a private tutor, a technical writer, a research scientist, a consultant, and a communications expert.

Caroline maintains a blog, Rambling Ruminations, and is the author or coauthor of thirteen books, including the related five-star and award-winning Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a Dutch/German Child. Of course, the first chapter of Unforgivable also won an award.

Caroline is married to Richard and has four grown children and eight grandchildren.

But what is most important here is that Caroline is Frits’s daughter.

See where Caroline is appearing by clicking here!

 

Schedule an Event

caroline(at)ramblingruminations.com

Contact Author

caroline(at)ramblingruminations.com