Christiane Brandt Faris, professor emeritus, recently released a book containing her memories from growing up in Germany under Nazi control.
The book is titled The Nicest Nazi, and tells about Faris’ childhood.
The title of the book came from an offensive remark Faris received during a volunteer event. Someone said Faris was the “nicest Nazi he had ever met,” intending to give her a compliment.
“For Germans, ‘Nazi’ is like the ‘n’ word,” Faris said.
When writing her book, Faris decided that the offensive comment would pose a nice juxtaposition to her sweet childhood photo on the cover.
The book encompasses Faris’s childhood memories. Faris was born in Berlin during Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship. After she lost her home due to a bombing, her family moved into her grandmother’s house with more than 50 other people.
“Twenty million people were homeless,” Faris said. “There was no food, no utilities, no police protection.”
Faris wanted to write her story to show people how German citizens also were victims of the Nazi regime. The book covers about four years.
Faris came to the United States in 1968. Originally she wanted to write about the chaotic and curious time after the war. She started writing about five years ago. Faris said she put it aside and completely forgot about it. She returned to the book about a year ago.
In May, Faris spoke at Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, as part of President Robert Henry’s series Powerful Prose. She will be speaking again at Full Circle Bookstore with several other authors with OCU ties in December.
“People really seem to be excited about her book and intrigued,” said Sandy Pantlik, senior director university of communications. “The university is very proud to be associated with Christiane and her wiliness and ability to share such a inspirational story.”
Felicity Owens, sociology sophomore, is in Faris’s beginning German class. Owens said the class attended Faris’s release event at the beginning of the school year.
“She told us a little bit about the stories that she talked about in her book,” Owens said. “I think it is valuable to be able to learn about the German culture from someone who experienced it firsthand.”
Faris’s book, The Nicest Nazi, is available at the campus store, Full Circle Bookstore at 1900 Northwest Expressway, and Amazon.com.
Photo credit: OCU Communications and Marketing
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