Amazing story of an English WW2 Prisoner of War who swapped places with a Jew in Auschwitz - almost purely so he could understand what was really happening.

Much of the book is outside of Auschwitz, dealing with his early war career in Africa (he actually had a free pass to get home early in the war due to saving an Officers life but wanted to return to the front line), his life as a POW and finally his PTSD when he returned to England post-war - I can't imagine what must have been going through his head, especially with no form of councilling or support network to help.

Much of this book is deeply harrowing, almost everyday in Auschwitz seems to reveal new horrors but Avery's will to survive and amazingly generous spirit makes this an ultimately uplifting read. A great man, I'm glad he got the chance to tell his story. ( )

è un romanzo autobiografico scritto dal reduce di guerra britannico Denis Avey in collaborazione con il giornalista della BBC Rob Broomby nel 2011. (fonte: Wikipedia)

Aangrijpend verhaal over het leven van Denis Avey tijdens de tweede wereld oorlog en daarna.

Deze soldaat, te werk gesteld in een concentratie kamp bij IG Farben overkomt diverse rampen. Hij wordt krijgsgevangen gemaakt in Afrika, het schip waarin hij vervoert wordt wordt getroffen door een torpedo. Denkend dat het schip zinkt, springt hij over boord en weet uiteindelijk in Griekenland te komen, waar hij uiteindelijk opnieuw gepakt wordt. Via diverse kampen in Italië komt hij uiteindelijk terecht in een concentratiekamp vlak bij Auschwitz III.

Daar ontmoet hij stiekem een Nederlandse Jood, waarmee hij tijdelijk van kleren wisselt om zodoende te kunnen ervaren wat er plaats vindt in dit kamp. Na een nacht in dit kamp weet hij weer terug te keren in het Krijgsgevangenenkamp. Na een paar maanden herhaalt hij dit nog eens. Een 3e poging mislukt op het laatste moment.
Uitgekozen om met een groep andere krijgsgevangenen spullen op te halen, ziet hij hoe een Duitse SS-er een baby doodslaat.

Na zijn ontvluchting en in Engeland terug gekeerd probeert hij het gewone leven weer op te pakken. ( )

This book was very interesting. Highly recommend it. ( )

Denis Avey is a smart, young and curious Englishman who learns and understands things quickly. In 1939, he enlists in the army and becomes part of the Rifle Brigade. Many of his skills are useful fighting Italians and Germans in battle and living in appalling conditions.

Unfortunately, he is captured and becomes a POW. But having been stationed, and having fought in the desert he learned how to do without, make do with little, and optimize his environment. Comes in useful now in a camp neighboring the Auschwitz death camps. He and fellow POW's are forced to work at IG Farben factory making items for German war effort. They come up with ways to sabotage and slow down production of equipment parts.

Working with Jewish prisoners he sees the deplorable conditions the Jews are in, realizes the Nazis' plan is to kill Jews with overwork, beatings, and starvation. Denis attempts to communicate with a few Jewish prisoners, specifically young Ernst and Hans, and when he can helps them with cigarettes and a bit of food.

Amazingly, Denis is curious enough wants to see the Jewish camp for himself as a witness. He takes time to consider and plan a swap with Hans which they implement at least twice. What he witnesses is beyond evil, heinous, and virtually impossible to fathom.

He sees a nazi punch a crying infant, and another beat a boy’s head until blood is pouring out, others shoot prisoners who are moving too slowly and those who have fallen out of weakness. He sees men who have become walking shadows. He smells death, sees piles of dead to be taken to crematory. He manages to get a letter to Ernst’s sister to get cigarettes to him. Those cigarettes are a desired commodity in the camps, and prove to be life-changing.

As Allies approach, he is one of many forced on death march in winter. He sees bodies of Jewish prisoners on the roads and in the fields, frozen where they fell. Eventually he escapes and heads home believing Hans and Ernst could not possibly live through death march.

He is happy to reach home but cannot believe how old his mother looks. She has been sick with worry about him and his father who unnecessarily volunteered to fight as well.

Shockingly, soldiers and POW’s are advised not to speak of their experiences; supposedly they need to move forward not remain stuck in past. Denis tried telling some people what happened at Auschwitz and he was met with glazed eyes! People were not ready to understand the shocking truth. Denis stops talking about it and although he has been a strong positive, resourceful man keeping himself and others alive, he and thousands of other soldiers, and concentration camp survivors were not given an opportunity to get it off their chests and minds. No psychological treatment offered because it wasn’t even thought necessary.

Many moved on with their lives but nightmares, fear, negative reactions toud sounds, etc. followed them, causing so much angst. Denis suffered for years not so much from his battles as a soldier but because of the horrors he’d witnessed at Auschwitz! He divorces his first wife who can not deal with it, and meets Audrey who becomes his 2nd wife and life partner.

Many years later he is contacted and asked questions about his war-time experiences. Finally he is able to describe what he witnessed, speak out, get interviewed, honored, and learn what happened to Ernst!

Beautiful story of an exceptionally, commendable man!