Paul Schwarzbart's recollections offer insight into the unpredictability of childhood memories. He vividly recalls a significant incident from his youth: gazing out of his window at a school neighboring his residence, where the Austrian flag once flew proudly, only to be abruptly replaced by the Nazi flag. This marked a turning point, ushering in a period of rapid deterioration.
Amidst World War II, Paul Schwarzbart's life became shrouded in secrecy. In 1943, he found refuge in the Ardennes under the care of the Jewish underground. At the Home Reine Elizabeth, a Catholic boys' school near Luxembourg, he assumed a new identity, posing as a Belgian Catholic named Paul Exsteen. Over the course of two years, he integrated himself into this community, becoming an exemplary student, an altar boy, and a leader within the Cub Scouts. This double life extended to his clandestine baptism, all while the torment of not knowing his parents' whereabouts weighed heavily on his heart. The book chronicles his journey—a narrative of love, hope, and the profound contrasts between humanity's capacity for kindness and cruelty.
