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The Commandant’s Dog
A unique and hopeful novel about a girl struggling alone for survival in the cruelest camp in Poland, who receives unexpected help.
Poland, 1943. World War II is raging and Yula, a 17-year old Jewish girl, is transferred with her mother to the Skarzysko-Kamienna labor camp, home of the factory that produces shells and artillery for the German military.
The conditions in the camp are unbearable and Yula's mother is unable to survive, leaving her alone to fight for her life. However, luck is on her side and she makes a surprising new ally – Ziggy, the ferocious dog of Dr. Rost, the camp commandant in charge of carrying out the selections that decide who will live and who will die.
Motivated by a fierce will to live and Ziggy’s unexpected assistance, Yula will do anything to hold onto life and survive the greatest inferno of human history.
Through a one-of-a-kind, shocking, but inspiring story, The Commandant’s Dog proves that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can find a way to survive and grow anew.
Poland, 1943. World War II is raging and Yula, a 17-year old Jewish girl, is transferred with her mother to the Skarzysko-Kamienna labor camp, home of the factory that produces shells and artillery for the German military.
The conditions in the camp are unbearable and Yula's mother is unable to survive, leaving her alone to fight for her life. However, luck is on her side and she makes a surprising new ally – Ziggy, the ferocious dog of Dr. Rost, the camp commandant in charge of carrying out the selections that decide who will live and who will die.
Motivated by a fierce will to live and Ziggy’s unexpected assistance, Yula will do anything to hold onto life and survive the greatest inferno of human history.
Through a one-of-a-kind, shocking, but inspiring story, The Commandant’s Dog proves that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can find a way to survive and grow anew.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2021
76 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 5, 2022
This is my 3rd book of 2022. This is another incredible book called “The commandant’s dog” by Shmuel David. This is probably a special and a one-of-a-kind, but inspiring story written book about the commandant’s master dog, a Great Dane, a vicious that trained to kill, which is also capable of compassion, feeding one who is 17 years old young girl, and saving her life. She has always loved dogs even today at 94 years old. She recounts her story to her neighbour, Tom about her experience, because he is willing to write her for her. She, Nina, recounts her story to Tom in Israel, Tom. In the book, Yula wasn’t her real name. Her fortune teller told her she will lead a long life as a result. I’ve enjoyed the book because the wording is easy and it is YA, and of course, it has got me engaged from the first to the end. I couldn’t put it down.
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December 8, 2022DNF; just could not get into this one. Disappointed, because I usually enjoy books about dogs, and WW2.
November 26, 2025
Actually each of the stories of Tom and Yula are very interesting but because they are different plots, events /stories happening during different ages/times, which make the reader confused and the essence and interest in the story is lost.
September 28, 2021
‘I also love dogs. I have an interesting about a dog that saved me, actually.’
Israeli author Shmuel David earned his degree in natural sciences from the Hebrew University and is an expert in computer software development. He has published three books – THE IMMEDIATE SUSPECT, a collection of his short stories, TWO PRINCES AND A QUEEN (now known as ESCAPING ON THE DANUBE), and now THE COMMANDANT’S DOG – a new novel based on another true story. This book is translated from the Hebrew by Zoe Jordan .
Shmuel’s prose is quite polished and his ability guide the reader through a meaningful adventure is evident as the story opens: ‘She lay on the ground and groaned in pain. Tom looked at her and froze where he stood. She could have been his grandmother. What was he supposed to do now, he asked himself. What had Dingo done? He had never acted out or gotten off his leash on previous walks around the neighborhood. Tom looked around for help. The woman went on moaning and gritting her teeth, trying to hold back her cries, Tom wanted to help her up, but she stopped him with her hand and warned him not to touch her. Aaron, the downstairs neighbor who always asked after Dingo, was alerted by the cries and emerged from his apartment. Within moments he was leaning over her and asking her where it hurt, but immediately realized that the situation was not improving and called 911 from his cellphone….’ The afflicted woman is Yula, a Holocaust survivor, and with that dramatic opening the immersing story begins, journeying the reader back in time for an amazing tale.
Shmuel has condensed the action well: ‘Poland, 1943. World War II is raging and Yula, a 17-year old Jewish girl, is transferred with her mother to the Skarzysko-Kamienna labor camp, home of the factory that produces shells and artillery for the German military. The conditions in the camp are unbearable and Yula's mother is unable to survive, leaving her alone to fight for her life. However, luck is on her side and she makes a surprising new ally – Ziggy, the ferocious dog of Dr. Rost, the camp commandant in charge of carrying out the selections that decide who will live and who will die. Motivated by a fierce will to live and Ziggy’s unexpected assistance, Yula will do anything to hold onto life and survive the greatest inferno of human history.
With Shmuel David’s skillful writing gift and his contribution to the literature about the plight of the Jews under Nazi rule, he has joined the echelon of important authors to be watched. Recommended.
Israeli author Shmuel David earned his degree in natural sciences from the Hebrew University and is an expert in computer software development. He has published three books – THE IMMEDIATE SUSPECT, a collection of his short stories, TWO PRINCES AND A QUEEN (now known as ESCAPING ON THE DANUBE), and now THE COMMANDANT’S DOG – a new novel based on another true story. This book is translated from the Hebrew by Zoe Jordan .
Shmuel’s prose is quite polished and his ability guide the reader through a meaningful adventure is evident as the story opens: ‘She lay on the ground and groaned in pain. Tom looked at her and froze where he stood. She could have been his grandmother. What was he supposed to do now, he asked himself. What had Dingo done? He had never acted out or gotten off his leash on previous walks around the neighborhood. Tom looked around for help. The woman went on moaning and gritting her teeth, trying to hold back her cries, Tom wanted to help her up, but she stopped him with her hand and warned him not to touch her. Aaron, the downstairs neighbor who always asked after Dingo, was alerted by the cries and emerged from his apartment. Within moments he was leaning over her and asking her where it hurt, but immediately realized that the situation was not improving and called 911 from his cellphone….’ The afflicted woman is Yula, a Holocaust survivor, and with that dramatic opening the immersing story begins, journeying the reader back in time for an amazing tale.
Shmuel has condensed the action well: ‘Poland, 1943. World War II is raging and Yula, a 17-year old Jewish girl, is transferred with her mother to the Skarzysko-Kamienna labor camp, home of the factory that produces shells and artillery for the German military. The conditions in the camp are unbearable and Yula's mother is unable to survive, leaving her alone to fight for her life. However, luck is on her side and she makes a surprising new ally – Ziggy, the ferocious dog of Dr. Rost, the camp commandant in charge of carrying out the selections that decide who will live and who will die. Motivated by a fierce will to live and Ziggy’s unexpected assistance, Yula will do anything to hold onto life and survive the greatest inferno of human history.
With Shmuel David’s skillful writing gift and his contribution to the literature about the plight of the Jews under Nazi rule, he has joined the echelon of important authors to be watched. Recommended.
November 26, 2021
The Horror of the Halocaust
The story, as told by a 93-year old survivor of the halocaust, portrays the satanic actions of a depraved people, men and a woman, who committed to such appaling atrocities against the Jews.
It is unfathomable that human beings could treat other human beings so cruelly.
To force a whole group of people into labour camps; prisoners working with strong acids which turned their skin yellow or red, while starving them on half a slice of bread a day is evil that cannot be denied or excused.
This story tells of a great dane, trained to kill, which was also capable of compassion, feeding one young girl, and saving her life.
No-one can possibly read this story and not be shocked by the horrors the Jewish victims endured. God's chosen people have most certainly been targeted by all the jealousy of the evil one, but its not over yet! Lord Jesus is in control.
The story, as told by a 93-year old survivor of the halocaust, portrays the satanic actions of a depraved people, men and a woman, who committed to such appaling atrocities against the Jews.
It is unfathomable that human beings could treat other human beings so cruelly.
To force a whole group of people into labour camps; prisoners working with strong acids which turned their skin yellow or red, while starving them on half a slice of bread a day is evil that cannot be denied or excused.
This story tells of a great dane, trained to kill, which was also capable of compassion, feeding one young girl, and saving her life.
No-one can possibly read this story and not be shocked by the horrors the Jewish victims endured. God's chosen people have most certainly been targeted by all the jealousy of the evil one, but its not over yet! Lord Jesus is in control.
November 24, 2021
Interesting story poorly handled
I had high hopes for this book, and it could have easily delivered, especially with the fact that is is based on a true story. Instead of a well developed story of survival through the holocaust we end up with the contemporary story of a teenage boy befriending a survivor, amongst other things. His story overshadowed the real story in so many ways. Thus storytelling method breaks up the story quite unnecessarily. Much of the story seems disjointed throughout. The lack of a linear timeline leads to several seeming inconsistencies and continuity issues.
The main story is worth the read, but there is a lot of effort to get to the meat of it.
I had high hopes for this book, and it could have easily delivered, especially with the fact that is is based on a true story. Instead of a well developed story of survival through the holocaust we end up with the contemporary story of a teenage boy befriending a survivor, amongst other things. His story overshadowed the real story in so many ways. Thus storytelling method breaks up the story quite unnecessarily. Much of the story seems disjointed throughout. The lack of a linear timeline leads to several seeming inconsistencies and continuity issues.
The main story is worth the read, but there is a lot of effort to get to the meat of it.
January 14, 2022
Another Holocaust story?
I have read many stories that have emerged from Nazi atrocities. We have a tendency to focus on the “big” stories from survivors of Auschwitz, et. al., but unbelievable horrors emerged from smaller camps ruled by individuals who were not as prominent or as accountable as in larger situations. Most horrifying of all is the enslavement & maltreatment that were considered “normal” for the times by the overseers and complicit populaces. Stomach-turning but worthwhile read!
I have read many stories that have emerged from Nazi atrocities. We have a tendency to focus on the “big” stories from survivors of Auschwitz, et. al., but unbelievable horrors emerged from smaller camps ruled by individuals who were not as prominent or as accountable as in larger situations. Most horrifying of all is the enslavement & maltreatment that were considered “normal” for the times by the overseers and complicit populaces. Stomach-turning but worthwhile read!
November 20, 2021
What a different perspective of life during the Holocaust. Told from the view of a survivor of a Polish work camp, she recounts her story to a boy in Israel. A commandant in the work camp had a dog that the survivor believes saved her life. Good read!
July 10, 2022
The Commandant's Dog - A Great Subject
I wish I could give this 5 Stars & a really great review, but sadly, the book seemed lacking to me. It was dry, disjointed, & much shallower than this story deserved. I hope that someday it may have another chance to shine.
I wish I could give this 5 Stars & a really great review, but sadly, the book seemed lacking to me. It was dry, disjointed, & much shallower than this story deserved. I hope that someday it may have another chance to shine.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews