Escape from Dachau
In Escape from Dachau, Kathe Mueller Slonim delivers an extraordinary, true-life account of her family’s survival amid the rise of Nazi Germany. Blending personal memoir with meticulously researched history, this book recounts the daring escape of her father, Adolf Müller, from the notorious Dachau concentration camp—Germany’s original model for the brutal camps that followed.
Set against the ominous backdrop of 1930s Stuttgart, we follow the Müller family as they endure relentless persecution. Adolf, once a successful businessman and decorated World War I veteran, is arrested during the infamous Kristallnacht pogrom and deported to Dachau. Slonim paints an unforgettable picture of the camp’s harsh realitiess, grueling forced labor, violent guards, and an atmosphere of constant terror.
What sets this book apart is its deeply human perspective. We see young Kathe, hidden in a Catholic convent by her resourceful mother, Betty, who risks everything to keep her daughter safe. Through bravery, ingenuity, and the unexpected aid of former connections, the family stages a miraculous escape—one that defies almost unimaginable odds.
Beyond the personal story, Escape from Dachau offers readers a vivid historical lens on how German Jews, fully integrated into their society for generations, were gradually stripped of their rights, livelihoods and dignity. The narrative traces the social and political currents that led to the Holocaust, reminding us of the fragility of freedom and the enduring power of resilience.
A must-read for historians, World War II enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to stories of resistance and survival, Escape from Dachau stands as a powerful testament to the human spirit.