Redemption for Gertrude

A daughter finds clues to her mother's horrendous past in the attic. After confronting her, the mother retreats to her room and relives her life through flashbacks. The author takes the reader back to the aftermath of WWI when Anti-Semistism was rampant. Gertrude came of age during this time and her hatred of Jews was cemented by the beliefs of her family, the community, and especially her mentor, Herr Friesen who groomed her to join the supporters of The Thule Society which was formed to get rid of all the unworthy people from the country to make it great once again. Gertrude becomes an integral part of Hitler's inner circle but soon realizes she cannot condone what was transpiring. She unknowingly marries a Jew and falls in love with his uncle who fathers her child. Now she is a target for the Nazis and with the help of her husband's uncle, escapes, taking on a new identity. After living in a small village she relocates to America where she raises her daughter. But the memories of the evil deeds she had done never leave her. After describing her life to her daughter, the question remains, will there be redemption for her?