Out of the sky: An Untold Story of Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, Matti Friedman, author and narrator
Friedman focuses his research and writing on the volunteer parachutists, all Jewish, that the British sent back behind enemy lines in Europe, even though these young Jews had already been lucky enough to escape from the yoke of Nazi control. Little is known about them because their lives ended prematurely, before they even had much of a chance to succeed in their mission to rescue others. All of these largely unsung heroes had agreed to return to help others who were trapped behind enemy lines, soldiers and Jews alike. For me, that makes them all true heroes, regardless of how many or how few, if any at all, that they were able to rescue. They put the needs of others, the lives of others, before their very own. How many reading this book today would do the same then or now?
The effort to send these young Jewish underground resistance fighters back behind enemy territory, was sponsored and supported by MI 9, an intelligence arm of the British government. The campaign to drop them back into Nazi occupied Europe, began in 1944, shortly before the war’s end, but the desperation of the Germans had no effect on their success or failure. The Germans were as determined to succeed in their genocide, as the volunteers were determined to try and save those trapped behind enemy lines. The program was not well thought out or planned, however, and was perhaps conceived out of desperation, as well. The volunteers were not trained well enough. The odds were against them. They did not succeed.
At the time of The Holocaust, the British controlled the area in the Middle East that eventually became the state of Israel. The British had given the area the name of Palestine. It was not known by that name, otherwise. The author concentrates on the lives of four of the Jews who had made it to freedom in “Palestine”, four who were willing to return to Hitler’s hateful war zone to save others. One of the names stands out for me because it has been often given larger than life status in books and movies, but that status is, according to the author, largely mythical. Hannah Senesh disappeared soon after she was parachuted into Europe. Much of the information about her is gleaned largely from her own writing, and much of it is embellished by others.
I do not believe that the efforts of the parachutists, 32 in all, can be measured by ordinary standards. Whether or not they succeeded is irrelevant. They were heroes for being willing to die for their heritage, and for fellow Jews and others who had no other hope of escape to safety. They were thirty-two young Jews who were willing to parachute back into the Nazi occupied areas of Europe from which they had already perilously escaped. In the end, very few of them saved anyone else and few survived very long. They were captured quickly.
Hannah Senesh was one of the parachutists. This book sheds light on what really happened to her, and to the others, but in my mind, even as it exposes myths surrounding their efforts, they are still heroic figures. Few would have done what Hannah Senesh and the others were willing to do. They were fully aware of the fact that they would probably never return home to the relative safety of the Middle East. In actuality, even afterwards, the area, now known as Israel, has never been relatively safe. War has been continuous. Perhaps more important is the idea that the valor and bravery of the Jewish people has never diminished.
Most often, an author should never read his/her own book. Authors are either too invested in their own message or the voice is not modulated well or resonant enough. Friedman’s voice is monotonous and tends to make me zone out. Still, the story is so meaningful, that I downloaded a print copy, as well. I was hard pressed to figure out if the author supported these well-known heroes or meant to disprove their heroic status, and to what end. At times, it seemed disjointed. I decided to give the author the benefit of the doubt, however, and I interpreted his efforts as though they were trying to shed light on a subject that is dying in darkness today, as antisemitism is once again in the forefront of the news.
Friedman also reveals facts about a Jew trapped in Hitler’s world, a Jew perhaps punished unfairly and defined disastrously. Rezso Kasztner was a man who saved many Jews, and in that capacity had to wear many hats. Therefore, he was accused of being a collaborator, and essentially, he was by necessity or choice. He was tried and convicted, then the sentence was reversed, but not before he was assassinated because of his perceived crimes.
Friedman reminds us of October 7ths massacre of Jews. I am hard pressed to understand how, after such a brutal event, the villains and assassins, terrorists and fanatics are being applauded and the Jews are being denigrated. Once again, the circumstances are inconceivable and the response is undeniably necessary to most of us who believe in the right of Jews to exist and in the country of Israel’s right to exist. I think the hateful antisemitism and antizionism exists because the positive message is sparse and so the negative message takes hold. Israel’s right to exist is unclear and muddied as their people are sullied, as well, and like in this book that confuses me as to the reason the author is writing it, the world is confused as to who the guilty villains really are and does not understand or object to the truly innocent Jews and the country of Israel’s persecution.
The four that the author concentrates on are Haim Hermesh, 25 years old, Hannah Senesh, 22 years old, Enzo Seremi, 39 years old, and Haviva Reick who was 30 years old. All were Zionists and Socialists. Some of the names are aliases. I hope this book leads you to make your own decision as to the current situation that exists today by doing the research necessary to know all of the facts involved.