Rhoda D'Ettore's Newborn Nazi - Guest Post

The Story Behind Newborn Nazi

Most authors are inspired by real occurrences or people. Newborn Nazi is based on a family legend of my real family who faced life altering circumstance and then vowed to stand by principles of what was right and what was wrong. Remember, the book is fiction. The family was not involved with murder or Nazi spies. They were, however, involved with the Underground movement to assist Jewish families and those of other orientations get out of Germany. Later, they even housed American soldiers. What is important is that Hedwig and Edmund lived. And because of them, many others did as well. I even used the real names of the siblings. All of the real people who are in this book have died long ago.

THE REAL STORY: Twelve year old Edmund was forcibly removed from the family home and chosen for an elite division of the Hitler Youth. Boys were being groomed to become SS officers upon adulthood. The real Hedwig was so outraged by the actions of the Third Reich that she began housing Jewish families and later American soldiers. Although her brother was torn between his loyalties for his sister and that of the Third Reich, Edmund used his position to protect his sister. And in essence, he protected the lives of those she helped. In real life, Edmund died on the Russian front in 1941. The Gestapo eventually stormed Hedwig's home in search of “deviants”. An American uniform was found by the soldiers and when questioned, Hedwig replied, “My brother sent them as souvenirs.” The quick thinking woman stood in front of her fireplace mantle where her brother's picture and memorial flag rested. The officer in charge saw the picture then ordered the men to leave. “This is a house of mourning, and you will not be disturbed again.” She spent the rest of the war working with the Underground. Not one time was she ever searched or questioned after that fateful day. Hedwig always believed her brother was still watching over her, protecting her.

I took great creative license to turn this book into a suspenseful espionage thriller, but the reality is that these people were heroes. I felt so strongly that the story needed to be told that I dedicate this book to the Rothlander family who assisted many and saved countless. May Hedwig and Edmund's names be forever remembered.

About the book

Publication Date: September 9, 2014
Self-Published
Formats: eBook, Paperback, Audio Book
Pages: 338
Genre: Historical Fiction

“This family is amazing! A Nazi spy. A future SS officer. A brother in America oblivious to everything. And a sister who would kill us all.”
Germany, 1934 — SS officers entered the house of Hedwig Schultz and ripped her 14 year old brother, Edmund, from her arms. He has been selected for an elite division of the Hitler Youth that will train him for indoctrination into the feared SS.
Horrified, Hedwig enlists the help of her brother in America to thwart Nazi plans regarding the Final Solution of the Jewish people. It becomes a cat and mouse game as the family enters a world of Nazi spies, double agents and the Underground movement. All the while, Hedwig must prevent their brother, Edmund, from becoming suspicious. One report of treason to his Hitler Youth instructors would result in death… or worse.
This book contains FREE chapters (50 pages) of Rhoda D’Ettore’s other works: Tower of Tears, The Creek and Goin Postal.

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About the Author

Rhoda D’Ettore was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, into a family of 5 siblings–which has provided her with plenty of comical material. She began working at the United States Postal Service at 25 years old, and over the past 15 years has accumulated many humorous stories about situations that the public never gets to know about. Her first ebook, “Goin’ Postal: True Stories of a U.S. Postal Worker” was so popular that readers requested it in paperback. Recently, she published the humorous “Goin’ Postal” in paperback along with another story entitled, “The Creek: Where Stories of the Past Come Alive”. Combining these two into one book may seem strange, as one is humorous and the other is a heart wrenching historical fiction, however, doing so proves to the reader Rhoda D’Ettore’s versatility.

Rhoda D’Ettore received her degree in Human & Social Services while working at USPS, has travelled extensively, and loves history. Over the years she has volunteered for several community service organizations, including fostering abused and neglected dogs for a Dalmatian rescue.

For more information please visit Rhoda’s website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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