Vati’s Girl: The Life of Gerda Collin: A True Story of War, Defiance, Faith, and Freedom Paperback – February 24, 2026

1940s Germany: Little Gerda Collin was fully aware that fear, not freedom ruled her country. Bomb shelters, gas masks, dog tags, and sirens were all she knew. Her father, who she called Vati, was drafted before Gerda was born. Gerda’s mother had no idea if he was alive or dead. The war ended. Gerda and her family believed everything had changed for the better. Hitler was dead. The bombs stopped. The Potsdam Agreement was signed. The Americans arrived with a glimpse of freedom. Suddenly, the Americans were gone, and the Soviets marched the streets. In a fascinating memoir, Gerda (1940-2022) chronicles her incredible life story as she leads others through the experiences of her youth. She survived the atrocities of the war, only to experience the terror of Communist rule. Neighbors were shot and people disappeared. Gerda offers a compelling peek into their next battle. Follow Gerda and her family as they overcome unimaginable odds to escape Communist rule. Vati’s Girl: The Life of Gerda Collin is the true story of Gerda Collin’s childhood and journey of youth through the atrocities of war, Communist rule, and an escape that led to the greatest of Christmas gifts…FREEDOM. Read more