Historical Author Cynthia A. Sandor will be displaying her mother’s original Hitler Youth journal from WWII.
Cynthia A. Sandor, will be showcasing her book, "Through Innocent Eyes – The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth," based upon her mother’s secret journal from the time she was in the League of German Girls (BDM). Spanning fifty-eight years from 1931 to 1989 and set against the epic panorama of Austria and Poland during WWII, "Through Innocent Eyes” is a sweeping story of family values, love, and building camaraderie that illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: through the eyes of an innocent child in the Hitler Youth. After the war, Gertrude meets PFC Robert Sandor from the 87th Infantry Division. Robert speaks a broken German and Gertrude barley understands English. Gertrude’s siblings translate every word, even Robert’s marriage proposal. Robert and Gertrude marry in the bombed out Dom in Linz and move to America.
About “Through Innocent Eyes – The Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth”
In 1938, ten-year-old Austrian born Gertrude begins her indoctrination into the Hitler Youth. By age 13, the Reich’s Ministry of Science, Education, and Culture select Gertrude to participate in an 8-month long elite educational program called Landjahr Lager (Country Service Year Camp). The curriculum focuses on building the girls' full individual potential to becoming a productive member of society. In her journal, Gertrude records her vivid memories recounting her experiences during Country Service Year Camp in Seidorf, Niederschlesien with her roommates, Ellie, Nelly, Steffi, and Maria. Thoughtful, moving, and entertaining, Gertrude's personal accounts will dispel many misconceptions and skewed perspectives of the League of German Girls.
Working at John Denver’s music publishing company Cynthia was the Manager of Copyrights, Licensing, and Administration. She moved to Florida and received her B.A. from Eckerd College. In 2001, she survived a horrific motorcycle accident, which propelled her to produce the Lady Rider TV Show, The Business Forum, and Travels with Cindy, on Pinellas County Public Access Television. She is an accomplished world traveler visiting over twenty countries. Her articles have appeared in Guitar for the Practicing Musician, Biker Ally magazine, the Tampa Bay New Times and the Greenwich Times. An article about her parents' journey appears in the 50th Anniversary Maiden Voyage Edition – S.S. United States – Fastest Ship in the World by Frank Braynard and Robert Hudson Westover.
Ms. Sandor will have her BDM display set up at the D-Day Conneaut 2023 event located in the Conneaut Township Park on beautiful Lake Erie. Books available include:
Through Innocent Eyes – the Chosen Girls of the Hitler Youth
In den Bann gezogen – the German edition of Through Innocent
Eyes
BDM History Collection – The Young Girls Achievement Badge
Girls in Service: The Official Handbook of the Bund Deutscher Mädel
Reflections – The Story of Dorothy Swanson: Wife of an 82nd
Airborne Paratrooper
For more information, please visit: https://bdmhistory.com/
Free tickets for D-Day Conneaut 2023 - https://www.ddayohio.us/
