Forty Autumns

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In this deeply moving memoir, a former American military intelligence officer shares the poignant story of her family, five women separated by the Iron Curtain for over forty years, culminating in their miraculous reunion after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The narrative captures the pain and longing of a family divided by a world split in two. At just twenty, Hanna escaped from East to West Germany, leaving behind her parents, eight siblings, and family home—a heartbreaking sacrifice for freedom. Eventually settling in America with her husband and children, Hanna's daughter, Nina Willner, became the first female Army intelligence officer to lead sensitive operations in East Berlin during the Cold War. Despite being only miles apart, Nina and her German relatives—grandmother Oma, Aunt Heidi, and cousin Cordula—were kept apart by a bitter political divide. Nina recounts her family's story, highlighting their ordinary lives affected by extraordinary circumstances. She delves into the harsh realities of East Germany under Communist rule and shares her own experiences running secret operations behind the Berlin Wall, risking her life. This intimate narrative explores themes of courage, resilience, and love, celebrating the unbreakable spirit of five women who fought to preserve their family bonds. The memoir is enhanced with numerous black-and-white and color photographs.