Eyewitness Auschwitz: Three Years in the Gas Chamb

08-07-2004, 01:02 AM

The first book I have read on the holocaust.

Filip Muller was a member of the Sonderkommado at Auschwitz-Birkenau, he was responsible for the cremation of the victims of the gas chamber. He spent many years in this role and the book very much focuses on crematorium 4 and 5 of which he was to work for several years.

Its an account of a man who was there, who survived despite himself one day walking into the Gas Chamber only to be prevented the death he so much wanted by a Girl who made his leave to tell his story.

He had to stand by while people he knew from his own village were gassed and put to the ovens by him.

A harrowing but essential read if you really want to understand what really happened in the camps by someone who there.

angie999 · 21-07-2005, 02:20 PM

Check out amazon.co.uk where this book is available at a reduced price in paperback in their summer sale.

angie999 · 26-07-2005, 07:59 PM

Although I knew of Filip Muller, who is featured in Claude Lansmann's movie, Shoah, I had never read this book, originally published in the 1970s.

Well, I ordered it from Amazon last week, it arrived yesterday, I was awake reading it until 4.00 am last night (suffering for it now) and I finished it this afternoon.

I have done my share of Holocaust reading and some of the more academic work is as hard to get through as academic writing in any other field. But Muller's book is not history, it is witness testimony and all the more compelling for it.

Read it if you get the chance.

See:
http://www.auschwitz.dk/Docs/new_page_11.htm

robbie · 20-12-2005, 08:58 AM

Hi all
Of all the books I have read on the Holocaust this was the one which has left the greatest impression on me. How this author survived under such circumstances is truly miraculous.
Robbie

Nick · 20-12-2005, 10:12 AM

agreed i have read it twice. the opening chapter regarding the cap to thigh excercise draws you straight in and you soon realise this is going to be a hard book to read.

as good a book as this is i would put Holocaust by Martin Gilbert as my favourite book.

Kiwiwriter · 20-12-2005, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick

agreed i have read it twice. the opening chapter regarding the cap to thigh excercise draws you straight in and you soon realise this is going to be a hard book to read.

as good a book as this is i would put Holocaust by Martin Gilbert as my favourite book.

Have the latter, must get the former.

How anyone could survive that ordeal amazes me. Both physically and mentally. My brains would be blasted.

21-07-2005, 02:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
angie999 Very Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: near Bristol, UK Posts: 1,559	Check out amazon.co.uk where this book is available at a reduced price in paperback in their summer sale. __________________ Angie "History is lived forward but it is written in retrospect. We know the end before we consider the beginning and we can never wholly recapture what it was like to know the beginning only." C V Wedgewood

26-07-2005, 07:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
angie999 Very Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: near Bristol, UK Posts: 1,559	Got it. Although I knew of Filip Muller, who is featured in Claude Lansmann's movie, Shoah, I had never read this book, originally published in the 1970s. Well, I ordered it from Amazon last week, it arrived yesterday, I was awake reading it until 4.00 am last night (suffering for it now) and I finished it this afternoon. I have done my share of Holocaust reading and some of the more academic work is as hard to get through as academic writing in any other field. But Muller's book is not history, it is witness testimony and all the more compelling for it. Read it if you get the chance. See: http://www.auschwitz.dk/Docs/new_page_11.htm __________________ Angie "History is lived forward but it is written in retrospect. We know the end before we consider the beginning and we can never wholly recapture what it was like to know the beginning only." C V Wedgewood

20-12-2005, 10:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
Nick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 123	agreed i have read it twice. the opening chapter regarding the cap to thigh excercise draws you straight in and you soon realise this is going to be a hard book to read. as good a book as this is i would put Holocaust by Martin Gilbert as my favourite book. __________________ Nick Racanelli

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Was gas ever used in WW2?	adamcotton	General	18	17-10-2006 05:15 PM
Historians?	jimbotosome	World War II News Articles	55	25-02-2006 05:08 AM
Australian Special Forces	spidge	Special Forces	11	15-11-2005 10:26 AM
Auschwitz: The Nazis and the "Final Solution" Part 4 - Corruption	Wise1	The Holocaust	9	28-02-2005 01:06 AM
Eyewitness Auschwitz: Three Years in the Gas chamb	Wise1	Books, Movies, TV	1	27-08-2004 09:48 PM

08-07-2004, 01:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Wise1 Guest Posts: n/a	The first book I have read on the holocaust. Filip Muller was a member of the Sonderkommado at Auschwitz-Birkenau, he was responsible for the cremation of the victims of the gas chamber. He spent many years in this role and the book very much focuses on crematorium 4 and 5 of which he was to work for several years. Its an account of a man who was there, who survived despite himself one day walking into the Gas Chamber only to be prevented the death he so much wanted by a Girl who made his leave to tell his story. He had to stand by while people he knew from his own village were gassed and put to the ovens by him. A harrowing but essential read if you really want to understand what really happened in the camps by someone who there.

20-12-2005, 08:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
robbie Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 14	Hi all Of all the books I have read on the Holocaust this was the one which has left the greatest impression on me. How this author survived under such circumstances is truly miraculous. Robbie

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)