The Nazis Knew My Name: A Remarkable Story of Survival and Courage in Auschwitz
- Downloads：3612
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-03-17 17:21:59
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Magda Hellinger
- ISBN：B08VJMSZXK
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Awallens
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I was conflicted about this book， but gave it four stars anyway。 I didn't like the tone of this book。 I didn't like what the author had to do to survive， and I don't like the tone in which she told it。 But having never gone through something as hellish as what she went through， I also can't say I wouldn't have the same tone when it was all said and done。 I think it's an important book for everyone to read， to understand the holocaust actually happened。 But some thing seemed off to me and I don't I was conflicted about this book， but gave it four stars anyway。 I didn't like the tone of this book。 I didn't like what the author had to do to survive， and I don't like the tone in which she told it。 But having never gone through something as hellish as what she went through， I also can't say I wouldn't have the same tone when it was all said and done。 I think it's an important book for everyone to read， to understand the holocaust actually happened。 But some thing seemed off to me and I don't know what it was。 Still it resonated with me， and I read it in one sitting。 。。。more
Floor Flawless
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Indrukwekkend verhaal。 Magda bezat veel lef en wist daarmee velen te redden van de gaskamer door haar （gedwongen） positie。 Niks meer dan respect voor die vrouw en het is een wonder dat ze de Holocaust overleefde ondanks de risico's die ze nam in het kamp。Bevat foto's en een verklarende woordenlijst achterin het boek。 Wat me met momenten ernaar liet bladeren tijdens het lezen。 Indrukwekkend verhaal。 Magda bezat veel lef en wist daarmee velen te redden van de gaskamer door haar （gedwongen） positie。 Niks meer dan respect voor die vrouw en het is een wonder dat ze de Holocaust overleefde ondanks de risico's die ze nam in het kamp。Bevat foto's en een verklarende woordenlijst achterin het boek。 Wat me met momenten ernaar liet bladeren tijdens het lezen。 。。。more
♡Ellie
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I’ve always admired the stories of triumph and survival from WWII， and with every memoir I read， I gain a little more understanding。 The stories should never be forgotten， instead should live on， to be read by many。 I will continue reading and learning as many stories about individuals like Magda。 different point of view during the Holocaust， one we may not have seen before。 It was gut wrenching， and so worth the read。 I hope you all make this part of your myst red non fiction。 Essential reading I’ve always admired the stories of triumph and survival from WWII， and with every memoir I read， I gain a little more understanding。 The stories should never be forgotten， instead should live on， to be read by many。 I will continue reading and learning as many stories about individuals like Magda。 different point of view during the Holocaust， one we may not have seen before。 It was gut wrenching， and so worth the read。 I hope you all make this part of your myst red non fiction。 Essential reading in my opinion。 。。。more
Brenda
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The Nazis Knew My Name is an phenomenal book in every way。。。evocative， chilling， tense， heart crushing， thought provoking and memorable。 Despite the horrific true stories， there is also a sense of optimism and hope。 Magda Hellinger miraculously survived more than three years in Auschwitz-Birkenau and wrote and spoke passion into her experiences。 Her daughter Maya Lee poured her heart into this important book which should be required reading for everyone。 Both mother and daughter needed this stor The Nazis Knew My Name is an phenomenal book in every way。。。evocative， chilling， tense， heart crushing， thought provoking and memorable。 Despite the horrific true stories， there is also a sense of optimism and hope。 Magda Hellinger miraculously survived more than three years in Auschwitz-Birkenau and wrote and spoke passion into her experiences。 Her daughter Maya Lee poured her heart into this important book which should be required reading for everyone。 Both mother and daughter needed this story to be told to remind it is critical that this should NEVER happen again。Kindergarten teacher Magda was amongst the first Jews deported to Auschwitz and one of the few to survive over three years。 She writes vividly and matter-of-factly with stoicism and without pity about the horrors she experienced and witnessed including "making sport"， dehumanization， standing cells， rats， endless roll calls， hunger， dangerous latrines， cracking lice and "up the chimney"。 She often risked her life for others and came close to death herself several times。 As her mother and rabbi told her， she was destined for a special mission。 She certainly lived as though she did。 Her organizational skills meant she was selected to become Blockälteste （experimental Block 10 supervisor） and Lagerälteste （camp supervisor） which placed her into the general dreaded despised German category including Irma Grese， the "Hyena of Auschwitz" whom she knew。 Josef Mengele knew her， too。 She was forced to discipline prisoners and after the war was accused by a few of cruelty。 Unbeknownst to them it was to save their lives， at least for another day。 Not only did she endure three years of torment but also a death march。 The descriptions of what happened to those in this book after the war are fascinating。 The glossary of terms is very helpful。 The interviewees' quotes at the back are very telling of Magda's acts of kindness， courage， eternal optimism and quick thinking。Though I have read many， many books on the Holocaust， this one has a special place in my heart。 Clearly the subject matter is very difficult but those who read this will be enriched， rewarded and inspired。 My sincere thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the honour of reading this haunting and exceptional book。 I cannot adequately convey my thoughts but am extremely grateful these stories have been put to paper。 。。。more
Kirsty
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It was an absolute privilege to read Magda's story。 What a brave and inspiring woman。 It was an absolute privilege to read Magda's story。 What a brave and inspiring woman。 。。。more
Susanbarto
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I could not put this book down。 It is amazing what this woman was able to do in helping others。 Written well so that it is easily understood。 Will be sharing with my students and encouraging them to read it。
Monique Farrell
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What an incredible memoir。 I’ve read so many books regarding the holocaust and I still can’t comprehend what actually happened。 I admire people like Magda Hellinger who after all they went through， had the courage to speak about it。 What an inspiration！
Suzanne Kennedy
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It beggars belief to contemplate the horrors that these poor people had to endure at the hands of cruel sadistic German SS officers 。 At the moment the world is going through the coronavirus pandemic and people are whingeing and whining and feeling sorry for themselves。 Reading this book certainly puts our life back into Perspective。 I’ve read a lot of books about the Holocaust 。。 Auschwitz， Birkenau， Ravensbruck。。 And every time I hear of a new horror。 The one that struck me this time was it if It beggars belief to contemplate the horrors that these poor people had to endure at the hands of cruel sadistic German SS officers 。 At the moment the world is going through the coronavirus pandemic and people are whingeing and whining and feeling sorry for themselves。 Reading this book certainly puts our life back into Perspective。 I’ve read a lot of books about the Holocaust 。。 Auschwitz， Birkenau， Ravensbruck。。 And every time I hear of a new horror。 The one that struck me this time was it if anybody got sick in a block then everyone from that block was murdered … even if they were healthy。 Magda’s ingenuity in keeping her women alive is inspiring。 Maya… you must be very proud of your mum 。。。more
Chris
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I took a break from reading Holocaust books but this memoir was gripping and moving。 Magda’s story as a prisoner functionary in Auschwitz is remarkable as she tried hard to help as many as she could under horrific and inhumane circumstances。
Peta Jade Fisher
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Really well written granted it was all taken from snippets from a journal！ Super compelling and I was hooked at every page。 I appreciated the graphic/honest descriptions， it’s sometimes easier to grasp what the writer is saying when it’s blunt and brutal。 （But if you’re sensitive， I’d tread lightly in some parts！）
Mickayla
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Despite the topic， I very easy to read biography。 I felt like I knew her character by the end and the truth of how her family came to be was quite dramatic evenconsidering the situation。
Jordan Drumgold
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A real eyewitness account of the Holocaust and all it's horror and raw emotion and the people who strived to keep themselves and others around them sane and alive。 Meet the monsters and there human sides and the sheer survival of the human spirit A real eyewitness account of the Holocaust and all it's horror and raw emotion and the people who strived to keep themselves and others around them sane and alive。 Meet the monsters and there human sides and the sheer survival of the human spirit 。。。more
Steve Maxwell
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Over the past several years there has been so many histories and biographies about World War II released。 I personally believe it is a good thing， and important for humanity to prevent anything like that from ever happening again。Having said that， I found this biography to be impressive， and beautifully told。 Magda， like all other Jews at this time， did whatever she had to to survive，While， to me， it seems wrong to say that I 'enjoyed' a story that tells of the death of so many， and the attempte Over the past several years there has been so many histories and biographies about World War II released。 I personally believe it is a good thing， and important for humanity to prevent anything like that from ever happening again。Having said that， I found this biography to be impressive， and beautifully told。 Magda， like all other Jews at this time， did whatever she had to to survive，While， to me， it seems wrong to say that I 'enjoyed' a story that tells of the death of so many， and the attempted annihilation of an entire race， I found the book to be a fascinating read and I stand in awe and admiration of horrors that Magda endured。 。。。more
Lysh
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Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review。 I always find it hard to express my feelings about holocaust literature。 It is heartwrenching and soul-crushing， yet so important to learn about and engage with in an effort to widen out understanding about how such atrocities came about and the steps we should take to prevent them from happening again。 Magna's story is one of courage and love。 It was certainly a unique perspective that I hadn't ye Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review。 I always find it hard to express my feelings about holocaust literature。 It is heartwrenching and soul-crushing， yet so important to learn about and engage with in an effort to widen out understanding about how such atrocities came about and the steps we should take to prevent them from happening again。 Magna's story is one of courage and love。 It was certainly a unique perspective that I hadn't yet seen in holocaust literature， and that was indeed appreciated。 The foreward and epilogue added by her daughter also build upon the experiences being told。 The writing style flows well and gives just enough detail to support the audience's understanding whilst also keeping a good pace to move through her memoir。 If you are someone who seeks novels about the holocaust then this one is for you。 。。。more
Rebecca Mutch
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Andy H
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Be warned， this book is an account of a young Jewish woman's three years of survival in Auschwitz。 It can be harrowing。 The book is a reminder that Thomas Hobbes （Leviathan） was right。 He survived the English civil war， which also saw civilised men become savages。 Be warned， this book is an account of a young Jewish woman's three years of survival in Auschwitz。 It can be harrowing。 The book is a reminder that Thomas Hobbes （Leviathan） was right。 He survived the English civil war， which also saw civilised men become savages。 。。。more
Kate
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Review in progress。。。。
Susan Keller
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Good book telling of one womans survival in the concentration camp as one of the women overseeing a barracks， Contrary to many depictions of these women of a degree of power， she was able to use this litte power to save other women， a very interesting memoir
Diana
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A moving and powerful account of a brave and intelligent woman’s time in Auschwitz in which the diabolical conditions she confronted and circumvented to save lives of other prisoners are conveyed without relying too heavily on graphic descriptions。 That she herself survived to provide （through her own writing and her daughter’s discoveries） this little-known angle of life inside a concentration camp is something to be thankful for - and required reading not only so the world does not forget but A moving and powerful account of a brave and intelligent woman’s time in Auschwitz in which the diabolical conditions she confronted and circumvented to save lives of other prisoners are conveyed without relying too heavily on graphic descriptions。 That she herself survived to provide （through her own writing and her daughter’s discoveries） this little-known angle of life inside a concentration camp is something to be thankful for - and required reading not only so the world does not forget but also for the realisation of what an individual can achieve in the most unlikely of circumstances。 。。。more
BookishlyWise
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Cant wait to finish this book。
Christine Gilbert
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I started this book at lunch time， and finished it 8 hours later。 Such a horrific recollection of such a terrible time in world history。 It was captivating but also so hard to read of the atrocities suffered by those in the camps。 Having visited Auschwitz only recently， I could visualise some of the buildings mentioned in the story and this brought it to life in my mind。 Let’s hope that stories like these from survivors helps to spare the world from further atrocities like this in the future。 Th I started this book at lunch time， and finished it 8 hours later。 Such a horrific recollection of such a terrible time in world history。 It was captivating but also so hard to read of the atrocities suffered by those in the camps。 Having visited Auschwitz only recently， I could visualise some of the buildings mentioned in the story and this brought it to life in my mind。 Let’s hope that stories like these from survivors helps to spare the world from further atrocities like this in the future。 Those who perished and those who survived must never be forgotten。 Thank goodness for people like Magda who helped ease and save the lives of others as much as possible， while putting herself in danger。 。。。more
Bookoholiccafe
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The Nazis Knew My Name by Magda Hellinger， Maya Lee， David Brewster is another extraordinary touching memoir by a Holocaust survivor。Set in 1942， the story is based on Magda’s story and it is very well researched by his daughter。Magda is a twenty-five years old kindergarten teacher who was amongst the first group of Jews that were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp。She was selected to be in charge of a hundred other women in experimental Block 10。 She worked hard and built good relationshi The Nazis Knew My Name by Magda Hellinger， Maya Lee， David Brewster is another extraordinary touching memoir by a Holocaust survivor。Set in 1942， the story is based on Magda’s story and it is very well researched by his daughter。Magda is a twenty-five years old kindergarten teacher who was amongst the first group of Jews that were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp。She was selected to be in charge of a hundred other women in experimental Block 10。 She worked hard and built good relationships with women she was in charge of as well as several other Nazis senior officers。Concentration camp stories always hit me hard。 This was another touching story。 A story of courage， hope， and survival。 。。。more
Janilyn Kocher
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What a powerful book！ I don’t think I have read a story of any Holocaust survivor who had the role as functionary at Auschwitz like Magda Hellinger did。 She was a natural leader and did what she could for as many people as she could， which is awesome。 I had never heard of anyone saving victims from Mengel’s selections， but she did。 I am grateful her daughter shared her story with the world。 It’s a story of someone who persevered in the face of incredible adversity and just kept going。 Thanks to What a powerful book！ I don’t think I have read a story of any Holocaust survivor who had the role as functionary at Auschwitz like Magda Hellinger did。 She was a natural leader and did what she could for as many people as she could， which is awesome。 I had never heard of anyone saving victims from Mengel’s selections， but she did。 I am grateful her daughter shared her story with the world。 It’s a story of someone who persevered in the face of incredible adversity and just kept going。 Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the early copy。 。。。more
Sophie
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A slightly biased account， given who wrote it， but understandably so。 And an almost implausible amount of near misses， life saving， and bravery。 But those of us who are lucky enough to have grown up in peace and freedom would find most of the holocaust inconceivable if it hadn’t actually happened。 I didn’t discover until the last page that it was partly written by the wife of another holocaust survivor whose memoir I read recently， Des Lee。 I would recommend this book， because I had never read o A slightly biased account， given who wrote it， but understandably so。 And an almost implausible amount of near misses， life saving， and bravery。 But those of us who are lucky enough to have grown up in peace and freedom would find most of the holocaust inconceivable if it hadn’t actually happened。 I didn’t discover until the last page that it was partly written by the wife of another holocaust survivor whose memoir I read recently， Des Lee。 I would recommend this book， because I had never read or heard about the Jewish functionaries of the concentration camps until this one。 What a difficult position they were put in， and a very fine line to have to tread。 。。。more
Mark Farley
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A wonderful （albeit occasionally harrowing account） account of life in Auschwitz。 Our subject matter here had quite the journey and managed to survive the killing machine for such a long time， by making herself somewhat indispensable to her evil captors。 Despite what she managed to achieve， I did find it rather overly self-apologetic。 In essence， while managing to save the lives of thousands， she was still a kapo （or prisoner supervisor） and aided and abetted the Third Reich to an extent。 But th A wonderful （albeit occasionally harrowing account） account of life in Auschwitz。 Our subject matter here had quite the journey and managed to survive the killing machine for such a long time， by making herself somewhat indispensable to her evil captors。 Despite what she managed to achieve， I did find it rather overly self-apologetic。 In essence， while managing to save the lives of thousands， she was still a kapo （or prisoner supervisor） and aided and abetted the Third Reich to an extent。 But then who knows what any of us would do in order to avoid the nearby looming gas chambers。 We should not be ones to judge， I suppose。 Great read though。 Fascinating and you won't get many better first hand accounts， I reckon。 。。。more
Isley Forrester
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I am still awaiting my copy。 :（11-20-21 and still do not have my copy。
Lisa Griffiths
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Poignant and thought provoking。 Can’t judge choices these women made in such horrendous circumstances。 Thereby the grace of God go I。 An important story that needed telling。
Cindy
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What an amazing woman。。。。courage， grit and determination and many， many other qualities！
Ron Baumer
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What a truly inspirational book on the suffering of the Jewish people during WW2。 The story about this amazing woman and the efforts she went through to save as many people as she could was heartbreaking and a story of true courage。 This should be on everyone’s list of books to read this year！Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review。
Susan Davies
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