The Kingdom of Auschwitz

by Otto Friedrich

"Otto Friedrich's powerful portrayal of Auschwitz is both an extraordinary reminder of the human capacity for evil and an eloquent message to humanity never to let such things happen again." --Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. "I know of no work which brings the reality of this evil place so directly, vividly, accurately, movingly and clearly. . . .It is quite simply the best short account ever produced." --Paul Johnson A short and thoroughly accurate history of the Auschwitz concentration camp, this compelling book is authoritative in its factual details, devastating in its emotional impact.

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 1994

About the author

Otto Friedrich was born in Boston and graduated from Harvard, where his father was a political science professor. He took a while to find his literary stride. His career took him from the copy desk at Stars and Stripes to a top writing job at Time, with stops in between with the United Press in London and Paris and with The Daily News and Newsweek in New York.

But it was the seven years he spent with The Saturday Evening Post, including four as its last managing editor, that established Mr. Friedrich as a writer to be reckoned with.

When the venerable magazine folded in 1969, Mr. Friedrich, who had seen the end coming and kept meticulous notes, delineated its demise in a book, 'Decline and Fall," which was published by Harper & Row the next year. Widely hailed as both an engaging and definitive account of corporate myopia, the book, which won a George Polk Memorial Award, is still used as a textbook by both journalism and business schools, his daughter said.

From then on, Mr. Friedrich, who had tried his hand as a novelist in the 1950's and 60's and written a series of children's books with his wife, Priscilla Broughton, wrote nonfiction, turning out an average of one book every two years.

They include "Clover: A Love Story," a 1979 biography of Mrs. Henry Adams; "City of Nets: Hollywood in the 1940's" (1986); "Glenn Gould: A Life and Variations," (1989); "Olympia: Paris in the Age of Manet," (1992), and "Blood and Iron," a study of the Von Moltke family of Germany that is being published this fall.

He wrote his books, as well as reams of freelance articles and book reviews, while holding down a full-time job with Time that required him to write in a distinct style far different from the one he used at home.

Mr. Friedrich, who joined Time as a senior editor in 1971 and retired in 1990 after a decade as a senior writer, wrote 40 major cover stories, the magazine said yesterday, as well as hundreds of shorter pieces, all of them produced on an old-fashioned Royal typewriter that he was given special dispensation to continue using long after the magazine converted to computers.

Mrs. Lucas, portraying her father as a New England moralist whose life and literary interests reflected his disenchantment with much of 20th-century culture, noted that his aptitude for anachronism did not end with typewriters. "We have five rotary telephones in this house," she said.

In addition to pursuing his eclectic interests into print, Mr. Friedrich also had a knack for turning his own life into art. When he tried to grow roses, the record of his failure became a book, "The Rose Garden" (1972). When relatives were stricken with schizophrenia, his frustration drove him to produce an exhaustive study of insanity, "Going Crazy" (1976).

Reviews

[Dem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

At barely 100 pages, this book--actually a chapter from a larger work so more accurately an essay--is a very easily accomplished read. As you may guess from the title, its focus is Auschwitz, and it goes over the orders to start building this death camp to the evacuation when the Red Army approached. It's very concise, and never lingers on one thing for too long--although having read it and learned more information about these goings on, I am interested in learning more. The book was so engrossing that I felt--I don't know, almost sadistic myself for wanting to read more and more about it. Nonetheless, I believe it's very important to look into these matters, if only to realize that these horrendous acts can be committed without compunction by normal people--if not a certain person in particular, then by many others in our species who are not so different from us.

[Dolceluna ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho sempre associato il termine “regno” a qualcosa di mitico, fantasioso, grandioso, in ogni caso positivo. Il regno Disney, il regno degli dei, il regno dei cieli, il Regno delle Due Sicilie, il regno degli animali. Accostare questa parola ad Auschwitz, la terribile fabbrica della morte che non ha bisogno di presentazioni, mi ha inizialmente fatto storcere il naso. Eppure ora mi rendo conto che mai termine potrebbe essere più azzeccato. La parola “regno” indica niente meno che un luogo o ambiente in cui domina il potere di qualcuno o qualcosa: le divinità governano quello dei cieli, i Borboni quello delle Due Sicilie, i personaggi dei cartoni quello della mitica Disney....e gli assassini delle SS, col loro potere follemente arbitrario e il loro pazzo progetto, hanno governato quello di questo campo, in un angolo sperduto e paludoso della Polonia. Quindi, di cosa mi stupisco?
Auschwitz è stato un regno. Il regno della morte, della pazzia, del massimo degrado cui l’umanità è scesa, del livello più buio raggiunto dalla cattiveria dell’uomo, in tutte le sue possibili manifestazioni. Qui hanno governato dei veri e propri assassini che hanno annientato milioni e milioni di uomini dopo averli privati della loro stessa identità. Potere e dannazione. Tutto torna, dunque, ed è così terribile.
Questo testo di Otto Friedrich, storico e giornalista americano, pubblicato nel 1982, è considerato un classico sulla letteratura della Shoah e nello specifico di questo regno maledetto, del quale ci racconta, con lucidità, il progetto, la nascita, il funzionamento e lo smantellamento. Avendo già letto parecchio sull’argomento, diversi fatti narrati non mi sono parsi nuovi, mentre altri, corredati da testimonianze di sopravvissuti, altro non hanno fatto altro che arricchire la mia conoscenza sul tema. Anche perché purtroppo è un tema talmente vasto e complesso, fatto da tante storie, simili e diverse, che non si smette mai di imparare, di indignarsi e di interrogarsi. Di conseguenza ammetto di essermi “gustata” pianamente questo piccolo saggio, per quanto si possa “gustare” un libro del genere, con tutto l’orrore che ne esce dalla pagine, e lo considero sicuramente una lettura fondamentale per chi vuole approcciarsi al tema della Shoah o anche solo approfondirlo.
Molto bella l’edizione della Solferino con la copertina morbida e lucida.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent mini-history of Auschwitz, covering all the salient points in a mere 100-odd pages. I, who have read over 250 books on the Holocaust, learned something from this book in spite of its short length. I would especially recommend this to people who need to know about Auschwitz but aren't up for intensive study on the subject. I had to read this for a World War II history class.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short 100 page read that concisely describes the horrors of Auschwitz. The insane thinking behind the building and operation of the camp is aptly captured. The horror is that the genocides have continued in Cambodia, Rwanda and the Sudan. It seems history is doomed to repeat itself.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow just finished this read for 20th century genocides in summer moon. it is so short but so powerful. I've been engrossed in it for the past hour literally; it's freezing in here but I think the chills I got from the book made me even colder. It outlines the horrors of Auschwitz from its conception to its legacy today, and the writing makes it super easy to follow. def recommend if anyone is interested in learning more about perhaps the most central aspect of the Holocaust

[Marcello Giovagnoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressionante. Nell'ascoltarlo mi sono immedesimato nei protagonisti del documento, vittime e carnefici. L'essenza dell'uomo è fatta di bene e di male e questo evento ha dimostrato come una parte di uomini sia arrivata al nocciolo dell'esistenza ma sia scesa sul versante del male e qui sia rimasta a discapito di un'altra parte di uomini. Il male che provoca piacere, gratificazione fin che, ad un certo punto, vicini alla sconfitta, quasi ci si stupisce quando altri arrivati ti dicono che stai vivendo il Male, con la emme maiuscola. Da leggere o ascoltare per conoscere la profondità del male a cui l'umanità è in grado di arrivare.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is certainly one of the best (and certainly the most important) book that I will read this year. The writing contained within this slight 103 page text was compelling, insightful and absolutely horrifying in what it detailed. There will never be a time when this account of the horrors of Auschwitz will not be important. Before beginning the Kingdom of Auschwitz I thought I knew a lot about that death camp, about Holocaust. But there was so much I didn't know, or had never fully comprehended. This is a powerful book, an important book, and frighteningly necessary in 2019 - 74 years after the evacuation and liberation of Auschwitz.

"None of us can approach Auschwitz... without all the intellectual and spiritual burdens that we carry with us. We see Auschwitz and we judge Auschwitz according to the way we see and judge the human race, and life, and God."

[John L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book describes life and death in only one of the Nazi death camps, but it was perhaps the worst of them. If you think you have read of the worst atrocities, The Kingdom of Auschwitz may convince you otherwise. I don't recommend it for everyone, because even if you have a strong stomach, you might still have nightmares after reading it.
I recently purchased a large lot of books which includes many volumes about the Holocaust. I'm reading them so that when I feel that life has given me sorrows and pains and disappointments, I will realize how insignificant they truly are. This should be required reading for our children and grand-children and great-grand-children so that civilization will NEVER FORGET and NEVER LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!

[Seeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I thought I knew about the Holocaust but after reading this book, I realized: (a) my prior knowledge of the Holocaust was mostly surface-level, and (b) how anyone among us - include those who seem very decent and responsible - can become unimaginably cruel with no moral bearings in a short span of time.

I wept many times during my slow, painful, journey through the book and felt a great deal of love and heartache for those who suffered so much at Auschwitz. I wish the book provided more context for why the Nazis hated the Jews so much and how the Nazis could act so inhumanely.

[Eze Julius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto Friedrich’s The Kingdom of Auschwitz is not an easy book to read, but it is an important one. Friedrich writes with clarity and respect while documenting one of history’s darkest chapters. The strength of this book lies in its careful research and thoughtful presentation of historical detail. Rather than overwhelming the reader with facts, Friedrich guides them through the narrative with a steady and reflective tone. His writing shows a deep sense of responsibility toward the subject matter, ensuring that the stories of those who suffered are treated with dignity. It’s a powerful and sobering work that reminds readers why historical memory must be preserved.

[Katiuscia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Auschwitz è Auschwitz.
Tutti sanno che tipo di campo di concentramento fosse. Chi entrava lì sapeva, lo dava per certo, che non ne sarebbe mai uscito vivo.
Otto Friedrich, però, mette nero su bianco tutte le torture, le angherie, i soprusi e le barbarie che accadevano lì dentro. Descrive minuziosamente ogni angolo, ogni struttura, ogni capanno e ogni stanza, tanto che ad un certo punto sembra di essere lì dentro con loro.

Un resoconto drammatico, crudo e ahimè vero di un lagher nazista.
Una nota "negativa", secondo me, è che in tutta questa descrizione è mancato il sentimento.
Volutamente? Involontariamente? Sta di fatto che alla fine è solo un lungo resoconto analitico.

[Debbie Beeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most descriptive details I have read fron this horrible era. This knowledgable author had the date of the first influx of prisioners which were non-jews from Poland, to the last train that arrived which was from Hungry. He gave step by step details that made you feel you were right there. From the number of stairs the people were forced to walk down into the Zyklon-B chamber to how the bodies were removed. Unforgetable. He even included the infamous sweet Anne Frank.

[The Reading Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise but detailed book about Auschwitz that everyone should read in order to have a full picture of "life" in the death camp. Although it is a short book, it is not a quick read. The author's note on the sources used for writing this book suggests some further - and indispensable - readings on the matter.

[Mary Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a great job rewriting the accounts of peoples first hand experiences. He approaches this from journalistic perspective that conveys a neutral tone. He does a great job at humanizing both sides even when It was incredibly hard to read some of the content in this. It was eye opening as to how we become so complicit as a society to authority and government.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 100-page book that I understand was originally part of a larger study. Such evil, such inhumanity—again, so hard to believe that human beings are capable of these horrors. By happenstance, last night I watched the PBS documentary about Hannah Arendt (banality of evil), including videos of the trial of Adolf Eichmann. He said, “I was just following orders.”

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sicuramente è il libro più breve che io abbia letto sull'argomento, nonostante ciò l'ho trovato estremamente dettagliato, preciso e arricchente. Una breve pubblicazione le cui parole restano impresse nella mente a lungo.

[Trinity C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The only thing I have to say is if you don't like reading strictly facts, I wouldn't recommend reading this book.

[ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but effective. A really great glimpse into the authoritarian regime and its inner workings. Filled with subtle descriptions of the ironies and horrors during the camps.

[David Adjei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply touching revelation. This should never ever be repeated again in any form whatsoever.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a powerful book! Though very short, it struck my heart with blunt facts.

[Paola Fiorese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettura doverosa

[Najat Amer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very harrowing and heartbreaking to read. The details are written in vivid manner, almost as if you could have been there.

[Alessia Brunetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Alfredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

~La vita nel campo di concentramento... ci ha insegnato che tutto il mondo è, in realtà, un campo di concentramento.
Il debole lavora per il forte e se non ha forza o voglia di lavorare,lo si lascia rubare o lo si lascia morire... Non c'è crimine che l'uomo non commetterebbe pur di salvare se stesso.
E, una volta riuscito a salvarsi, commette altri crimini per ragioni sempre più futili; inizia per istinto, continua per abitudine e finisce per commetterli per piacere di commetterli... Il mondo non è governato dalla giustizia né dalla morale, il crimine non viene punito, né la virtù premiata, l'uno viene dimenticato con la stessa rapidità dell'altra.
Il mondo è governato dal potere...~

[Geral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review pending.

[Alexa McTernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my favorite memoir I read this semester!

[Elisa E · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Il regno di Auschwitz ” di Otto Friedrich pag. 187

Ammetto di aver letto questo libro quasi unicamente perché mi serviva un libro corto con la parola regno nel titolo e cercando in giro è sbucato questo.
Non sono un’amante della storia e dei romanzi storici, tanto meno di quel capitolo della storia quindi mi sono approcciata alla lettura con spirito rassegnato.
Invece il tono didascalico e giornalistico mi hanno catturata (per quel che è possibile con un argomento di questo tipo).
Forse per la prima volta ho cercato di capire veramente cosa ha voluto dire affrontare la vita in un campo di concentramento. Questo libro narra crudelmente i fatti accaduti in quegli anni dando un’idea dei numeri mostruosi delle persone che hanno perso la vita lì dentro.
Anche se il numero reale delle persone che sono morte in quel campo di concentramento non si saprà mai visto che prima di abbandonarlo i nazisti hanno cercato di distruggere ogni prova e ogni documento.
Il libro riporta le testimonianze sia dei sopravvissuti che dei carnefici attraverso gli atti dei processi senza giudicare apertamente ma rendendo evidente l’orrore.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the literature I have read on Auschwitz, this may have been the shortest, but it was the broadest in terms of disclosing the roots, history and back story of how Auschwitz came into existence. Additionally, the author paints a painfully detailed recount of life and death for those who found themselves behind the barbed wire death camp. The images the author conjures are haunting and horribly vivid, but it's an important part of history that will soon have no living survivors to testify as to the horror they experienced. May such atrocities and evil deeds never again befall on mankind. Truly, this essay sticks with you and should be considered required reading, not only for those who are dedicated to learning about the Holocaust, but by all. Written testimonies are the one thing that lives on after the survivors are gone to ensure that future generations will never be swayed as to the legitimacy of these kind of infamous events in history.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a break from all the fiction I've been reading to read this book. I had some spare time at work and thought it could be useful the next time I teach about the holocaust. The book is not very long, I was able to read in a few hours. It is well written, informative, easy to follow and interesting, although obviously heartbreaking and depressing at the same time. It is very readable for a nonfiction account, I learned a lot, and I think I could actually use portions of it with my students to help them learn about the holocaust.