Lex Lesgever, born and raised in the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam, had just turned 11 when the Germans invaded in May 1940. When his eldest brother Wolf is arrested during a raid in February 1941, Lex is confronted with the horrific consequences of the war. It marks the beginning of a devastating time both for the world and for the small boy who had to survive it alone.
It was not long after his brother’s arrest that the rest of the family was taken and deported, with only Lex managing to escape from Nazi clutches. From that point, the young boy spent months on his own in Amsterdam, sleeping rough in shelters and doorways, escaping Nazi raids, being fired upon and interrogated, before being taken in by members of the Dutch resistance.
This tale of the horror shows the capability of individuals trapped in a time and place of hopelessness. Witness the growth of a naïve, frightened young boy into a smart, resilient and yet sensitive survivor. Painting a picture of the unfolding events in Amsterdam during Anne Frank’s time in hiding, Lex’s memoir is vivid and often horrific, but ultimately it is a poignant snapshot of humanity in its darkest moments.