Hitler and Mars Bars

by: Diane Ascroft

Published by: Trafford Publishing

Reviewed by Connie Anderson

Not every day does an author send her book from Ireland for review. Lucky me.

July 1946 the first 81 children left war-torn Germany and landed in Ireland. The Irish Red Cross found foster homes for them. By August 1949 over 400 children had been sent–some orphans; others may return to their families once Germany gets back on its feet. They were in Ireland to be saved from starvation.

Brothers Erick, age 4, and Hans, age 2, lived in a German children’s home near where their widowed mother worked at the railway station. She visited often, however, after the railway station was bombed, her visits stopped.

The mother had told Erick to look after his younger brother. They were told very little about where they were going or that their mother was dead. The boys had no other relatives so it was likely they would never return to Germany.

The Elliot family took Erick while his brother went to another home. The foster parents were often called Uncle/Aunt, and it was Daddy Davey and Aunt Elsie in this wonderful family. However, the mother was sickly and they couldn’t keep him.

This happened several times—and each time Erick wondered what was wrong with him. He thought: Every time I get close to someone I get hurt. If I don’t get too close, I can’t get hurt. He was with some who didn’t really want a child, but a free farm helper.

Erick also realized that animals were nicer than people: They never think you are different or strange (Erick stuttered and had a slight German accent), and they never laugh at me.

Erick lived in Ireland from 1946 to 1955, when he left a very bad placement. He had already finished school in Ireland (age 14) and now needed to work. The story ends as he boards a boat to England, having learned that to work in Northern Ireland, you had to be born there.

This young boy had weathered horrible situation and people and tremendous loss. He had said good-bye too often. What’s wrong with me…? he asked.

The author writes very descriptively of both people and place and tells a most interesting story of the children and the Irish Red Cross.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a reminder about “the children of war, loss and abandonment.” Powerful emotions.