Wartime Encounter with Geography

Of the thousands of horrifying, somber, moving events that occurred during the time frame of the Third Reich, this story could not have been better retold than through the eyes of the Dutch geographer Harm de Blij.This story hit a personal note in more ways than one. One reason being is, I am geographer myself, even before attending university. It also sent chills down my back when I read that Harm de Blij lived about 1 km from where I lived in Soest while my father was stationed at Soesterberg Air Base in the early 1990's.While I lived in the beautiful small city in the central Netherlands, I used to wonder what life was like, what happened, what did it feel like to live under Nazi occupation. After reading this book, I now have a better feeling of what occurred.I hope one day that I will return to the Netherlands and Soest with my young daughter, and tell her stories about my life in The Netherlands. I also wish to meet with Dr. Harm de Blij and further discuss this book, as well as geography in general

The understated title of this short, well-written book did not prepare me for the profound impact of this story. In fact, I was compelled to read it cover to cover in one evening. Harm de Blij relates the account of his childhood in Holland during World War II, when his family's idyllic existence is transformed into a challenge for survival. Seen through the eyes of a pre-adolescent, the ability to transcend the perils of German occupation and focus on their love of music and geography reflects the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. The intensity of their struggle to maintain some semblance of their former life and survive the war is truly inspirational. This is a "must read" for young and old alike.