When Courage Was Stronger Than Fear: Remarkable Stories of Christians and Muslims Who Saved Jews from the Holocaust

by Peter Hellman

When Courage Was Stronger Than Fear is a pioneering Holocaust chronicle. Journalist Peter Hellman's gripping portraits of five heroic Christians who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis now returns in an expanded third edition. A new sixth extraordinary story describes Muslim Dervis Korkut, who saved a young Jewish woman named Mira Bakovic in Nazi-occupied Sarajevo, and the remarkable bonds that have kept their families close for generations. Also new to this edition is a Reader's Guide. Hellman's compelling depictions of high drama, heartbreak, and hope-"rays of light in the otherwise total darkness of the Holocaust"-constitute a significant contribution to the literature of the Holocaust and merit a permanent place on bookstore and readers' shelves. Photographs are included.

Genres: History, Holocaust, Nonfiction, World War II

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Denise Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book at a used book store in the 1990s. Then it was named Avenue of the Righteous but those books have gone out of print and this book revived the stories which still have me awestruck after reading it 4 times.

As a mother I found the first story and the second story the most heartbreaking, especially Leokadia’s story.

As for the book itself, I loved how the author gave background history the cities, the Jewish culture and also life in Holland, France, Poland and Italy.

I was supposed to go to Israel this past March but the trip was postponed due to Covid-19 but hopefully next March will bring about my life long dream. It will be extremely hard to visit Yad Vashem but I look forward to seeing The Avenue of the Righteous.

This book will always rate 5 stars from me and I recommend this reading and in fact think it should be compulsory reading for high school.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

all the way through I kept wondering, "how can these same people, who have been rescued from the horrors of the Holocaust, then go and stomp all over the Palestinians the way they do?" Only the last 1 of the 5 stories, Leokadia Jaromirska, did I really get into.

[Davinia Palacios · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard book to read because of the great suffering described, but what a wonderful recognition of heroes of this dark time. There was, as always, lots of new (or long forgotten) information. Eight-five percent of the Dutch Jews, including Anne Frank, were murdered. As of 1999, 16,520 persons from 34 countries have been honored as Righteous Among the Nations in Israel for saving the life/lives of Jews during the Holocaust. Amazingly, D. Bonhoeffer is not one honored because he did not save a life. Just shows that God gives various jobs to people.

"It is easy to confuse courage with heroism, yet they are far from the same. The firefighter who rushes into a burning building to save someone trapped within is unquestionably courageous, but that is what he or she is trained to do. The passerby who dashes into the flames, on the other hand, is a hero because he or she could have kept on walking rather than risking death.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 3 vignettes were riveting and I found myself engrossed in the struggles of the individuals and families in their struggles for life. The final 2 were less dramatic, but still a worthy read if for nothing else than to recognize the sacrifices that ordinary citizens made to save the lives of complete strangers. One of the better collections of short stories I have read in the genre, and certainly one I can heartily recommend. The first story of Leokadia and Bogusia is enough to make the whole book worthwhile in my opinion.

[Donna Kubiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable and uplifting story about the heroes that helped save Jews and other ethnic groups from death. So good to read about those who risks their lives so others might have a chance to survive.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to read a book about the good side of the Holocaust every once in a while. It was well written and very interesting.