Cold Crematorium: Reporting from the Land of Auschwitz
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- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：József Debreczeni
- ISBN：B0C1X9675L
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Summary
The first English language edition of a lost memoir by a Holocaust survivor， offering a shocking and deeply moving perspective on life within the camps—with a foreword by Jonathan Freedland。
József Debreczeni， a prolific Hungarian-language journalist and poet， arrived in Auschwitz in 1944; had he been selected to go “left，” his life expectancy would have been approximately forty-five minutes。 One of the “lucky” ones， he was sent to the “right，” which led to twelve horrifying months of incarceration and slave labor in a series of camps， ending in the “Cold Crematorium”—the so-called hospital of the forced labor camp Dörnhau， where prisoners too weak to work awaited execution。 But as Soviet and Allied troops closed in on the camps， local Nazi commanders—anxious about the possible consequences of outright murder—decided to leave the remaining prisoners to die in droves rather than sending them directly to the gas chambers。
Debreczeni recorded his experiences in Cold Crematorium， one of the harshest， most merciless indictments of Nazism ever written。 This haunting memoir， rendered in the precise and unsentimental style of an accomplished journalist， is an eyewitness account of incomparable literary quality。 The subject matter is intrinsically tragic， yet the author’s evocative prose， sometimes using irony， sarcasm， and even acerbic humor， compels the reader to imagine human beings in circumstances impossible to comprehend intellectually。
First published in Hungarian in 1950， it was never translated into a world language due to McCarthyism， Cold War hostilities and antisemitism。 More than 70 years later， this masterpiece that was nearly lost to time will be available in 15 languages， finally taking its rightful place among the greatest works of Holocaust literature。
József Debreczeni， a prolific Hungarian-language journalist and poet， arrived in Auschwitz in 1944; had he been selected to go “left，” his life expectancy would have been approximately forty-five minutes。 One of the “lucky” ones， he was sent to the “right，” which led to twelve horrifying months of incarceration and slave labor in a series of camps， ending in the “Cold Crematorium”—the so-called hospital of the forced labor camp Dörnhau， where prisoners too weak to work awaited execution。 But as Soviet and Allied troops closed in on the camps， local Nazi commanders—anxious about the possible consequences of outright murder—decided to leave the remaining prisoners to die in droves rather than sending them directly to the gas chambers。
Debreczeni recorded his experiences in Cold Crematorium， one of the harshest， most merciless indictments of Nazism ever written。 This haunting memoir， rendered in the precise and unsentimental style of an accomplished journalist， is an eyewitness account of incomparable literary quality。 The subject matter is intrinsically tragic， yet the author’s evocative prose， sometimes using irony， sarcasm， and even acerbic humor， compels the reader to imagine human beings in circumstances impossible to comprehend intellectually。
First published in Hungarian in 1950， it was never translated into a world language due to McCarthyism， Cold War hostilities and antisemitism。 More than 70 years later， this masterpiece that was nearly lost to time will be available in 15 languages， finally taking its rightful place among the greatest works of Holocaust literature。
Reviews
Mainlinebooker
，
'The harshest ，most merciless indictment of Nazism ever written" Indeed， I have never read a book more pungent with the cruel reality of the Nazi system than this living hell contained in these pages。 I was only able to read 15 pages at a time as the sheer horror of the words， the cruelty， the barbarity and the ethnographic description of the reality consumed me 。 Be forewarned-an important eyewitness account but devastating to inhale。 'The harshest ，most merciless indictment of Nazism ever written" Indeed， I have never read a book more pungent with the cruel reality of the Nazi system than this living hell contained in these pages。 I was only able to read 15 pages at a time as the sheer horror of the words， the cruelty， the barbarity and the ethnographic description of the reality consumed me 。 Be forewarned-an important eyewitness account but devastating to inhale。 。。。more
Sara
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A stark and brutal account of one man’s experience in the concentration camp system。 The author takes us on his journey from Hungarian work camp， to the Land of Auschwitz， and from there to other sub camps。 He describes the treatment of the prisoners in the camp， once human men， treated like animals until many become as animals。 He describes the hierarchy in the camp， in the barracks， and in the work details， that encourage privileged prisoners to torment and deprive their fellows。 It describes A stark and brutal account of one man’s experience in the concentration camp system。 The author takes us on his journey from Hungarian work camp， to the Land of Auschwitz， and from there to other sub camps。 He describes the treatment of the prisoners in the camp， once human men， treated like animals until many become as animals。 He describes the hierarchy in the camp， in the barracks， and in the work details， that encourage privileged prisoners to torment and deprive their fellows。 It describes in excruciating detail the horrendous conditions that prisoners are forced to live in at a camp for ill prisoners。 His memoir shows us how the Germans were able to transform professional， educated， and cultured individuals into the beasts and vermin they accused them of being。 I think this is an especially important book to read now， when some politicians are labeling whole groups of people as vermin， and calling for their prohibition from our country。 It is a cautionary tale of what can happen when people are viewed as other and as inferior。 It is hard to think this kind of brutality could happen again; but who could have imagined it happening then， by a cultured， educated， civilized people like the Germans。 。。。more
K
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Brilliant， chilling， horrifying， and so many other things。 Mr。 Debreczeni's work tells of the atrocities of WW2 in the concentration camps， and makes it clear that Germans were not the only perpetrators。 His writing is detached and insightful， and he makes clear points about the descent of decent human beings into spectral figures， and the ascent of other human beings by means of brutality， degrading others， and selfishness。 Really quite different from many other camp memoirs。 Brilliant， chilling， horrifying， and so many other things。 Mr。 Debreczeni's work tells of the atrocities of WW2 in the concentration camps， and makes it clear that Germans were not the only perpetrators。 His writing is detached and insightful， and he makes clear points about the descent of decent human beings into spectral figures， and the ascent of other human beings by means of brutality， degrading others， and selfishness。 Really quite different from many other camp memoirs。 。。。more
Polly Krize
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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review。As an inmate of Auschwitz， Jozsef found himself forced to work in many camps as a slave to the Nazi regime。 Losing his health found him sent to Dornhau， a camp for those unable to work any more。 In deplorable， unimaginably filthy surroundings， he managed to live to tell his horrific story。 Plainly and starkly written， this is a testament to the human spirit。
♥ Sandi ❣t
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5 stars Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review。 Republished January 23， 2024 （First published January 1， 1950） by St。 Martin's Press。Un-put-downable！ There is no other word for this book。 It is short - just 243 pages - however I read it in one sitting。 That is something I rarely do， but I could not put this book down。 The topic is horrific and heart breaking， but the need to read on is powerful。 The author， an Hungarian Jew， spent years in Ger 5 stars Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review。 Republished January 23， 2024 （First published January 1， 1950） by St。 Martin's Press。Un-put-downable！ There is no other word for this book。 It is short - just 243 pages - however I read it in one sitting。 That is something I rarely do， but I could not put this book down。 The topic is horrific and heart breaking， but the need to read on is powerful。 The author， an Hungarian Jew， spent years in German prison camps -in extermination camps - starting off with Auschwitz。 The story takes you from the first step onto the railroad car to the splitting of the prisoners， between walking and traveling by truck and what that meant， to being liberated from Dornhau， after a near fatal bout of typhoid。 There is nothing happy or pleasant about this story， but it details a time in our history that must be remembered。 It must be remembered so that we never again put in office a monster， a tyrant that thinks he is a God and able to do anything at his own whim。 Dictatorship is a crime in itself。 We need to be diligent and make sure we never see the likes of a modern day Hitler。 。。。more
Hannah
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Thank you Netgalley for the book in exchange for a honest review。 As a lover of history， this book was very depressing to read at times due to the torture the people of the holocaust endured。 However， the story was very well written and the author was great of telling what he went through。 Would highly recommend this book for lovers of history and the holocaust。
Mary Cummins
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Thank you to Net Galley for this e copy of Cold Crematorium by Josef Debreczeni in exchange for a honest review。This is a profound， chilling first hand account of the insides of Auschwitz and Dornhau， a slave camp where the author was sent to towards the end of World War 2。？This is a perfect example of man’s inhumanity to man where everyone from the Nazis to fellow slaves treat each other horribly and are always looking to steal from one another。The author’s account gives a very accurate yet chi Thank you to Net Galley for this e copy of Cold Crematorium by Josef Debreczeni in exchange for a honest review。This is a profound， chilling first hand account of the insides of Auschwitz and Dornhau， a slave camp where the author was sent to towards the end of World War 2。？This is a perfect example of man’s inhumanity to man where everyone from the Nazis to fellow slaves treat each other horribly and are always looking to steal from one another。The author’s account gives a very accurate yet chilling account of this terrible period of history。 。。。more
Helen
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This memoir， from a holocaust survivor， was a difficult but important book to read， especially in these times of increasing antisemitism。 The horrors that were inflicted upon the Jews during WWII were horrific。 They were vividly described in this memoir。 At times I had to put the book down to focus on something else。 It is so very important that we never forget。
Denice Langley
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Written before I was born， this story still resonates across the generations。 We've all heard， read or was taught the stories of the Nazi concentration camps， Jozef Debreczeni LIVED this story。 I found myself both horrified by the treatment of the prisoners and deeply impressed by the courage and kindness they showed in the face of adversity。 As the last of the WWII generation dies， the rest of us must never forget that evil exists and it's all too easy for people to look the other or not get in Written before I was born， this story still resonates across the generations。 We've all heard， read or was taught the stories of the Nazi concentration camps， Jozef Debreczeni LIVED this story。 I found myself both horrified by the treatment of the prisoners and deeply impressed by the courage and kindness they showed in the face of adversity。 As the last of the WWII generation dies， the rest of us must never forget that evil exists and it's all too easy for people to look the other or not get involved。 The world must remain vigilant in this era of terrorism。 。。。more
Brittany
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Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC！Every time I read a book about the Holocaust I always learn something new。 Debreczeni had a really good understanding of the inner workings of the labor camp & that is shown throughout this book。 This book was translated very well。 I've read a handful of other translations & I feel like this has been the best one I've read so far。 Debreczeni gets to know all the people he meets along the way， giving you a more personal relationship with the horrors of the Holoc Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC！Every time I read a book about the Holocaust I always learn something new。 Debreczeni had a really good understanding of the inner workings of the labor camp & that is shown throughout this book。 This book was translated very well。 I've read a handful of other translations & I feel like this has been the best one I've read so far。 Debreczeni gets to know all the people he meets along the way， giving you a more personal relationship with the horrors of the Holocaust instead of trying to glaze over it。 He helps give faces & names to people instead of them just being "Jewish" or "Polish" & etc。 。。。more
Ekta
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Despite all signs pointing to defeat， in 1944 the Nazis continued to send people in droves to concentration camps。 A Hungarian man József Debreczeni ends up in Dörnhau where even the Nazis don’t dare to linger， because it’s essentially death in a building。 Available for the first time in English， more than 70 years after its original publication， Debreczeni shares the harrowing， stark account of what it’s like to be left to perish at the edge of the Nazi world in his memoir Cold Crematorium。Alth Despite all signs pointing to defeat， in 1944 the Nazis continued to send people in droves to concentration camps。 A Hungarian man József Debreczeni ends up in Dörnhau where even the Nazis don’t dare to linger， because it’s essentially death in a building。 Available for the first time in English， more than 70 years after its original publication， Debreczeni shares the harrowing， stark account of what it’s like to be left to perish at the edge of the Nazi world in his memoir Cold Crematorium。Although some Jews in Hungary managed to escape the onslaught of Nazism， native poet and journalist József Debreczeni is scooped up in a major “raid” that includes his parents and wife。 All of them are put on trains to concentration camps， separated from one another and traveling with hundreds of others。 Rumors are rampant as is fear。 It’s 1944， and Hitler has been in power long enough that whispers of the camps have traveled far and wide。 Debreczeni and the other prisoners have an inkling of what’s waiting for them; when they get to Auschwitz， though， they realize that everything they’d heard was only the beginning。After arriving in the reality of Nazi hatred and debasement， Debreczeni， like the other prisoners， is given a choice。 Ride in a truck transport or walk to the next camp。 Debreczeni resists the urge of the comfort of riding the long distance， electing to walk， and just as well。 The initial culling of “go left” or “go right” sent the hundreds of prisoners going right straight to the gas chambers。 This next round sees him live yet again; those going in the trucks are fated to die right away as well。Over the next 12 months， however， Debreczeni wonders whether his fate is any better。 He’s moved from one labor camp to the next where he’s treated like he doesn’t deserve to live。 Worse， he discovers that the Nazis have used psychological warfare in the most clever way: within the camps， hierarchies have set up some Jewish prisoners as having a small measure of power over others。 The tiny dose of control given to those Jews encourages them to behave as badly as the real jailers do with the same levels of abuse。Eventually Debreczeni’s health breaks down， and the camp higher-ups decide to ship him to Dörnhau。 This camp-of-last-resort is informally known as the “cold crematorium。” No gas showers from the ceilings， but death is present everywhere。 The conditions are beyond inhumane with waste flowing freely on the floor between beds holding three or four men each。 They inevitably share lice， tuberculosis， and the ultimate death knell of hundreds: typhus。Debreczeni describes the black market utilized by the prisoners for things like an extra ration of food or tobacco and doesn’t mince words。 His account ends with the liberation of the camp， but rather than a joyous， heady experience the book ends much the same way Debreczeni’s time did: limping along， barely making it to a new place。 This deliberate tone will leave readers sobered by the fact that when Hitler was defeated， it didn’t mean everything immediately became happy again。 The prisoners in the camps weren’t freed right away。 The rollout of liberation took time and efforts by Allied soldiers， and in the meantime Debreczeni and the other prisoners fought—and sometimes lost to—death。The book was published in 1950， a mere five years after the end of the war， in Hungarian， and finally English-language speakers are able to read it as well。 Unlike historical fiction， the book doesn’t wrap up everything in a satisfying way。 It shows that war is messy and drawn out and takes a lot longer to end than signing an agreement。Because the book is a translation， occasionally it bounces from past to present and then back to past tense again within the same paragraph or even sentencew。 In small sections， the change is a little confusing。 Also， even with the grave subject matter， readers would have benefited from knowing just a little more about Debreczeni’s life after the war。Regardless， firsthand accounts such as this one， unsavory parts and all， should be mandatory reading。 The book should also serve as a warning for the lengths to which people will go for an ideology。 。。。more
AnnieM
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Everyone should read this book， as difficult as it is to read --it is a memoir of a journalist who had been sent to Auschwitz and survived to tell his story。 This was first published in 1950 and finally has been translated and published in English。 It is a very difficult read but critically important to bear witness to the atrocities from the Holocaust。 I could not read it in one sitting but the descriptions and details and the sober account of what it was like is an important preservation of hi Everyone should read this book， as difficult as it is to read --it is a memoir of a journalist who had been sent to Auschwitz and survived to tell his story。 This was first published in 1950 and finally has been translated and published in English。 It is a very difficult read but critically important to bear witness to the atrocities from the Holocaust。 I could not read it in one sitting but the descriptions and details and the sober account of what it was like is an important preservation of history so we never forget。 An absolute must read。Thank you to Netgalley and St。 Martin's Press for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review。 。。。more
Rhonda Lomazow
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Emotional heart wrenching story of the levels of abuse the author suffered in the concentration camps。The horror of being dragged from camp to camp the torture that was inflicted on him and other prisoners。Not an easy book to read but a very important one。#netgalley #st。Martins
Tracy Andrea
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I was a little hesitant to read this novel as I was expecting a heavy draining read due to the subject matter of the memoir。 I was very surprised at how easy this book was to read in the sense that it was able to show the cruelty and horror of the Holocaust eloquently， beautifully， in a relatable way。 It is a heavy novel but to not read it to protect yourself from the sadness and horror of this point in history would be a disservice because these things need to be remembered。 The author writes o I was a little hesitant to read this novel as I was expecting a heavy draining read due to the subject matter of the memoir。 I was very surprised at how easy this book was to read in the sense that it was able to show the cruelty and horror of the Holocaust eloquently， beautifully， in a relatable way。 It is a heavy novel but to not read it to protect yourself from the sadness and horror of this point in history would be a disservice because these things need to be remembered。 The author writes of strength and courage as well as the darkness。 Overall a good read， i recommend this beautiful， haunting book to everyone。 Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy and opportunity。 。。。more
Monica
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I have read a few books about WWII and the Holocaust， but this memoir is totally different。 Written by Debreczeni， a prisoner at first Aschwitz， and moving to three different camps， and translated to English， it's the first one that gives a look at the day to day life in the concentration camps。 Even though I knew life was terrible in the concentration camps， I learned just how terrible it truly was。 From the food， to the roll calls， to the work， and to the beatings and torture these prisoners h I have read a few books about WWII and the Holocaust， but this memoir is totally different。 Written by Debreczeni， a prisoner at first Aschwitz， and moving to three different camps， and translated to English， it's the first one that gives a look at the day to day life in the concentration camps。 Even though I knew life was terrible in the concentration camps， I learned just how terrible it truly was。 From the food， to the roll calls， to the work， and to the beatings and torture these prisoners had to endure。 It's a book that gives a look into what the Jews of the Holocaust actually went through。 I never realized the kind of work the prisoners did。 It was back breaking， plus the ones first at the camps， had to build their housing。 A book I think everyone needs to read。 If we hide and don't learn from our past， it's bound to repeat。Tentative Publishcation Date: January 23， 2024Thanks to Netgalley， St。 Martin's Press and McMillan for the E-ARC。 All thoughts and opinions are my own。😊 Happy Reading 😊#netgalley#stmartinspress#mcmillianpublishing#coldcrematorium 。。。more
Ricki Brodie
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It is unfathomable the depths of depravity， deprivation and hatred of your fellow human beings can reach。 Yet， József Debreczeni， in his recently found and translated memoir of his time in various Auschwitz camps， details the atrocities visited upon him and his fellow slave/prisoners with such clarity that revulsion seeps out of every page。 Debreczeni， a reporter， observed everything around him。 The writing is brilliant。 This is a book that must be read and seen as a lesson for humanity。The book It is unfathomable the depths of depravity， deprivation and hatred of your fellow human beings can reach。 Yet， József Debreczeni， in his recently found and translated memoir of his time in various Auschwitz camps， details the atrocities visited upon him and his fellow slave/prisoners with such clarity that revulsion seeps out of every page。 Debreczeni， a reporter， observed everything around him。 The writing is brilliant。 This is a book that must be read and seen as a lesson for humanity。The book starts with a long journey from Hungary in an overcrowded cattle car to Auschwitz。 Selected to go to the right， Debreczeni is stripped， showered， shorn and marched to his first billet。 What he learned quickly is that newcomers were frozen out from inches on the ground to rest and more importantly， the vast hierarchy of loathsome Jewish prisoners who control everything， most especially food。 As a slave laborer at several camps， he had various duties including working underground to create a complex enclave for Hitler to hide。After working long hours and standing at twice daily roll calls and at the end of his tether， he volunteered to go to a death camp。 Unfortunately， he wound up at the cold crematorium。 In all of my readings and knowledge of the Holocaust， I never heard this term。 It refers to a “hospital “ where slave labor is sent to die by disease， starvation， deprivation， beatings etc。 It was there bedridden， starving and sick， Debreczeni witnessed the worst abuse by fellow Jews。 As I said， unfathomable！ How Debreczeni survived and how he committed his story to paper is remarkable。 Please read and share with everyone you know。Thank you NetGalley and St。 Martin’s Press for this advance copy。 。。。more
Rebecca Hill
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This was a very interesting read。 From the author， we get an inside look at what it was like to live in the concentration camps that the German's were using for those who they considered undesirables。 We follow Jozsef through his journey， from his arrival， to the work details， moves to other camps， and the brutalities in which they were forced to endure。This was one of those you hate to love it books。 The material itself with stick with you long after you finish reading， but the will to live， to This was a very interesting read。 From the author， we get an inside look at what it was like to live in the concentration camps that the German's were using for those who they considered undesirables。 We follow Jozsef through his journey， from his arrival， to the work details， moves to other camps， and the brutalities in which they were forced to endure。This was one of those you hate to love it books。 The material itself with stick with you long after you finish reading， but the will to live， to survive is there。 I admired the author for his frank and honest look at what it was like。 I am sure that there are things that he did not write about。 However， to get a look at the camps through his eyes， and to see the unwavering conviction in which they continued to hope for freedom， and to survive is unlike any other book I have read。 Ghastly， haunting， and brutal - this book will continue to stay with you。 。。。more
Gab
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I listened to the audiobook of the English translationI have read many memoirs and autobiographies written by survivors of the Holocaust， and every time， I learn new information， get a better understanding of the absolutely unimaginable atrocities that people have had to endure。 This book is no exception。 Very well written， and the audiobook narration is clear。 Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC。
Janalyn Prude
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Throughout the book Cold Crematorium we learn how Jozeph Debreczeni survived years of hell in an internment camp the book from chapter 1 goes right in to the nightmare of an overcrowded train where everyone is standing up men women and children and their arrival not bringing any reprieve from their torment。 For years they would want news as much as food they would eat potato soup with only potato rinds giving it the name potato soup。 Men he knew that were dapper dressers were an old tattered clo Throughout the book Cold Crematorium we learn how Jozeph Debreczeni survived years of hell in an internment camp the book from chapter 1 goes right in to the nightmare of an overcrowded train where everyone is standing up men women and children and their arrival not bringing any reprieve from their torment。 For years they would want news as much as food they would eat potato soup with only potato rinds giving it the name potato soup。 Men he knew that were dapper dressers were an old tattered clothes trading bread for a teaspoon of sugar and even others who would eat the lice off there mattress just to have something in their stomach。 The Nazis who they called the grays would take everything from the food that was sent for them to the golden their mouth and thought nothing of it to kick beat and even kill at their own will。 By the time they are freed he is even too ill to get off his cott。 This is a heartbreaking first hand account of the hell that millions of people suffered thanks to Hitler and the Germans and others who called there self Nazis。 There was only so much of this book I could read at a time it truly is heartbreaking and no matter how many books on World War II you have bred to know this was an account from someone who experienced it makes it even more heartbreaking 。 I definitely recommend this book to those who have an interest in history I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review。 。。。more
Dana
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Incredibly horrifying， incredibly well written。 I will be back with an in-depth review after I process the thoughts and emotions that arose while reading this book。
Jessica Dickenson
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"Come here， you visionaries who create with pen， chalk， stone， or paintbrush; all of you who’ve ever sought to conjure up the grimace of suffering and death; prophets of the danse macabre， engravers of terror， scribes of hells— come here！"I don't want to give this book 5 stars -because no one should have to experience this type of horror- but everyone should read this book。 There is so much Holocaust literature out there but this book gives a fresh insight into Auschwitz and the experiences of t "Come here， you visionaries who create with pen， chalk， stone， or paintbrush; all of you who’ve ever sought to conjure up the grimace of suffering and death; prophets of the danse macabre， engravers of terror， scribes of hells— come here！"I don't want to give this book 5 stars -because no one should have to experience this type of horror- but everyone should read this book。 There is so much Holocaust literature out there but this book gives a fresh insight into Auschwitz and the experiences of the death camps。 I learned so much about the layout， the forced labor， the intricate hierarchy， and the absolute struggle for survival。 I didn't love this book， but I needed this book。 。。。more
Chelsea Pittman
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Obviously this is not going to be a fun read。 But as with most things dealing with the Holocaust it is an important read。I have read a lot of books about the Holocaust and this revealed some things I had never heard of。 Most books on this subject try to have uplifting， powerful dialogue。 Jozsef Debreczeni does not sugar coat anything。 There is no strong， survivor mentality。 He simply tries to get through each day while watching the men around him do the same and often， lose。 Most of what you rea Obviously this is not going to be a fun read。 But as with most things dealing with the Holocaust it is an important read。I have read a lot of books about the Holocaust and this revealed some things I had never heard of。 Most books on this subject try to have uplifting， powerful dialogue。 Jozsef Debreczeni does not sugar coat anything。 There is no strong， survivor mentality。 He simply tries to get through each day while watching the men around him do the same and often， lose。 Most of what you read in Cold Crematorium will be things you've already heard but I believe it is important for every voice to be heard。 I'm glad this book was able to be translated and shared。 May we all learn from this book as similar situations and hatred are being spread through the country。 I enjoyed the narrator and felt like he conveyed what was needed without putting on a cheesy performance。Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to Cold Crematorium by Jozsef Debreczeni。 I have written this review voluntarily。 。。。more
Brenda
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Cold Crematorium by József Debreczeni is one of the most excruciating Holocaust survivor memoirs I have ever read。 and am likely to ever read。 The vivid words are unflinching and raw， full of incomprehensible grim despair， deep heartache， humiliation， suffering and layer upon layer of anguish。 It took me a long time to digest and process and I still struggle with the knowledge that human beings are capable of inflicting such demonic depravity on fellow human beings。 The author was a Hungarian jo Cold Crematorium by József Debreczeni is one of the most excruciating Holocaust survivor memoirs I have ever read。 and am likely to ever read。 The vivid words are unflinching and raw， full of incomprehensible grim despair， deep heartache， humiliation， suffering and layer upon layer of anguish。 It took me a long time to digest and process and I still struggle with the knowledge that human beings are capable of inflicting such demonic depravity on fellow human beings。 The author was a Hungarian journalist and poet who was forced to slave for other slaves in several killing camps during World War II。 Along with millions of others， he enduring filthy death trains， extreme starvation， lice infestations， painful wooden clogs which didn't fit， scraps of rags to wear in all weather， torture， exhaustion， infected drinking water and seeing death on a daily basis。 He became one of the "skeleton-people" and at his last death camp he was told if you can move， you work。 The only way out was death。 There was no such thing as survival。 Waiting naked for liberation at the cold crematorium， conditions were so severe there were rivers of excrement between bunks people had to wade through。 Fighting over a single carrot in the mud or potato peel treasure is heartbreaking as are bargaining details， a tiny cube of bread for a homemade cigarette。 Debreczeni describes hierarchy amongst the Nazis and prisoners alike， the concept of Appell， glittering silver lice larvae and utter desolation。 Only much worse。 It always got worse。 It is impossible to wrap one's mind around even one of these situations for 24 hours。 Debreczeni barely survived and thankfully wrote about his experiences。 He was a true hero。You will not enjoy reading this book。 However， what you will learn will enrich your heart and mind in a very meaningful way that will crush you but also build you up。 It was an honour to read Cold Crematorium， something I will never， ever forget。 My sincere thank you to St。 Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this phenomenal book， one which should be required reading for everyone。 I am grateful that many survivors told their stories。 。。。more
Susan F
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"I want to live; I want to go home。。。 To run amok taking revenge， calling to account and meting out justice。。。"Jozsef Debreczeni had to have been a strong-willed man to ever have survived the absolute heinous treatment he and other Jewish victims endured at the hands of their Nazi captors。 The incredibly sad thing is the SS used weak minded and selfish prisoners to take part in the cruel and abusive slavery of those who were in internment camps。 Debreczeni wrote a highly descriptive account of t "I want to live; I want to go home。。。 To run amok taking revenge， calling to account and meting out justice。。。"Jozsef Debreczeni had to have been a strong-willed man to ever have survived the absolute heinous treatment he and other Jewish victims endured at the hands of their Nazi captors。 The incredibly sad thing is the SS used weak minded and selfish prisoners to take part in the cruel and abusive slavery of those who were in internment camps。 Debreczeni wrote a highly descriptive account of the enslavement and starvation of the men he was trying to survive with in the "Life in the Land of Auschwitz。"I received a copy of this book translation that is published in English by St。 Martin's Press from NetGalley。 This is my unsolicited opinion about this historical record by the Hungarian Journalist and poet。 For decades I have read many true accounts and fictional titles based on the horrific Nazi Holocaust。 This book written by a male survivor is one of the most intense I have read。 He and his fellow captives were used as slaves and put through absolute inhumane treatment。 This is not an easy read by any means。 I had to read some 'fluff' material after each session with this book。 The will and strength of mind of a human being is an incredible thing until the body can endure no more。 The writer is not overly graphic but is quite matter of fact about what was done in the insane world so many had been thrust into。 The inhumane treatment is beyond belief， yet I do believe。 It sickens my heart to understand that a certain group could conjure up such acts to control other human beings。 They were able to prompt the weak-minded， selfish， criminal and ignorant beings to watch over， torture， degrade and starve others to the point of no return。 Eule， Berkovits， Furstenstein and Dornhau were cruel and hopeless destinations this man survived。 That anyone survived is a miracle。 。。。more
Calista Wielgos
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book。I’m so glad this book was translated into English， so I could read it。 It’s real and raw and shows the horrors of the Holocaust。 Listening to how everyone in the camps suffered and were treated as animals was awful， but necessary。 Stories like this need to be heard。
Jeanne Alfveby Crea
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I could not put this book down。 Author József Debreczeni holds nothing back in his account of being a prisoner at various slave labor camps during WWII。 He is a journalist， and I found his account riveting。 His perspective of the hierarchy of the camps， the cruelty of their fellow prisoners put in positions of power， the starvation， the back breaking work， the cruelty， illnesses， death， as well as the friendships made， and the kindnesses of a few kept me turning pages。"Soon we were to be sufferi I could not put this book down。 Author József Debreczeni holds nothing back in his account of being a prisoner at various slave labor camps during WWII。 He is a journalist， and I found his account riveting。 His perspective of the hierarchy of the camps， the cruelty of their fellow prisoners put in positions of power， the starvation， the back breaking work， the cruelty， illnesses， death， as well as the friendships made， and the kindnesses of a few kept me turning pages。"Soon we were to be suffering participants in what yesterday had been a foggy， distant horror。""Right or left。 To a life of slavery or to death in the gas chamber。" "As for them， those on the left， no on saw them ever again。""One thing is already clear: we won't ever again be seeing the bags we left by the boxcars。""We've arrived in Auschwitz， in whose wooden buildings hundreds of thousands of deportees from every corner of Europe have been crammed by those running amok with racial madness。""With systematic resourcefulness the Nazis created in their death camps a subtle hierarchy of the pariahs。。。。。。the allocation of food， the discipline， the direct supervision of work， and the first degree of terror were in fact entrusted to slave drivers chosen randomly from among the deportees。""Despair doesn't look through calendars， and it pays no heed to planning。 Tomorrow is shrouded in a fog of distance so hopeless that it might as well be the next millennium， when people might be wandering about in skirts or tunics， when there won't be relocation camps and， perhaps， the guiltless need not be punished。"I googled him after reading his account， and couldn't find too much。 His birth name is Josef Bruner。 Josef Debreczeni is his professional pen name。 I would love to know more about his life after survival。 Did any of his friends or family survive？ I highly recommend this "first English language edition of a lost memoir by a Holocaust survivor"。 It is an eye opening perspective on the true horrors of slave labor and death camps during WWII。 。。。more
Lisa Konet
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I have been on a roll reading factual accounts about the Holocaust。 This is probably the most brutal account from a Jewish male that I read and that he was a journalist and poet。 I felt this gave him a unique perspective to detail the atrocities that he and other inmates had in his first camp in Hungary but to when it became a survival of the fittest at Auschwitz。Thank heavens he survived and was able to share his experiences to educate the world。 For ignorant people who do not believe this happ I have been on a roll reading factual accounts about the Holocaust。 This is probably the most brutal account from a Jewish male that I read and that he was a journalist and poet。 I felt this gave him a unique perspective to detail the atrocities that he and other inmates had in his first camp in Hungary but to when it became a survival of the fittest at Auschwitz。Thank heavens he survived and was able to share his experiences to educate the world。 For ignorant people who do not believe this happened or doubt the severity。。。。 here is your reading homework！ This was written with such courage and honesty。 I felt like I was there with Jozsef！Highly recommended account of the Holocaust from a primary source。Thanks to Netgalley， Jozsef Debreczeni and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review。Available: 1/23/2024 。。。more
Andrea
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József Debreczeni was a journalist; he wrote his memoir of surviving a year at Auschwitz and the “Cold Crematorium”—the so-called hospital of the forced labor camp Dörnhau。 This was first published in Hungarian in 1950 and recently translated into multiple languages…the delay due to the Cold War。The book makes you feel the raw emotions of fear， hope， and desperation。 While a very tough subject and filled with hope to survive。 The translation is beautiful。 The narration was perfect for such a sad József Debreczeni was a journalist; he wrote his memoir of surviving a year at Auschwitz and the “Cold Crematorium”—the so-called hospital of the forced labor camp Dörnhau。 This was first published in Hungarian in 1950 and recently translated into multiple languages…the delay due to the Cold War。The book makes you feel the raw emotions of fear， hope， and desperation。 While a very tough subject and filled with hope to survive。 The translation is beautiful。 The narration was perfect for such a sad story。Thank you， NetGalley and Macmillan Audio， for the chance to review this heartbreaking memoir。 。。。more
Lark Benobi
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An entirely new voice and new perspective on the Holocaust。 This memoir is shocking， elegant， sardonic， humane， and meticulously told。 The details of daily life。 The pettiness。 The competing like animals for a scrap of horse fat， the scrabbling to be the first to steal the underwear from a man who has just died。 The occasional bright dazzle of kindness。 The uselessness of kindness。 The necessity of kindness。 The many ways a man can face death。 The many ways a man's physical body can fail。 It's a An entirely new voice and new perspective on the Holocaust。 This memoir is shocking， elegant， sardonic， humane， and meticulously told。 The details of daily life。 The pettiness。 The competing like animals for a scrap of horse fat， the scrabbling to be the first to steal the underwear from a man who has just died。 The occasional bright dazzle of kindness。 The uselessness of kindness。 The necessity of kindness。 The many ways a man can face death。 The many ways a man's physical body can fail。 It's an upending experience to read this memoir and to realize there is so much more to be said about the death camps。 Debreczeni is bearing witness to the same lived experience as Levi and Wiesel， who between them wrote the first， great， defining works about the Holocaust to be translated into English， published many decades ago。 What Debreczeni noticed， who he was as a person and what he chose to record， is so different。 I read this as audiobook: Laurence Dobiesz's narration is masterful。 。。。more
Cheryl
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Reading a memoir written by a person who has lived through the Holocaust is truly heartbreaking。 The author takes us along on his devastating journey through workcamps and deathcamps of Nazi Germany with the horrific details front and center as only an accomplished writer can do。 As he tells the stories of himself and the men around him， how some survived and others didn't， how they were treated as less than animals， how the senseless brutality of their captors led them deeper and deeper in desp Reading a memoir written by a person who has lived through the Holocaust is truly heartbreaking。 The author takes us along on his devastating journey through workcamps and deathcamps of Nazi Germany with the horrific details front and center as only an accomplished writer can do。 As he tells the stories of himself and the men around him， how some survived and others didn't， how they were treated as less than animals， how the senseless brutality of their captors led them deeper and deeper in despair， the reader wonders how this could be？ To what levels of depravity do people sink in order to try to prove their supposed superiority。。。。and why？？ These are the words that need to be repeated over and over again in the world we live in now --- when we need to be sure this part of history is never forgotten and is taught to all young people in order to show that this is something that DID happen and CAN happen again if we are not all aware of how it begins。 The perseverance and the will to come out on the other side for the survivors of the camps， and be able to tell the stories， has added a priceless part of history。 Thank you to NetGalley and St。 Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy。 Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own。 #NetGalley #ColdCrematorium 。。。more
Tag
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cold crematorium reporting from the land of auschwitz