The only way that Bertl could recount these horrible years was by the assistance of two people, Judith Geminder (Robert's wife) and Susan Ross (Judy's sister). Judy and Susie interviewed Bertl, asking questions and obtaining the answers as to what transpired during the Holocaust years.

The Bertl story starts with a description of "how life was" prior to 1939. This early story helps to explain why Bertl and the family stayed in the area until it was too late. The families of Bertl and her second husband, Emil, were very large; however, only four people survived the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The heroics of Emil and the courage of Bertl cannot be totally described in this story. An attempt is made to tell most of the story. Part of the uniqueness of Bertl is the way it is presented, questions by two American girls, and answers by Bertl. Both Judy and Susie lived in America during the Holocaust, and the story as told was totally inconceivable to them.

The story of Bertl is done so that Bertl's grandchildren, Hope, Miriam, Ellen, Shia, Michael, and Jennifer (the children of Holocaust survivors) will "never forget"..