Melania Trump denies her father was a communist and reveals how she started modelling at age six in Slovenia

Former first lady Melania Trump denied that her father was a communist and says neighbors snitched on their family in a detailed account of a childhood behind the Iron Curtain in her new memoir.

In Melania, which was released Tuesday, she portrayed her upbringing in the small village of Sevnica in Slovenia as a happy one where she started modelling at age six and took trips across Europe with her 'prosperous' family.

Her mother Amalija, a seamstress raised on an onion farm, and her car salesman father Viktor would take her and sister Ines to Elton John and Tina Turner concerts make her feel 'more connected' to neighboring countries Italy and Austria.

But there were was also a terrifying incident where the secret police raided her home over her father's 'suspicious lifestyle'.

The 54-year-old reminisced about 'one of her fondest memories' when her dad brought home a 'stunning French Citroen Maserati' when she was seven, and called it 'the most beautiful car I had ever seen'.

She attacked descriptions of her father as a communist saying it was 'not reflective of his political beliefs' and party membership was 'mandatory.'

'His Communist Party affiliation was a mandatory induction, as the party had implemented an automatic monthly disbursement of a portion of his salary,' she claimed.

Previously a source told DailyMail.com that Knavs' party membership helped his family get special treatment in the town, like earning 'higher positions' or receiving first access to 'essentials' at a time that many goods were rationed.

During Melania's childhood, only five percent of Slovenians were Communist Party members and although her father did not advertise his political affiliation, it was obvious to neighbors and relatives, one person who lived in the village previously told DailyMail.com. 

And it no doubt helped both Viktor and Melania's late mother Amalija hold down solid jobs. 

'Victor was in the Party which helped you to get government jobs or higher positions,' the source said. 

It was not clear whether Viktor was 'a true believer,' the source acknowledged, adding, 'Maybe he was just being pragmatic. Being in the Party made things a bit easier and meant he could help his family.'

In her book, Melania writes that while her parents lived through 'significant political events' they 'were not particularly politically active themselves.' 

In recent years, her father has attended political events for former President Donald Trump. 

'Growing up, I felt more connected to our neighbors in Italy or Austria than to other communist countries in Eastern Europe,' she went on.  

The book suggests the family lived well. 

'My family, like many others, prospered due to my parents' ambition, determination, and strong work ethic,' she wrote.  

She recalled going to an Elton John concert at age 14 and later on, one with Tina Turner. She attended Formula 1 races with her father. 

With her older sister Ines, she traveled to Venice.  

She skiied the Alps and took summer trips to the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. 

'Despite living in a region that was often seen as separate from the rest of the world, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel and explore different cultures,' she said. 

The family was able to afford a private nanny, who Melania recalled 'crafted beautiful birthday cakes for me and my family that were not only visually stunning - adorned with handmade sugar flowers - but also very flavorful.'  

He father - now an American citizen - was a chauffeur who became an auto salesmen and so the family's collection of cars included 'Ford Mustangs, German BMWs, and a Ford Cougar XR-7, alongside a collection of prestigious Mercedes Benzes.'

But her favorite, she recalled was a 'stunning' Citroën Maserati SM that her father brought home when she was seven. 

'I can still feel the rush of excitement, sitting behind my father, soaking in every moment, my heart racing, as he unleashed its power,' she wrote. 'It was pure adventure, a connection forged on the open road, a taste of freedom.' 

The terrifying reality of communism only came up when she spoke of an incident in 1978 when 'agents' searched the house looking for 'evidence of criminal activity' after a neighbor reported that 'there was something suspicious about my father's lifestyle.' 

A 'neighbor, perhaps, or a colleague or even a supposed friend' had flagged to the authorities her father's fleet of cars.  

'My father was never found guilty of a crime and was never imprisoned,' she wrote. 

Melania wrote of her Eastern European upbringing that she 'never felt isolated or limited in my experiences.' 

 'Countless stories about my childhood have been published, yet they often miss the mark, painting a bleak and inaccurate picture of my upbringing,' she wrote. 'In truth, my childhood was filled with happiness, beauty and positivity, far from the typical narrative of a girl raised in a communist society.'