FOR IMMDIATE RELEASE
Daughter Finds Mother’s Secret Journal from the Time She Was in the Hitler Youth
DEFIANCE, OH – April 15, 2024 – In a stunning revelation, Cynthia Sandor unveils a remarkable story of family, history, and redemption in her book, “Through Innocent Eyes – The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth.”
This weekend, Cynthia will be the guest author at the Auglaize Village and Farm Museum WWII Reenactment being held on April 19 – 20, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. In addition to her book, she will display BDM items including her mother’s original journal.
In 1938, ten-year-old, Gertrude Kerschner, of Kleinzell, Austria, is inducted into the League of German Girls. At thirteen, the Reich’s Ministry specifically chooses Gertrude for the Country Service Year Camp program, sending her three-hundred miles away for eight months to learn about home economics, farming, and working in the community.
Discovering the journal four months before her mothers passing was a revelation for Cynthia. She has always known her mother as a kind, gentle soul, but the revelations within the worn pages of the journal paint a picture of a vastly different time. This book chronicles Gertrude’s journey from indoctrination to becoming a ‘young girl in service’ to her country.
Gaining insight into her mother’s struggles, fears, and ultimately, her resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity, the journal became an inspiration for Cynthia’s own journey―a journey to understand her mother’s past and the broader historical content that shaped her family today.
Driven by a desire to honor her mother’s experiences and shed light on a dark chapter of history, Cynthia set out to write “Through Innocent Eyes.” Spending countless hours researching, interviewing family members to retracing her mother’s footsteps throughout Austria and Poland, she grapples with the complexity of her families past.
“Through Innocent Eyes” is Cynthia’s labor of love and a testament to the power of understanding and forgiveness. Through Gertrude’s story, Cynthia aims to humanize the individuals who found themselves caught in the web of Nazi propaganda, while confronting the uncomfortable truths of complicity and moral ambiguity.
Having found its way into the hands of readers around the world, Cynthia realizes her mother’s journal is not just a relic of the past, but also a beacon of hope for future generations. In sharing her mother’s story, she hopes to inspire others to confront their own family legacies and strive for a better, more compassionate world.
About the Author: Born into a military family, Cynthia’s passion for history led her to establish BDM History Publishing. She lives in Conneaut, Ohio―the town hosting the largest D-Day WWII-re-enactment in the U.S. Currently, she is immersed in researching her upcoming book “Walking in My Father’s Footsteps,” a project inspired by her father’s valiant service in the 87th Infantry Division.”
For media inquires, contact:
BDM History – bdmhistory.com – https://bdmhistory.com/contact/
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