All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days

by Rebecca Donner

 Mildred Harnack is an unknown hero of World War II -- or was, until her distant cousin Rebecca Donner searched records and interviewed the few survivors who knew her and devoted herself to bringing this amazing young woman back to life.

Reading this book involves re-entering the world of Nazi Germany and the gestapo and the incessant drumbeat of terror and destruction. I not only recommend this book, but I feel an obligation to ensure that many others read it and pass it on. Sadly, there is too much here that echoes in our current politics and times. This book is a must read.

The subtitle summarizes the story: “The true story of the American woman at the heart of the German resistance to Hitler.”

Mildred was born September 16, 1902, in Milwaukee, and at age 26 left America to sail to Germany to study German and to teach English literature. Her new world was quickly changing, and she wrote her mother: “Germany is going through such very dark hours. All feel the menace but many hide their heads in the sand.”

No ostrich, she created a resistance group of some of her students, friends, and her new husband- and they grew to become a major source of resistance to Hitler and therefore a focus for the gestapo’s search and destruction.

I already knew the terrible ending when I opened the first page, but I found myself compelled- drawn to the hypnotic reporter-like passive writing to continue, to press on past my discomfort and my increased anxiety — to honor and to stand witness. 

I am proud to have known about Mildred.

Ron Ebert