Eva and Otto : resistance, refugees, and love in the time of Hitler / Tom, Kathy, and Peter Pfister.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pfister, Thomas L., 1948- author.

Pfister, Katherine D., 1946- author.

Pfister, Peter J., 1948- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pfister, Eva Lewinski, 1910-1991.

Pfister, Eva Lewinski.

Pfister, Otto, 1900-1985.

Pfister, Otto.

United States. Office of Strategic Services--Officials and employees--Biography.

United States.

Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund--History.

Internationaler Sozialistischer Kampfbund.

United States. Office of Strategic Services.

Political refugees--United States--Biography.

Political refugees.

Anti-Nazi movement.

History.

France.

Anti-Nazi movement--Germany--Biography.

Germany.

Anti-Nazi movement--France--Biography.

World War, 1939-1945--Secret service--United States.

World War, 1939-1945.

Refugees--Government policy--United States.

Refugees.

Refugees--Government policy.

World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.

Employees.

Secret service.

Genre:

Biographies.

History.

Physical Description:

xi, 528 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

West Lafayette, Indiana : Purdue University Press, [2020]

Summary:

"Eva and Otto is a true story about German opposition and resistance to Hitler as revealed through the early lives of Eva Lewinski Pfister (1910-1991) and Otto Pfister (1900-1985). It is an intimate and epic account of two Germans-Eva born Jewish, Otto born Catholic-who worked with a little-known German political group that resisted and fought against Hitler in Germany before 1933 and then in exile in Paris before the German invasion of France in May 1940. After their improbable escapes from separate internment and imprisonment in Europe, Eva obtained refuge in America in October 1940 where she worked to rescue other endangered political refugees, including Otto, with the help of Eleanor Roosevelt. As revealed in recently declassified records, Eva and Otto later engaged in different secret assignments with the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in support of the Allied war effort. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, Eva and Otto gave each other hope and strength as they acted upon what they understood to be an ethical duty to help others threatened by fascism. The book provides a sobering insight into the personal risks and costs of a commitment to that duty. Their unusually beautiful writing-directed to each other in diaries and correspondence during two long periods of wartime separation-also reveals an unlikely and inspiring love story."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part I. Eva's Path to 28 Boulevard Poissonnière

Childhood in Goldap (1910-1926)

Study in France and at the Walkemühle (1926-1932)

Anti-Nazi Work in Germany (1932-1933)

Early Years in Exile in Paris (1933-1935)

Part II. Otto's Path to 28 Boulevard Poissonnière

Childhood in Munich (1900-1920)

"Education" in Italy and France (1920-1935)

Part III. Resistance and Love in Paris, 1935-1940

Anti-Nazi Work in Paris

War Begins: Internment, Sabotage and Love

Part IV. German Invasion on May 9, 1940: Eva and Otto Forced on Separate Paths

Eva's Internment at Vélodrome d'Hiver and Camp de Gurs

Eva's Refuge in Castagnède, Montauban and Marseille

Otto's Capture and Imprisonment by the Nazis

Otto's Return to Paris and Flight to Montauban

Eva's Escape over the Pyrénées and Unexpected Delay in Lisbon

Eva's Voyage from Lisbon to New York

Part V. New York 1940-1941: Urgent Efforts to Rescue ISK Colleagues Including Otto

Eva's Daunting Task of Obtaining U.S. Visas

Help from Eleanor Roosevelt and Other Americans

Three Crucial Meetings on December 27,1940

1940 Correspondence

Eva's Other Activities before the End of 1940

Further Pleas to Help Otto and Other Refugees

Otto's Wait for Visa in Southern France

Otto's Escape to America

Eva's Defense of Her Decision to Marry Otto

Part VI. Rescue Efforts and Work for the OSS in the Face of Personal Challenges

Priorities: Eva's Rescue and Relief Work

René-Eva Correspondence: Eva's Secret Work with the Office of Strategic Services

Three Big Decisions in 1943-1944

A Devastating Loss

Part VII. Separated Again

Otto's OSS Mission an dEva and Otto's Wartime Correspondence

War Drags on, Reports on Nazi Atrocities and Another Personal Loss

Questions about the Future as Allies Battle in Europe

Part VIII. Hope Renewed

1945: Signs of Spring as the War in Europe Grinds to an End

A New Life.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 509-514)and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Pfister, Thomas L., 1948- Eva and Otto

ISBN:

9781557538819

1557538816

OCLC:

1086011494