Author Johannes Krane recollects and shares his life events from World War II in his book ‘Innocence Denied’

Innocence Denied is an impactful book by Johannes Krane, a book about the history of his family during one of the most difficult and fraught periods of human history: World War II. The story is truthful and deeply meaningful, a tale that explores a side often ignored by other WWII narratives.

Krane took many years to write the book, doubting whether the world needed more stories of this period. However, he decided that his family’s story was unique and should be recognized, told, and shared with others. His parents were both deaf and mute. In addition, his father had an impairment. This meant that Johannes and his brother Dick had to do a lot to help run their home in the small town of Beverwijk, Holland, and much of their childhood was difficult during World War II.

The book chronicles the events that Johannes experienced during this time period, witnessing many terrible, traumatic events. He survived the so-called Hunger Winter of 1944-45 when thousands of Dutch were starving to death. 

At the time, the author was ten and had to navigate life during a terrible situation, under the Nazi occupation and find any way to survive. He had to help his mother trade on the black market and steal from the authorities, acts that would be punished by death if they were ever caught. The situation was fraught, and Krane describes it perfectly in his memoir, a haunting story of a boy who lost his childhood innocence, risking his life even as a young age. It shines a new light on the horrors of Nazi occupation and the “daily” life under such dramatic, terrible circumstances. The memoir leaves the readers with a deep sense of empathy and offers a true account of a difficult situation, one more story to better understand the atrocities of WWII.

The author, Johannes Krane, was born and raised in the Netherlands, where he bore the brunt of the Nazi occupation of his country. After the end of the Second World War, he moved to the United States to complete his education and became a successful businessman. Over the years, Krane has founded several successful organizations, such as art galleries and the online bookstore Elephant Books, focusing on used books. He has also published several popular and well-received self-help books.

The memoir is sure to find a lot of readers among those looking for true stories from World War II, in particular those covering topics that are not as popular. Here, Krane presents a genuine and harrowing account of his experiences and his childhood losses in a way that is sure to keep readers engaged and deeply emotional. While it does not touch on easy topics, it is a deeply meaningful book about a person coming of age under dire circumstances and explores more in detail how a family tried to survive under such an awful set of circumstances. The book is important and tells a story with a lot of purpose and significance.

 

We had the pleasure of interviewing Johannes Krane. Here are the excerpts from the interview. 

Hi Johannes, Great to have you with us today! Please share with our readers about your book ‘Innocence Denied.’

Hi, it took me many years to write this book, and I have often asked myself: are we not tired of hearing war stories by now, specifically World War II chronicles? But my family’s situation was unique; over the years, the thought increasingly weighed on me to share our story. Both of my parents were deaf and mute, and my father was mentally impaired. As children, my older brother, Dick, and I helped run our home in the small town of Beverwijk in northern Holland. Most of this book takes place during the height of World War II. We witnessed unspeakable events at the hands of the Germans, and for many years, I did not speak of our traumatic past.

What inspired you to write the book?

When I read Anne Frank’s book “Het Achterhuis” (The Dutch version of “The Diary of a Young Girl“), I felt an instant connection with the story in my memoir about my 13-year-old Gipsy girl, my dear friend Lavinia and Anne Frank. Lavinia lived in a Gipsy camp outside Beverwijk. She spent her daily life hiding in her caravan with her aging grandmother while her family worked during the day. She was an enthusiastic writer, loved poetry, and was very courageous. Nazis often assaulted the camp during the day, looking for young men and families to be transported to Germany and executed. Lavinia was always terribly frightened. 

Years later, I visited the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. I entered the house and arrived at the living quarters where Anne and her family spent two years in captivity. I felt the angst and suffering they have endured. It was very emotional for me; I never returned to the house. 

Anne Frank quoted in her diary:

“The silence frightens me in the evening and at night. I can’t tell you how oppressive it is never to be able to go outdoors. Also, I am terrified that we will be discovered and be shot.”

So tell us, how can people find out more about you?

You can find my book on Amazon.

 

Thank you so much, Johannes, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!