Verhasst-geliebtes Deutschland

Manfred Eisner was born in 1935 in Munich into a German Jewish family. He grows up in a sheltered environment and, as a small child, is largely unaware of the persecution apparatus of the Nazi regime. At nearly five years old, when his father, the conductor and composer Erich (Erck) Eisner, is already in England after successfully escaping from the Dachau concentration camp, his mother attempts to flee with him, a plan that fails due to the sudden outbreak of World War II. After a dramatic odyssey, the family finally reunites in La Paz, Bolivia. In gratitude, Erich Eisner dedicates his cantata "Cantata Bolivia" to his refuge country. From a child's perspective, Manfred Eisner recounts his memories of the foreign world of exile in a richly illustrated volume. Unlike most adults, he manages to quickly and openly adapt to his new surroundings. His father also succeeds, after immense efforts, in realizing his plan to establish the National Symphony Orchestra of Bolivia, which he leads until his death in 1956. In 1957, Manfred Eisner follows his mother back to Germany. He describes the emotional turmoil and mistrust towards the Germans. Nevertheless, over time, he manages to establish himself successfully in his homeland. He is determined not to leave it again to those who despise or persecute him and his kind.