Ariana Neumann, a journalist and writer based in London, answered RPI’s questions from her childhood in Caracas. She remembers her father speaking Czech only when he had nightmares. Growing up, she was aware that her father had emigrated from Prague in 1949, but had no idea of the darkness of his past. It was only when she visited Prague with him in 1990 that she realised his parents had been deported and died in the Holocaust. She found an ID card with a photograph of her father as a young man, a stamp of Hitler, and a transport ticket to Theresienstadt. She also found letters from her parents in the camp, begging their sons to stay safe. These documents, along with her father’s bravery and the courage of Mr. Nedvídek, who kept her father safe in his factory, are invaluable to her family and to the history of the region.Ariana Neumann’s book, When Time Stopped, tells the remarkable story of her father’s survival during the Holocaust. Through her research, she uncovered documents and stories of her family’s luck and bravery, including her father’s daring plan to hide in plain sight in Berlin. She also discovered the story of Michal Peřina, a Czech man who kept her family’s documents safe for 70 years. Neumann’s book is a testament to the power of luck, courage, and the human spirit.Ariana Neumann’s story is one of resilience and courage. After discovering a trove of documents in her father’s home, she embarked on a journey to uncover her family’s history during the Holocaust. Through her research, she uncovered the remarkable story of her father’s sister-in-law, Zdeňka, who risked her life to help her family survive. Zdeňka’s bravery enabled her family to live on and for Ariana to tell their story. Her story is a reminder of the trauma and loss experienced by so many during the Holocaust, and of the courage of those who risked their lives to help others. Ariana’s book, When Time Stopped, is a testament to her family’s story and a reminder of the power of resilience and courage.
