The Man who Broke into Auschwitz
Encyclopedia
The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz is the title of an autobiographical book by Denis Avey
, with Rob Broomby, published in 2011.
Avey, a former British soldier and prisoner of war during World War II, writes about his personal life and his time as a prisoner in Germany. During his imprisonment, he was told about "mass killings," and crematoriums at Auschwitz, a concentration camp nearby the prison where British soldiers like him were interned. Needing to witness this for himself, he devised a plan to swap uniforms with a Dutch Jewish inmate. Avey was able to smuggle himself into Auschwitz twice, using the cigarettes and chocolate from Red Cross packages to bribe guards during weeks of preparation.
According to a BBC article explaining why he risked his life to smuggle himself into the camp, they note that "when Avey was told about the mass killings and smelled the horrendous stench from nearby crematoriums he vowed to witness the atrocities for himself. . . with the risk of almost certain death, he broke into the deadly camp and witnessed for himself the 'vaguely human' corpses piling up each day." Avey states that “despite the danger, I knew I had to bear witness.” He explains: “As Albert Einstein
said: the world can be an evil place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. I’ve never been one to do nothing.”
According to co-author Broomby, the writing of his memoirs provided Mr. Avey "with the catharsis he had not been able to experience for some 60 years." "This is a most important book," writes historian and author Sir Martin Gilbert
. It is "a timely reminder of the dangers that face any society once intolerance and racism take hold. . . It could indeed happen anywhere where the veneer of civilization is allowed to wear off . . "
Avey's story has similarities to the story of British PoW Charles Coward
, who had attempted escape 14 times, infiltrated the camp dressed as a Jewish prisoner to gather intelligence, and whose story was made into a film The Password is Courage
in 1962.
Denis Avey
Denis Avey fought in the desert during the Second World War and was captured and held as a prisoner of war for two years near Auschwitz III, a concentration camp...
, with Rob Broomby, published in 2011.
Avey, a former British soldier and prisoner of war during World War II, writes about his personal life and his time as a prisoner in Germany. During his imprisonment, he was told about "mass killings," and crematoriums at Auschwitz, a concentration camp nearby the prison where British soldiers like him were interned. Needing to witness this for himself, he devised a plan to swap uniforms with a Dutch Jewish inmate. Avey was able to smuggle himself into Auschwitz twice, using the cigarettes and chocolate from Red Cross packages to bribe guards during weeks of preparation.
According to a BBC article explaining why he risked his life to smuggle himself into the camp, they note that "when Avey was told about the mass killings and smelled the horrendous stench from nearby crematoriums he vowed to witness the atrocities for himself. . . with the risk of almost certain death, he broke into the deadly camp and witnessed for himself the 'vaguely human' corpses piling up each day." Avey states that “despite the danger, I knew I had to bear witness.” He explains: “As Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
said: the world can be an evil place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. I’ve never been one to do nothing.”
According to co-author Broomby, the writing of his memoirs provided Mr. Avey "with the catharsis he had not been able to experience for some 60 years." "This is a most important book," writes historian and author Sir Martin Gilbert
Martin Gilbert
Sir Martin John Gilbert, CBE, PC is a British historian and Fellow of Merton College, University of Oxford. He is the author of over eighty books, including works on the Holocaust and Jewish history...
. It is "a timely reminder of the dangers that face any society once intolerance and racism take hold. . . It could indeed happen anywhere where the veneer of civilization is allowed to wear off . . "
Avey's story has similarities to the story of British PoW Charles Coward
Charles Coward
Charles Joseph Coward , known as the "Count of Auschwitz", was a British soldier captured during World War II who rescued Jews from Auschwitz and smuggled himself into Auschwitz for one night, subsequently testifying about his experience at the Nuremberg Trials and the IG Farben...
, who had attempted escape 14 times, infiltrated the camp dressed as a Jewish prisoner to gather intelligence, and whose story was made into a film The Password is Courage
The Password is Courage
The Password Is Courage is a 1962 World War II film, directed, produced and written by Andrew L. Stone, and starring Dirk Bogarde. The film is a lighthearted take on the true story of Sergeant-Major Charles Coward, and the screenplay is based on the biography of Coward written by John...
in 1962.