THE MIAMI HERALD (Front Page): Based only on appearances, it was merely a house, four walls and a roof and a small yard. But for two Americans, this home in what was once East Germany, came to symbolize much more: a connection to a world long gone. The story of this house and the people inexorably bound to it is chronicled in Das Haus: Can two families one Jewish, one Gentile -- find peace in a clash that started in Nazi Germany? Though they track the turbulent history of modern Germany, and the horrors that came with it, co-authors J. Arthur Heise and Melanie Kuhr, strike a decidedly hopeful tone The story of Das Haus begins in 1941, when Heises parents bought [it] in a middle-class suburb of Berlin. The sellers were Melanie Kuhrs Jewish great-grandparents [the Simonsohns] The Heises would eventually be forced out of the house by the Soviets in 1945 [After the Wall came down, Heise said] When I started looking into this I didnt think getting it back would be so difficult and take me so long. But the Communists had had it for more than 50 years, and it was about time I got it back. And so he launched what would become a 10-year legal battle with enough twists and turns for a Hollywood movie. This led him to contact the [Simonhsons] only surviving heir, Melanie Kuhr [whose great-grandparents had perished in a concentration camp]. That relationship began with mistrust on both sides. Was Heises father a Nazi who took advantage of the situation to steal house from elderly Jews? Was Kuhr stalling to make a move on her own? Eventually, the two heirs evolved from antagonist to friends They realized that each needed the other to be able to sell the house which they eventually did The process of claiming the house strengthened Kuhrs commitment to her Jewish roots: I experienced and embraced the Hebrew principle tikkum olam, which suggests that its our shared responsibility to heal the worldHendersonville Times-News: We've often heard that true stories -- the drama in our real lives -- surpasses fiction. "Das Haus" (in East Berlin) is the real story that surpasses any fiction for drama and for heart-warming resolution. The book is written by J. Arthur Heise...and Melanie Kuhr...This non-fiction work traces the history of Das Haus, a home that housed Mr. Heise and his family for a period of time and also housed Ms Kuhr's great-grandparents, grandmother and mother. Each chapter of the book is written by one of the authors and weaves into the story of the house, their families and the history of World War II... [T]he event that caught [Heise] by surprise was the day the Berlin Wall tumbled... With the opportunity to reclaim Das Haus, Heise started a challenging journey. During the same period, Kuhr's grandmother started her own journey to reclaim the house... Suddenly two families are claiming the same property. The story unfolds as Heise, who believed success to reclaim the house rested in building and alliance with the heir of the former Jewish owners, arranged to meet Kuhr [who pursued the claim after her grandmother's death]. The interwoven chapters tell from both points of view the suspicion and challenges of trying to build a partnership between two people whose family histories through the war years were so treacherous. Heise said, "It was the most chilling moment in the quest...when I realized that the couple from whom my father had bought the house perished in a concentration camp within two years of the sale." In the end, together they gain the house. But they gain so much more in their understanding of their families and their own friendship. Throughout the story, each author allows us into the privacy of the families. They share personal tragedies and, in the end, help us all understand the strength and courage of all those who survive war.Texas Jewish Post: Das Haus in East Berlin is the true story that answers the question of whether a Jewish family and a Gentile family can find peace after a clash that began in Nazi Germany. Helene and Theodor Simonsohn [Melanie Kuhrs] great-grandparents built Das Haus in Karlshorst, a Berlin suburb. After Kristallnacht , in November 1938, it was clear that the family had to leave to survive. Ruth went to England as a housekeeper and Susanne, Kuhrs mother, was on one of the last Kindertransports out of Germany [T]he Simonsohns sold their house to the Heise family. I had heard my familys stories while I was growing up. I knew it was dark and sad and frightening, but I didnt know the depth, said Kuhr, a second-generation survivor. Susanne and grandmother Ruth ultimately escaped the horror of the Holocaust. A phone call from J Arthur Heise in 1998 changed Kuhrs world We started as antagonists of sorts, said Kuhr, speaking about the earliest days of coming together with Heise But we built a relationship, ultimately selling the home together, and finding a way through this book to profile our shared history. Ours is a story of exploration, of forgiveness and of understanding Heise, who lived in the Simonsohns former home as a young child, was inspired after the fall of the Berlin Wall to reclaim his familys home. In doing this he met Kuhr Many who have read Das Haus have approached Kuhr with an appreciation for her value of forgiveness. The writing of the book has been a journey in itself. For Art, he learned much more about his fathers Nazi connections and that is not at all an easy thing. I have come closer to my Judaism by all that I have learned, and that has been positive, said Kuhr I feel at peace with my truth, and that only the people who know what happened have all passed away. It was up to Art and I to put the past behind us and make peace with it; and we wanted to finish our families work, said Kuhr Five-Star, First-Place Winner of 2015 Red City Book Awards Competition: Das Haus in East Berlin Undoubtedly a must-read for any German or American, Das Haus: In East Berlin chronicles the long and arduous journey of two individuals forever connected to the Holocaust. In a joint writing effort, J. Arthur Heise and Melanie Kuhr recall their memories of growing up in German-American families, and the events that led to a legal battle for control of a deteriorating, East German home. While the immigrant Heise became a successful reporter and founding dean of Florida Internationals school of journalism, the dark memories of his childhood home cast a spell over his conscious, especially when rumors of his fathers past threatened the family legacy. On the other hand, American-born Melanie Kuhr knew little about her familys German past but ultimately rediscovered her Jewish heritage while learning about her relatives who may or may not have sold their home to the father of J. Arthur Heise. The legalities of this harrowing story may initially appear cumbersome to some readers, however the text is presented in a highly accessible vignette style. Each writer establishes the historical context for their eventual meeting, and the heart-breaking details remind of a time when daily survival trumped future plans. The investigation by Heise into both his father and brothers past will challenge any readers tear ducts, while Kuhrs descriptions of her misgivings set the tone for a heart-warming conclusion. The occasional use of bold text and italics seems unnecessary, but its only a minor critique for two strong-willed individuals who overcame differences to find a mutual truth. Das Haus not only provides a valuable history lesson for old and young readers alike, but also reinforces the fact that mutual respect always makes life easier. Despite their initial clash, Heise and Kuhr collaborated once again for a poignant story of familial bonds.About the AuthorPersonal Note From the Authors: One of the authors, J. Arthur Heise, was the six-year old boy who witnessed the Battle for Berlin and went on to become a journalist, the retired founding dean emeritus of the nationally distinguished journalism school at Florida International University in Miami and the author of two non-fiction books. The other author, Melanie Kuhr, is the great granddaughter of the Jewish couple who sold the house to Heises father. After a successful big-business career, she is now the CEO and part owner of a company in Texas. how many books are published every day Das Haus: in East Berlin: Can two families -- one Jewish, one not -- find peace in a clash that started in Nazi Germany?
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. An Inspirational QuestBy CustomerDAS HAUS is an engaging account of J. Arthur Heise's quest to reclaim ownership of his father's house which had been occupied by the Soviets as they invaded Berlin at the end of World War II. This journey, only made possible after the reunification of Germany, intrigues the reader at many levels. World War II finds Arthur Heise living in the house as a young boy. The Holocaust casts its evil shadow as it is discovered that the Simonsohns, who were previous owners of the Haus, perished at Theresienstadt. Cold War realities are pervasive as families like the Heises are displaced. Yet for the reader, the process of reclaiming the house to its rightful owners is the compelling aspect of this work.For Heise, this journey will be painful as he does not know where it leads. Among other things, he needs to prove that his father did not obtain the house from its Jewish owners illegally. He must enlist the cooperation of Melanie Kuhr, great-granddaughter of Theodore and Helene Simonsohn. The eventual willingness of Melanie to coauthor the book is short of miraculous. In the final analysis, the Haus itself becomes the symbol of what perhaps J. Arthur Heise may not have realized when he began this journey: that it is the human spirit that prevails. As the journey continues, the reader witnesses the process of how a Gentile and a Jew overcome fear and mistrust, to cooperate in reclaiming the house and sharing in the profits if they succeed. As they proceed, will Arthur Heise learn whether his father had culpability? Will Melanie be able to find closure and a realization that her great-grandparents triumphed in the end?DAS HAUS is a riveting story, but one that gives hope in this age during which religious, ethnic, and political divisions are again tearing the world apart. The authors of DAS HAUS illustrate how fear can be converted into courage, mistrust to trust, and defeat into triumph. Kudos to Heise and Kuhr.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A remarkable and uplifting taleBy Douglas KalajianNo subject is more difficult for anyone to examine than his own life. For an experienced journalist who's been trained to stay in the background while observing others, it's also the hardest subject to write about honestly. Art Heise took on both challenges as he decided to pursue a claim to his family's former home in Berlin after The Wall came crashing down. The discovery that the home was originally owned by a Jewish family forced him to question whether he had any legitimate claim to the property, and it led to far more painful questions about his father's Nazi past. I know Art, and now I feel I know co-author Melanie Kuhr, who bravely accepted the challenge presented by this stranger from a time and place her family had struggled to leave behind. What they accomplished in forging a most unlikely friendship while recovering the house is matched by their accomplishment in telling their stories in such bold and honest detail. Das Haus offers powerful testimony that the long shadow of history cannot obscure the light of human decency and understanding.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Das HausBy David SwansonDas Haus is a stirring, well-paced account of two unlikely characters' search for truth, clarity, and maybe redemption, over a Nazi-era real estate deal that has haunted each of them in very different ways for more than 50 years. At the centerpiece of this story is Das Haus, a modest two-family, six-room home located in a middle-class suburb of Berlin. The house was built, and originally owned, by a Jewish couple who were later killed in a concentration camp. Their great granddaughter is Melanie Kuhr, co-author of this book. In 1941, the house was sold to Arthur Heise, father of J. Arthur Heise, the other co-author of this book.According to the recollections of Ms. Kuhr's heirs and prevailing government policies at that time, Ms. Kuhr's great grandparents were never paid for the sale because the buyer was a Nazi who forced the transaction "under duress."While the endeavor to clarify sales terms are of mutual interest to the co-authors, Das Haus, behind its walls, harbors lots of secrets and surprises, and it is the unfurling of these mysteries throughtout the course of the quest that provides unique value to each co-author and profound insights to the reader.In the eyes of Art Heise, Das Haus is the boyhood home where he would crawl into the coal cellar every night to safeguard against the thunder of shells, bombs and rockets that deafened his neighborhood during the Battle of Berlin. At age 6, Art and his family were given 24 hours to evacuate Das Haus, this order issued by a Russian soldier pointing a bayonet in his father's face.In the eyes of Art Heise, Das Haus would also hold the keys to long-haunting mysteries of his father's past - his true role in the Nazi party - his good faith and honesty as the buyer of Das Haus.In the eyes of Melanie Kuhr, Das Haus is also a home of bittersweet memories. While her grandmother spoke frequently about Das Haus with "pride and longing," it became ever-clouded by the spreading threat of Nazi terror. Melanie's great grandparents arranged escapes abroad for their daughter and granddaughter. But for reasons never clearly concluded, the great grandparents made the fateful decision to stay. To Melanie Kuhr, Das Haus thus becomes a centrifugal symbol to embrace Jewish and family legacy. The quest for Das Haus, she says, "was a personal journey. I needed to reconcile myself with my heritage."The unlikey alliance of the co-authors is also a spine-tingling ingredient of this saga. Heise, a retired journalist and educator, approached Ms. Kuhr, virtually unannounced, after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990. An extremely busy single mother and senior corporate executive living in Dallas, Ms. Kuhr greeted the overture with indifference and skepticism at best. But step-by-step they both managed to overcome their suspicions and doubts, heightening credibility and commitment, ultimately forging the collaborative effort of Das Haus.Their mutual commitment to pursue Das Haus leads wherever it would take them, for better or worse, spawned no small amount of soul-searching along the way. But the result, Das Haus, is a compelling tribute to the co-authors, and a memorable gift to those who read it.