overview of the book

My father-in-law Kurt Heppenheimer came to America as a German Jewish refugee in 1937, changed his name to Curtis Heppen, and raised a family. But Curtis shared little of his German past with his family or the fact that he had family that died in the Holocaust. After extensive research, I was able to piece together Curtis' life in Germany, as well as the history of the Heppenheimer family. "Broken Promises" tells the story of a family who experienced first-hand the key moments in the history of Germany's Jews and who, as owners of successful scrap metal businesses, played a role in the development of Germany as an industrial power. This book follows the individual family members who were either able to escape Germany after the Nazis came to power (many just before the borders were closed), or were unable to escape and found themselves in the most notorious of ghettos and the most notorious of Nazi death camps. Ultimately, this is a book about a family who was driven to succeed, but was also strongly patriotic, who believed the promises made when the German government provided Jews with the same rights enjoyed by other German citizens, and were repaid for the important contributions they made to Germany by either having all of their property stolen or by being murdered in the Holocaust.

Praise for Broken Promises

"Although it's a non-fiction, historical account, it reads like a novel.... I highly recommend this excellent work." Rated 5 Stars. Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

"I was surprised by how deeply the author researched. From the Heppenheimer family's migration to Germany after the Thirty Years War and their life there from the 1700s until the Nazi regime, Bonnie Suchman held nothing back. By the time I reached page 37 and saw the pictures of the documents she uncovered, I knew this was going to be an exceptional book." Rated 5 Stars. Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

"Each story of a particular member of the Heppenheimer family had me on the edge of my seat with dread for their wellbeing, such was the investment that Broken Promises engendered in its characters. However, it never detracted from the simple humanity of the people whose world was destroyed in the wake of fascism's rise." Rated 5 Stars. Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

"For me, as an uninvolved spectator of this family, it was both eye-opening and revelatory. Like most people, I was aware of the Holocaust and the horrific crimes of the Nazis during World War II but to have these broken down to a personal family level and see the impact on individuals and their desperate attempts to escape certain death was both humbling and rewarding." Rated 5 Stars. Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

"Broken Promises is a simple, yet beautifully told story..." Rated 5 Stars. Reviewed by Nicola Jenvey for Readers' Favorite.

"Unearthing an astonishing family history from the dark heart of the 20th century, Broken Promises is a revelatory and powerful read. While there are many books about the Jewish experience before, during, and after World War II, few narratives are so immersive. Weaving a number of biographies with fluid grace, it is obvious why this effort took years to complete. This incredibly in-depth portrait of the Heppenheimer family is far more than a memoir; it is a powerful and essential saga by a relentless researcher and a talented wordsmith." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★★

overview of the book

Medal award winner

Praise for Broken Promises

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