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"Work Makes You Free" - Entrance Gate to Sachsenhausen Camp
Prison Wall, Electrified Fence and Guard Tower - Sachsenhausen Camp
Breadboard Odd Nansen Used to Smuggle Diary Out of Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen Infirmary
Makeshift Memorial--Sachsenhausen

My Blog | Odds & Ends

Thomas Buergenthal (5/11/34-5/29/23)

May 29, 2026

“I believe it will be hard for posterity, indeed for other people at all, to grasp the depth of suffering and horror of which Auschwitz has been the frame. Still less will it be possible to understand those who have survived it. That they can remain human beings, think and feel like human beings. One …

William L. Shirer, Clairvoyant?

May 7, 2026

Those reading my blogs know that I have a special affection for William L. Shirer (see here, here, and here). He, along with few others, such as William Dodd, American Ambassador to Germany (1933-1937), realized early on how deadly Hitler and Naziism would prove to be, and through his magnum opus, The Rise and Fall …

From Day to Day Celebrates 10th Anniversary

April 26, 2026

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the re-publication of From Day to Day. How do I put into words all that I have learned and experienced these past 10 years? All the people I have met? All the places I have visited, from Oslo to Seattle? All the memories I have collected? All the blogs, …

Buy The Book

“I want to thank Tim Boyce for this . . . . It would be lost to history if people like Tim Boyce did not devote the effort and time and expense–a good part of his life–to preserve the Odd Nansen story. It is a moving and gripping story. . . .”

–U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal

Hailed by The New Yorker as “among the most compelling documents to come out of the war,” From Day to Day is a World War II concentration camp diary—one of only a handful ever translated into English—secretly written by Odd Nansen, a Norwegian political prisoner. Arrested in January 1942, Nansen, son of polar explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen (Nobel Peace Prize 1922) was held captive for the duration of the war in various Nazi camps in Norway and Germany.

Nansen’s diary entries detail his palpable longing for his wife and family, his constantly frustrated hopes for release, the quiet strength and sometimes ugly prejudices of his fellow prisoners, and his horror at the especially barbaric treatment reserved for the Jews. The diary brilliantly illuminates Nansen’s daily struggle, not only to survive, but to preserve his sanity and maintain his humanity in a world engulfed by fear and hate.

First published in English in 1949, From Day to Day had been out of print for almost seventy years. The new edition contains entries and sketches never previously available in English. It also features a new introduction and extensive annotations by Timothy Boyce and a preface by Thomas Buergenthal, whose life (as a ten year-old) Nansen saved while in Sachsenhausen, later recounted in his own memoir A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy.

Upcoming Events

All appearances relate to Odd Nansen’s Diary Unless Otherwise Noted Below

All Upcoming Events

Key

(1) The Polar Adventures of Fridtjof Nansen
(2) The Heavy Water War: Stopping Hitler’s Atomic Bomb
(3) Odd Nansen’s Art World
(4) Rescuing Norway’s Hidden Gold
(5) Norway’s Independence
(6) The Voyage of the Viking and the “Discovery” of “America”

People Are Talking

"I want to thank you again, immensely, for taking the time to share the inspiring, fascinating stories of Thomas Buergenthal and Odd Nansen. Today I am still receiving texts and phone calls from attendees expressing how much they enjoyed your talk. Thank you for such an uplifting presentation."

Lisa Michelle Pecaro

Lisa Michelle Pecaro
President
Harvard Alumni Club of New Jersey

"Our congregation is still talking about your inspiring presentation. The story you wove of Odd Nansen and his diary mesmerized folks . . . from fourteen to eighty-four and brought meaning to our Yom Hashoah week commemoration. It was harrowing and heartwarming at the same time and you told it in the most engaging and compelling way. . . . Thank you for being with us and sharing both your passion and insights "

Rabbi James Prosnit

Congregation B'nai Israel
Bridgeport, CT

"Thank you for your presentation at OLLI [Osher Lifelong Learning Institute] yesterday on From Day to Day. It was very engaging and certainly morally apt and relevant. . . . I appreciate the way you wove Tommy’s story, Odd’s story, and your own story into a single compelling story of courage and persistence across decades. I hope your book touches many lives, and I know now that your presentation does too. "

Arthur Young

Campbell Chair and Professor of English Emeritus
Clemson University
Greenville, SC

"I just wanted to thank you for your marvelous presentation. . . . As I told you, several people came up to me afterwards to tell me it was the best talk they had heard at 55PLUS, and you must know that our speakers [in Princeton, NJ] are no slouches, so your talk must have been great–and you were. "

Albert Friedes

Program Coordinator
55Plus
Princeton, NJ

"I am writing to thank you, on behalf of the committee that organizes the Our World lecture series, for your visit and for presenting a wonderful, informative lecture. As I mentioned, today we had one of the largest audiences we have had. And the audience showed its appreciation by the most extended applause we have had in the 10 year history of the series. "

John Kotz

Our Would lecture series
Kiawah Island, SC

"Tim Boyce was the perfect speaker, and delivered a fantastically engaging presentation about an incredibly moving human story. Among the 150 programs we produce each year, this one stood out."

Matt Burriesci

Executive Director
Providence Athenaeum
Providence, RI

"Extraordinary diary . . . stunning illustrations. . . . Timothy Boyce’s Introduction frames the diary beautifully . . . and his extensive editorial notes provide guideposts along the way."

Debórah Dwork

Rose Professor of Holocaust History,
Clark University
Director, Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies author of Flight from the Reich

Interview At The Norweigan Embassy

‘Nyberg’ Interview

I had the pleasure of being interviewed on August 2 by newscaster Ann Nyberg for her nightly show, called “Nyberg,” to discuss From Day to Day. Ann also anchors the 6 and 10 o’clock newscasts for WTNH News 8, and ABC-affiliated television station in New Haven, CT. Portions of the interview appeared on the evening news the following day, and the full interview can be seen here.

On This Day In History

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1 event 1 1 event, 1 2026-06-01 1779 – Benedict Arnold is Courtmartialed 1779 – Benedict Arnold is Courtmartialed June 1 1779 – Benedict Arnold is Courtmartialed	0 events 2 0 events, 2	2 events 3 2 events, 3 2026-06-03 1945 – Otto Frank returns to Amsterdam 1945 – Otto Frank returns to Amsterdam June 3 1945 – Otto Frank returns to Amsterdam Otto Frank returns to Amsterdam 2026-06-03 1945 – More Than 150,000 German Soldiers Surrender to Allied Forces 1945 – More Than 150,000 German Soldiers Surrender to Allied Forces June 3 1945 – More Than 150,000 German Soldiers Surrender to Allied Forces	4 events 4 4 events, 4 2026-06-04 1940 – The evacuation of Dunkirk, Operation Dynamo, ends 1940 – The evacuation of Dunkirk, Operation Dynamo, ends June 4 1940 – The evacuation of Dunkirk, Operation Dynamo, ends The evacuation of Dunkirk, Operation Dynamo, ends 2026-06-04 1942 – The Battle of Midway begins 1942 – The Battle of Midway begins June 4 1942 – The Battle of Midway begins The Battle of Midway begins 2026-06-04 1944 – Allied forces occupy Rome 1944 – Allied forces occupy Rome June 4 1944 – Allied forces occupy Rome Allied forces occupy Rome 2026-06-04 1944 – German U-Boat U-505 captured on the high seas 1944 – German U-Boat U-505 captured on the high seas June 4 1944 – German U-Boat U-505 captured on the high seas German U-Boat U-505 captured on the high seas	2 events 5 2 events, 5 2026-06-05 1947 – Secretary of State George Marshall Outlines Marshall Plan 1947 – Secretary of State George Marshall Outlines Marshall Plan June 5 1947 – Secretary of State George Marshall Outlines Marshall Plan 2026-06-05 1940 – Battle of France Begins 1940 – Battle of France Begins June 5 1940 – Battle of France Begins	1 event 6 1 event, 6 2026-06-06 1944 – D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern Europe begins 1944 – D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern Europe begins June 6 1944 – D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern Europe begins D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern Europe begins	4 events 7 4 events, 7 2026-06-07 1940 – King Haakon VII flees Norway to establish the government-in-exile in London 1940 – King Haakon VII flees Norway to establish the government-in-exile in London June 7 1940 – King Haakon VII flees Norway to establish the government-in-exile in London King Haakon VII flees Norway to establish the government-in-exile in London 2026-06-07 1945 – King Haakon VII returns to Norway 1945 – King Haakon VII returns to Norway June 7 1945 – King Haakon VII returns to Norway King Haakon VII returns to Norway 2026-06-07 1776 – Richard Henry Lee Submits Independence Resolution to Continental Congress 1776 – Richard Henry Lee Submits Independence Resolution to Continental Congress June 7 1776 – Richard Henry Lee Submits Independence Resolution to Continental Congress 2026-06-07 1942 – Battle of Midway Ends; First Decisive Defeat for Japan of the War 1942 – Battle of Midway Ends; First Decisive Defeat for Japan of the War June 7 1942 – Battle of Midway Ends; First Decisive Defeat for Japan of the War
0 events 8 0 events, 8	4 events 9 4 events, 9 2026-06-09 1949 – George Orwell’s 1984 published 1949 – George Orwell’s 1984 published June 9 1949 – George Orwell’s 1984 published George Orwell's 1984 published 2026-06-09 1940 – Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends 1940 – Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends June 9 1940 – Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends Norwegian resistance to German invasion ends 2026-06-09 1945 – Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family 1945 – Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family June 9 1945 – Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family Odd Nansen returns to Oslo and is reunited with family 2026-06-09 1870 – Charles Dickens Dies Age 58 1870 – Charles Dickens Dies Age 58 June 9 1870 – Charles Dickens Dies Age 58	2 events 10 2 events, 10 2026-06-10 1942 – the Lidice Massacre 1942 – the Lidice Massacre June 10 1942 – the Lidice Massacre the Lidice Massacre 2026-06-10 1610 – First Dutch Settlers Land on Manhattan 1610 – First Dutch Settlers Land on Manhattan June 10 1610 – First Dutch Settlers Land on Manhattan	1 event 11 1 event, 11 2026-06-11 1776 – Continental Congress Appoints Committee to Draft Declaration of Independence 1776 – Continental Congress Appoints Committee to Draft Declaration of Independence June 11 1776 – Continental Congress Appoints Committee to Draft Declaration of Independence	1 event 12 1 event, 12 2026-06-12 1929 – Anne Frank is born 1929 – Anne Frank is born June 12 1929 – Anne Frank is born Anne Frank is born	1 event 13 1 event, 13 2026-06-13 1944 – Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain 1944 – Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain June 13 1944 – Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain Germans launch new V-1 rockets against Great Britain	1 event 14 1 event, 14 2026-06-14 1941 – Grini Camp opened as a Polizeihäftlingslager 1941 – Grini Camp opened as a Polizeihäftlingslager June 14 1941 – Grini Camp opened as a Polizeihäftlingslager
2 events 15 2 events, 15 2026-06-15 1215 – Magna Carta Signed 1215 – Magna Carta Signed June 15 1215 – Magna Carta Signed 2026-06-15 1775 – George Washington Accepts Command of Continental Army 1775 – George Washington Accepts Command of Continental Army June 15 1775 – George Washington Accepts Command of Continental Army	1 event 16 1 event, 16 2026-06-16 1858 – Lincoln Gives “House Divided” Speech 1858 – Lincoln Gives “House Divided” Speech June 16 1858 – Lincoln Gives “House Divided” Speech	3 events 17 3 events, 17 2026-06-17 1896 – Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land 1896 – Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land June 17 1896 – Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land Fridtjof Nansen encounters Frederick Jackson on Franz Josef Land 2026-06-17 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill June 17 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill 2026-06-17 1972 – Break-In At Watergate Complex 1972 – Break-In At Watergate Complex June 17 1972 – Break-In At Watergate Complex	1 event 18 1 event, 18 2026-06-18 1931 – Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born 1931 – Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born June 18 1931 – Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born Odd Nansen’s son Eigil Nansen was born	0 events 19 0 events, 19	0 events 20 0 events, 20	0 events 21 0 events, 21
1 event 22 1 event, 22 2026-06-22 1941 – Operation Barbarossa: Hitler invades Russia 1941 – Operation Barbarossa: Hitler invades Russia June 22 1941 – Operation Barbarossa: Hitler invades Russia Operation Barbarossa: Hitler invades Russia	0 events 23 0 events, 23	2 events 24 2 events, 24 2026-06-24 1893 – The Fram departs Christiana (Oslo) Norway, for the North Pole 1893 – The Fram departs Christiana (Oslo) Norway, for the North Pole June 24 1893 – The Fram departs Christiana (Oslo) Norway, for the North Pole The Fram departs Christiana (Oslo) Norway, for the North Pole 2026-06-24 1948 – Berlin Blockade Begins 1948 – Berlin Blockade Begins June 24 1948 – Berlin Blockade Begins	2 events 25 2 events, 25 2026-06-25 1903 – George Orwell is born 1903 – George Orwell is born June 25 1903 – George Orwell is born George Orwell is born 2026-06-25 1876 – Battle of Little Big Horn 1876 – Battle of Little Big Horn June 25 1876 – Battle of Little Big Horn	1 event 26 1 event, 26 2026-06-26 1945 – 50 Nations Sign UN Charter in San Francisco 1945 – 50 Nations Sign UN Charter in San Francisco June 26 1945 – 50 Nations Sign UN Charter in San Francisco	1 event 27 1 event, 27 2026-06-27 1973 – Odd Nansen dies (age 71) 1973 – Odd Nansen dies (age 71) June 27 1973 – Odd Nansen dies (age 71) Odd Nansen dies (age 71)	2 events 28 2 events, 28 2026-06-28 1919 – The Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, is signed 1919 – The Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, is signed June 28 1919 – The Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, is signed The Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, is signed 2026-06-28 1914 – Archduke Ferdinand is Assassinated, Setting off World War One 1914 – Archduke Ferdinand is Assassinated, Setting off World War One June 28 1914 – Archduke Ferdinand is Assassinated, Setting off World War One
0 events 29 0 events, 29	0 events 30 0 events, 30

June 1

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1779 – Benedict Arnold is Courtmartialed

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1941 – Operation Barbarossa: Hitler invades Russia

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June 24

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1942 – The crucial battle of El Alamein begins

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My Blog | Odds & Ends

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From Day to Day: One Man’s Diary of Survival in Nazi Concentration Camps

Upcoming Events

Key

People Are Talking

Interview At The Norweigan Embassy

‘Nyberg’ Interview

On This Day In History

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