Grasping at Straws tells the story of the Ichenhäuser family, thoroughly assimilated German Jews living in Cologne. The Ichenhäusers’ three sons served in the German army in WWI. But their service was forgotten when Hitler came to power. The book relates how the Ichenhäusers sought to escape after Kristallnacht and their subsequent journey. It also tells the stories of family members and friends who did not get out. Those stories are told largely through poignant, heart-rending letters that family members and friends wrote from 1938 – 1946. The narrative is supplemented by more than 100 photographs and documents from the time at issue. The combination of first hand narrative along with a deep photographic record make for a compelling book.
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