Fighting Auschwitz: The Resistance Movement in the Concentration Camp

by Józef Garliński

“The definitive study of the topic.” ―Prof. Antony Polonsky, Emeritus Professor of Holocaust Studies, Brandeis University, and Chief Historian, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Winner of the SILVER AWARD for HISTORY at the 2019 Benjamin Franklin Awards. The incredible story of underground resistance among the prisoners at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp.
When the Germans opened Auschwitz in June 1940, it was a concentration camp for political prisoners, who were told on arrival that they would live no longer than three months―expanding two years later to also become a death camp for Jews. Underground resistance appeared at Auschwitz very quickly, spearheaded in 1940 by one of the bravest men ever to live, Polish army officer Captain Witold Pilecki. In this meticulously researched and highly readable work, Józef Garliński traces the evolution and operations of the principal resistance organizations among the prisoners (including communist as well as non-communist groups). He delves into the relationships among these groups, as well as their relationships with the various political and multinational factions in the prisoner population, including both male and female, and with the underground outside the camp. He describes their efforts against the brutal SS men and informers. In parallel, he documents the growth and evolution of Auschwitz itself, and the horrors of the industrialized death factory for Jews created by the Germans.
First published in English in 1975, but out of print for decades, this seminal book is now being released in a new 2nd edition with more than 200 photos and maps, and a new introduction by Prof. Antony Polonsky.
Garliński, a member of the Polish underground during WWII, was himself a prisoner at Auschwitz. With more than 200 photos and maps, five Appendices, extensive Bibliography and detailed Indexes.

Genres: History, Holocaust, Nonfiction, World War II, War

319 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1975

Reviews

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

as you would expect, this is tough to read ... it is an accurate inside view of what life was like in Auschwitz among those who were trying to resist, led by Witold Pilecki

[Taylor Church]

An excellent read without question. It is very academic in nature, with scores of footnotes, endnotes, appendices and the like. The Story is worth reading, and the historicity is impeccable. I would suggest lighter books concerning Auschwitz if you do not already have a satisfactory knowledge of WWII and the camp itself. But for the advance history student, or student of the Holocaust it is a fine and splendid read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite educational, but written like a textbook despite being advertised as more of a narrative. Very technical in parts and sometimes hard to follow because (in the totally understandable name of historic documentation) so many people with similar sounding names are included. My advice would be to give up on knowing who anyone is except the main organizer, and just approach reading it as 'someone did this thing and that's good enough.'

[Valorie Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little tome includes detailed explanations of how Nazi concentration camps functioned and the ways that brave people resisted the Nazis from within them. Incredibly detailed. Some facts have been disproven/shifted with time and revelations, but still an excellent account from someone imprisoned at Auschwitz.