Neighbors of the Anne Frank family in Amsterdam chose to flee and survived to tell their story.
I have often reflected on how a moment in history or a single, individual decision can alter the course of one’s life irrevocably. When I was six years old, my parents and I lived in Amsterdam under the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands. Our apartment at Merwedeplein 17 happened to be near the Frank family —Otto, Edith, Margo and Anne. As neighbors we were compatible because both the Franks and my parents were Jewish and had fled from Hitler’s Germany. The youngest daughter, Anne, whose diary later became world famous, was my babysitter and playmate. At the time, of course, none of us knew what difficulties and tragedies lay ahead.
This book is the account of my family's journey to freedom as told by my father Hans Kohnstam. I offer this chronicle of our family’s survival during a time of persecution.
To schedule media appearances, speaking engagements, book signings, etc., please contact: Linda Herman, Agent at 941-400-9961
A documentary, featuring Pieter, that was shown at the Sarasota Film Festival on November 18, 2011 (Cine-World Film Festival) is available on PBS television Florida.
A Chance to Live
A Family's Journey to Freedom
by Pieter Kohnstam
Winner of the 2008 President's Book Award
Presented by the Florida Publishers Assoication
Pieter and Chris Angermann, Publisher
Click HERE to visit the Holocaust Museums "Behind Every Name a Story (BENAS) web project" about Pieter's story
Click HERE for the letter from the Buchenwald Memorial Foundation honoring Hans Kohnstam, Pieter's father, a gifted artist and Bauhaus student who also suffered under the Nazis.
Click HERE to learn about Pieter's return to Amsterdam
