Martin Gilbert’s The Boys is a unique study of the holocaust of World War II. It is not unique in that it details the stories of holocaust survivors, nor is it unique in determining that despite the horrors and atrocities of that unconscionable world event those who survived did so with the triumph of the human spirit in tow. However, it is unique in that it is the collective experiences, memories, and similarities of 732 boys and girls who survived the holocaust and emigrated as a group to Britain after the war. It is also unique in that these survivors share a close bond to this day, one they celebrate with annual dinners and the celebration of their survival despite their bond of mutually horrific memories of surviving the fate of millions of others in the concentration camps against all odds, “Each year the boys meet for various events, the highlight being their annual reunion to commemorate their liberation; to celebrate their rebirth after their almost inconceivable ordeals. At their reunions, while rejoicing in their daily life, they also recall old times: the years before the war when they enjoyed childhood, the war years when both their childhood and their family life were violently interrupted and destroyed, and their rehabilitation in Britain” (Gilbert 2).
Author Martin Gilbert attended the annual reunion of these survivors for two decades. A few years back he suggested they send him their stories and memories of surviving the experiences of World War II. Their recollections are the basis of this book, a testimony to the triumph of the human spirit despite the horrors of the holocaust. Like many survivor stories, the boys’ and girls’ experiences in this book make it clear that aside from having an intense desire to survive, these human beings understand that they are here today while millions of others are not because of chance—the kindness of strangers, fortunate opportunities, and plain and simple ...