Overview

November 1944 in war-torn Germany, 17-year-old Christa-Maria begins her compulsory service at a work camp in Wahrenbruck. Hundreds of miles from her home in Gleiwitz, unaware the Russian Army has invaded and occupied the town, she is cut off from her family. When the camp is closed in April 1945, Christa-Maria is left to fend for herself, not knowing what has happened to her family since the Russian invasion. Now a refugee, her journey through the chaos of war begins; surviving long enough to find her family is all that matters. Faced with an impossible decision, she begins her life-changing journey of uncertainty, hardship and endurance through the aftermath of WW2. Meanwhile, her older sister, Ursula, and their parents are in Gleiwitz. Now occupied by Russians, they live with the daily terror of bombings, rampaging Russian soldiers and utter devastation. Whilst trying to hold onto what remains of their previous life, their father strikes a black market deal to escape, in the desperate hope of finding Christa-Maria and avoiding imposed Polish citizenship. This compelling true story weaves together the sisters' individual journeys, fleeing as refugees, through the turmoil of their defeated homeland.

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9781739502423

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An important piece of social history, two stories that had to be told and the telling is exceptionally well done; This isn’t Hollywood, this is real history and I found it gripping; Engaging and heartfelt, transports you back to the aftermath of WW2, an enthralling read; An eye-opening account, revealing childhood delight, war time horrors, family separation and a nomadic existence through post war Europe; Deeply fascinating to read about WW2 from a German,female,civilian perspective.

Author Information

Elisabeth Dunleavy has researched and translated her German mother and aunt's diaries to write 'No Way Home' - her first published work. A mother and grandmother,she retired from a 40 year career in healthcare in 2019, after which she worked in a French Ski Resort until the Covid pandemic began.In 2021 she moved onto a narrowboat, ChristaBella, with her husband and explores the canals and rivers in England as a way of life.

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