Summary

"Alicia" is the harrowing autobiography of Alicia Appleman-Jurman, a Jewish girl growing up in Poland during the Holocaust. The story begins in 1938 in Buczacz, where Alicia lives with her family, including her parents and brothers. The narrative depicts a vibrant Jewish community gradually threatened by rising anti-Semitism and the looming shadow of Nazi Germany. Alicia's early life is marked by love for her family and a growing awareness of the dangers surrounding them.

The Russian invasion in 1939 brings a different form of oppression, disrupting their lives and leading to the deportation of some community members. However, the real nightmare begins with the arrival of the Germans in 1941. Alicia's father is taken away and presumed murdered, marking the beginning of a brutal campaign against the Jewish population. The family is forced into a ghetto, where they face starvation, disease, and constant fear.

As the situation deteriorates, Alicia's brothers are either killed or disappear. Amidst the chaos, Alicia displays incredible resilience, engaging in risky activities to provide for her family. She escapes from a train bound for a death camp, enduring a perilous journey back to her family. The loss of her brother Bunio, murdered in a work camp, further hardens her resolve to protect her remaining family.

The narrative continues with harrowing accounts of surviving roundups, hiding in bunkers, and witnessing unspeakable cruelty. Alicia's determination to save her mother becomes her driving force, even as they are repeatedly displaced and face constant danger. The author chronicles the kindness of individuals who risked their lives to help them, juxtaposed against the indifference and cruelty of others.

After enduring unimaginable loss and hardship, Alicia finds herself alone. Determined to honor the memory of her family, she embarks on a journey of survival, eventually joining a group smuggling Jewish refugees to Palestine. Her story is not just one of suffering, but also of courage, resilience, and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable evil. It concludes with her life after the war and her tireless efforts to share her story.