A TALE OF UNENDING LOVE-AUSCHWITZ SYNDROME BY ELLIE MIDWOOD

 Frankly speaking I never heard of Ellie Midwood before. One day I was strolling in a pavilion in the Delhi book fair when my eyes fell on this book on display. Since it was by a author who I have never read, I decided to try it. I was absolutely stunned when I read this book. And what a book it is. I was glued to it for several days and it left a indelible impression on my mind. This is a heartbreaking, devastating, soul-wrenching narrative based on the true story of a Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz who was twice supposed to meet her death in the gas chambers and the SS soldier who saved her. Their love story is a testament to the power of hope in the darkest of times.

1942 Auschwitz concentration camp. Scores of Jewish women were deported from various parts of Germany occupied territories to be murdered in the gas chambers. Among them was Helena Citrónová. She was to die on 22^nd march 1942. On the night of 21^st March the SS was going to celebrate the birthday of their Commandant Franz Wunsch. Helena was ordered to sing in the function. It was there that Franz saw Helena and instantly fell in love with her. When he learnt that she was to die next day he ordered her to be shifted to the Kanada section of the camp.

The Kanada warehouses, also known as Effektenlager or simply Kanada, were storage facilities in the Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland during the Holocaust. The buildings were used to store the belongings of prisoners, mostly Jews who had been murdered in the gas chambers on arrival. Life here for the inmates was comparatively easier. They used to get decent food.

Their duties involved sorting the items. Occasionally they would find costly items and sometimes cash which they used to pocket and later on trade it with the Sonderkommandos in exchange for food and better facilities.

Franz belonged to the elite Hitler SS corps and would have been shot immediately if the fact that he was in love with a Jewish girl ever came to light. He used to visit the camp where Helena used to work as a prisoner and surreptitiously used to glance at her with eyes brimming with love. Helena understood the message but she hated him. The SS was responsible  for the death and destruction heaped on the Jewish people including her family. She shrugged his advances.

Later on in the story she contacts typhus. There was no hope for her survival. At this crucial time Franz hid her in his office and tenderly cared for her at a great risk. She survived.

Finally his unending love won. Helena fell in love with Franz.

1945 Germany. Germany was liberated and inmates of the camp were sent to resettlement  centers. Franz Dahler was sent to a detention center . Both were separated . After his release Franz searched for Helen for 2 years and finally found her and married.

This is a story based on true facts. Ellie Midwood writing skills and portrayal of events is par excellence.

Once you start the book you would not put it down till you reach the end.

A REVIEW BY

ASHOK KUMAR