The Kommandant's Girl

Emma is a young Jewish woman living through the German invasion of Poland. Her family is split up and her parents are forced into the Jewish ghetto. Her newlywed husband has to leave her in order to join the Underground to help fight the resistance cause. She soon finds herself imprisoned in the ghetto with her parents. Eventually an opportunity arises where she can leave the ghetto and pose as a Polish gentile. She hesitates to leave her family, but decides that she can help more being on the outside. She goes to stay with her husband's aunt where she poses as Anna, a gentile relative. Soon she meets Kommandant Georg Richwalder and finds herself in enemy territory working as the Kommandant's assistant. She dreads that she has to show more surround herself with the people she hates, but she does what she has to in order to survive and make sure her family is taken care of.

I found this novel to be riveting. Not only does it portray Jewish life in Krakow before and during the Holocaust, but it also deals with survivor guilt. Written in a first person narrative, Emma/Anna tells her story. She is a flawed character, quite sympathetic and well developed, as are many of the novels other characters. However, she becomes strong and resilient as the plot progresses. The emotional growth she experiences, moving from a sheltered Jewish girl to a more worldly professional woman, working for both a Nazi Kommandant and also for the resistance, is part of what makes this book so special. As for Kommandant Richwalder, he frequently comes across as a sympathetic figure, and the reader, just like Anna, must continually bear in mind that the man is a Nazi, who perpetrates the worst of war crimes. The Kommandant considers himself a gentleman, a man of music, art and culture. In his twisted way of thinking, service to the Reich is something noble and patriotic, and the Jewish question is an ugliness to be tolerated from afar.

I really enjoyed this book. It's apparently the second of a trilogy and can provide a spoiler to the first book, The Ambassador's Daughter. I read that one immediately following this book and felt it was not as interesting. I don't believe they need to be read in order and usually I'm a “read in order” purist. I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading the third book, The Diplomat's Wife, but I do intend to do it sometime in the future. I've never read a book by Pam Jenoff but I'll definitely put her on my TBR list. show less

This was a book I couldn't put down and didn't want to end. The choices that Emma/Anna had to face put her in a moral bind. I felt conflicted about her relationship with the German Kommandant - the attraction they both felt for each other was powerful but forced her to choose b/w her vow to her husband and her vow to the underground movement. I wanted her to be with the Kommandant, but I didn't want her to be. He was a Nazi! As more is learned about his character, it made me feel a bit of empathy. Having never experienced wartime myself, I imagine these kind of situations occurred frequently. Seemingly decent people were put into situations where they were not strong enough to take the moral high ground or too afraid to do the right show more thing.

There were some unbelievable parts toward the end of the book that I felt were a little ridiculous. I was surprised by the ending but appreciated that it kind of leaves you hanging. Of course, I subsequently found out that there is a sequel to the book. You find out what happens to Emma/Anna but the sequel is about one of the other characters from The Kommandant's Girl. I recommend that one as well but it it was more contrived and predictable. show less

Emma Bau's husband, who is a member of the Resistance in Poland, is forced to leave her because of his dangerous work. She moves in with his aunt and assumes a new identity to hide the fact that she is Jewish. She ends up working for a high-ranking Nazi Kommandant who she is attracted to.

This is a nice and easy read, although one that I wouldn't say is that memorable, and I have read a better example of a similar story with a similar moral dilemma of having feelings for somebody you know you shouldn't.

I did enjoy the book though and particularly towards the end I started to race through it to find out what would happen (although I found the ending itself to be a bit abrupt).

The overall style of the packaging of the book probably gives show more off a feeling of it being a love story but it's more about how one young woman coped in a time of great conflict. I doubt I would rush to read more of this author's work, but I enjoyed this book for what it was. show less

I went into this book skeptical and was almost right about it. There were times where it was pretty cheesy. There were eye rolling moments, especially when you find out specific information about the Kommadant (about his past) and also what happens to Emma towards the end of the book. Nevertheless I trudged along the novel, waiting to see if there was any particular part of action, or something exciting about to happen. I actually finished this novel because I was stubborn enough to read it from cover to cover. I'd have to say I was mildly dissapointed.

There were good parts I have to admit. Emma went through some very close call moments in order to gather information needed for the resistance. Although it seemed as if it wasn't enough show more and when asked to get "closer" to the Kommadant, it felt as if they shunned her for it. It was rather mind boggling, as they were asking for her to do so in the first place but, well I suppose if seen cavorting with the enemy, what else were you supposed to think? Some parts of there book just were a little too convenient and you second guess as to how realistic this would be. I wish there was more to it, it just seemed to be lacking in overall substance and depth.

I couldn't really get close or really like Emma in the first place. I saw her as somewhat silly and naive. I wasn't sure if she agreed to do this job because she actually had feelings for the Kommandant or if she was thinking of helping out in the first place. It was hard to say. She just seemed so flaky that way. Throughout the book she moans about her conflicting loyalties between the two men she loves, although I am sure it's difficult, it got annoying after a while. Surely survival would be more on the mind instead of wondering what two men will think once the truth is out. The characters in this novel just seemed flat and not well rounded out. They were two dimensional. The only exception I would say would be Krysia (who also is my favorite) I liked her strength and courage throughout the entire novel.

However I'd have to say, I liked the ending. It was very ambiguous and things were left open. Although the situation did look bleak and hard I can't help to wonder now what's going to happen to these characters. I know there is a sequel to this book however with the way it is written I am a little hesitant as to whether I will pick it up or not. I'd like it in more detail, more realism, and more depth into the story.

Overall, not really a book I would recommend to those who love reading WWII themes. It's too bad as it falls short, but had the potential to be a dramatic novel. With so much information out there on the subject, research and detail should have been noted and incorporated into the novel and it would have improved it drastically. Romance lovers may like this novel instead. show less

This is the story of polish Jews - particularly one, Emma. She is married to Jacob who becomes a resistance fighter. She is smuggled out of the ghetto and goes to live with Jacob's aunt, a Catholic. They also take in a toddler who is the only surviving member of a famous rabbinic family. She meets the Kommandant who falls for her and invites her to work for him. Of course, he doesn't know she is Jewish. She has feelings for him and sleeps with him to try to get information from his apartment for her husband and the resistance. At times, I wanted to reach into the book and slap her for being stupid, but really she was just young and in an impossible solution. I shouldn't think I could do better. Her parents are still in the ghetto and show more her husband is in hiding. I liked the book. show less

The Kommandant's Girl is a World War II novel set in Poland. The main character, Emma, is a jew who hides in plain sight by switching her name to Anna and taking on the identity of a gentile. Her husband, an active member of the resistance has arranged this opportunity to keep her safe and to protect the young son of a prominent Rabbi who also poses as a gentile.

But Emma/Anna is soon offered an opportunity to work for the local Nazi Kommandant. Working with her enemy will be dangerous, yet the opportunity is too good to pass. She might be able to use her new position to collect important information. This chance is even more important because her parents are living and suffering in the Jewish ghetto.

It soon becomes clear that Emma's show more boss is attracted to her. This presents a much greater opportunity for the resistance and a difficult choice for Emma. Should she allow her relationship with the Kommandant to move from business to romance? If she betrays her husband, she might discover something that would help the cause and perhaps even save his life. Yet, would Emma's infidelity be more than Jacob would willingly sacrifice? And what about her own feelings? It didn't help that Emma was drawn to the Kommandant, despite his role in the Nazi atrocities.

The strength of Pam Jenoff's novel lies in Emma's dilemma. Under normal circumstances, her values would lead her toward a quiet life of love and devotion to her husband. But the circumstances in war time Poland were far from normal.

Emma makes some decisions as the novel runs its course that are so stupid they lack credibility, but overall her character is well drawn and interesting. Her major decisions are dangerous, difficult and emotional, yet understandable. I love novels that keep me thinking after I've read them. The Kommandant's Girl is one of those.

Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul, White Horse Regressions, Hopatcong Vision Quest, and Under a Warped Cross. show less

This book was very well written, drawing me in from the very beginning. The main character is a young Jewish woman who struggles as her home town of Krakow is occupied by the Nazis. Her husband is part of the resistance and leaves her behind to go underground. Experiencing the Jewish ghetto and then living under an assumed identity, she begins working for a high up official gaining his trust and sharing information with the resistance.

I loved the way Emma/Anna was a very real person during her horrifying situations. She had real life feelings and conflicting emotions. The story was well told and kept me engage right until the end.