After Auschwitz: The Inspiring True Story of a WW2 Holocaust Survivor

by Yehudit Harel

After surviving the worst war in history, Vera is not afraid to fight another.

1944. Czechoslovakia. Vera “Verushka” Roth is thirteen years old when she is torn away from her happy and comfortable life and sent to Auschwitz. At the camp’s gates, she is advised by prisoners to lie about her age, a little lie that saves her from certain death.
Not knowing the fate of the rest of her family, Vera holds on to her mother, relying on her love and protection to survive the camp’s horrifying and inhumane conditions. When the two are finally released at the end of the war, they set off to pick up the broken pieces of their lives.

Trying to find meaning in life after total devastation, Vera joins Hashomer Hatzair, a Jewish youth movement helping survivors in the aftermath of the war. Empowered by their optimistic vision of revival, she chooses to go by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, and is determined to start anew in Israel.

But even though she survived the worst atrocities in history, Vera is on her own and must face extreme challenges in an unknown and volatile land. As war erupts in Israel and her new home comes under constant fire, Vera must prove she has what it takes to fight for her new life.

After Auschwitz tells the inspiring true story of Holocaust survivor Yehudit Harel and is a heartbreaking and inspiring testament to the power of hope, family and perseverance in times of strife.

Genres: Historical Fiction

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 22, 2025

Reviews

[Constance M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving recollection of life before and after WWII

How wonderful to read the story of the author’s upbringing and life after imprisonment.

So many books focus on the horrors; this one focuses on family, love and adjusting to life after losing almost everything during those years.

[Cassandra Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book.. ugh always break my heart for these people who suffered.

[Lis Aubertin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book about Jewish life in the 1930'es. The location is in a town bordering Hungary in Chezkoslovakia. It follows the author's childhood and family life. At the same time the world situation is described. Evidently anti-semitism already existing prior to the rise of the fascists movements in Europe. Most interesting was reading about the strong network the Jews had in place organizing their exodus to Israel and their various supportive organizations. Evidently the British Palestine Authority limited the numbers of Jews admitted to Palestine in order not to provoke the Arab nations into additional warfare. They went so far to intercept vessels carrying refugees under false flag and returned them to the port of origin. In view of current events I would have been most interested in her reaction to the displacement of the original inhabitants primarily 700,000 Arabs and 50,000 Jews and 50,000 Christians. Life in the kibbutz and the whole impressive accomplishments of the author and her family during a relatively short time is unique. The author and her family had the challenge of two mentally ill children. The support and organization of society is exceptionally and inspirational.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gripping Tale of Survival and Hope...

In After Auschwitz, Yehudit Harel describes her journey from a happy childhood in Czechoslovakia to the heart of Auschwitz with raw honesty and gentle elegance. A single, desperate lie saves Vera Roth's life at the age of thirteen, and her mother's everlasting love shines brightly in the face of unimaginable evil. Harel's survival goes beyond the physical; it demonstrates undying faith, ferocious resilience, and the strength of the human spirit. She chooses to go by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, as she faces new challenges and forges a new identity with courage and conviction. This memoir is filled with both tension and tenderness, telling not only the horror of the Holocaust but also of renewal and hope. Readers will be left heartbroken and uplifted, permanently altered by her triumph over despair. Highly recommended. I volunteered to review a complimentary copy of this book.

[Andria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who don’t know history are bound to repeat it.

I’ve read many historical fiction books about the Holocaust but ashamedly this is my first non fiction read. It sounds ignorant I’m sure but to realize the real people behind such atrocities is shocking to my mind. I try my best to not be naive about the world I occupy but it’s hard for me to imagine the real lives of the people behind the photos. This helped. And in the current political climate of the US where I live it’s so scary to see some of the same things happening. May we all continue to educate ourselves and stand up for those unable to. May we never be cowards when it comes to defending other humans.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as if you were sitting in a room together and having a chat. There’s parts about religion I don’t understand (my own ignorance) but a story of how one human has come through a life of hardship. Seems easy to find books/stories/people based during WW2 but what happened after!? Refugees in their home towns with nothing but the shirt on their back and restarting life. Stark reality of restarting after war.

[DBlodgett]

The story details the life of a woman who lived before, during, and after the Holocaust. I found it surprising how often she and her relatives moved to different countries, including Isreal. Her description of living in a Kibbutz was enlightening. She concentrates on her extensive family ties. I left with a sense of what her life was like for her. She describes but doesn't dwell on the horrors of the termination camps. It's a good book to read.

[Mrs S Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read

This was a book written from the heart. Yehudit had a happy childhood which was abruptly stopped when the Germans invaded Hungary. She reclaimed her life after the war and created a life in Israel this is a book written by a determined courageous woman

[glen Fur · Rating 5 out of 5]

heart wrenching bravery

I’ve never felt so immersed in a book so truthful and heart breaking ,it’s made me have different understanding of these times when
Life for Jewish people was so bad .its a must read .

[Gloria Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factual

This is a true store of one family during WWII and the horrors they experienced. It was hard for me to be thru, due to the horrors and it is told as a documentary. The pain is there, but little reprieve.

[.]

Really puts into perspective the displacement and complete loss of identity of so many Jews. Puts a little perspective into the thinking behind some people and the whole Gaza conflict right now.

[Gloria M. Comstock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A narrative

I don't usually like narratives but this one was different for me. I felt like I was listening to a dear relative tell her life's story.

[Dawn McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been interested in learning about the Holocaust and Yehudit (Vera) tells the story of how her happy, comfortable life as a child was disrupted by being sent to Auschwitz and the tragic journey she faced after. The ending was unexpected and I do recommend having tissues close by.