Escape From Auschwitz by Andrey Pogozhev

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Andrey Pogozhev wrote the autobiography Escape From Auschwitz to tell the world about his experience at a Nazi death camp. Pogozhev recounts the story of his capture, imprisonment, and successful escape from Auschwitz. This story is an eye opening account of the brutality endured by Soviet Prisoners of War and others during Nazi rule. Pogozhev is the primary source of information regarding the treatment of people in Auschwitz because he experienced this first hand as a prisoner. There is an array of material published about Jewish survivors, but this story is told from the perspective of a Soviet POW. He includes in his autobiography, his testimony against the prison guards, photographs of himself and his wife, and numerous shots of Auschwitz. The story begins when Pogozhev, a Ukrainian, is called to join the Soviet military (p.26). He heads to war to fight proudly for his “Motherland.” After being separated from his battalion Andrey is captured by German soldiers. He is transported to a Soviet POW camp Stalag 308 in Zagan, Poland (p.47-54). While at Stalag 308, several of the POW’s attempt an escape by digging a trench under the prison fence. The trench is discovered by the guards and as punishment all the POWs with suspected of involvement, including Pogozhev, are transported by train to Auschwitz, Poland in 1941 (p.55). At Auschwitz, Pogozhev describes in detail the physical and psychological abuse that occurs to himself and others while being held captive for almost a year. They endured starvation, exposure to the elements, and lived in constant fear of being beaten to death. Prisoners were often punished and murdered as a result of the disobedient actions others. Pogozhev also provides a detailed description of the hiera... ... middle of paper ... ...eriod. This book was originally written in Russian but was later translated to English. He includes in the book detailed stories told by imprisoned countrymen. In the English translation when Pogozhev is telling stories it is hard to distinguish which person is talking in the dialogue. Between the lack of additional information about the recapture and the confusing dialogue transition maybe some information was lost during translation. Pogozhev’s story is rich with detail and it is an enlightening read for anyone seeking more information about this terrible period in history. His vivid recollections of the inhumane treatment of prisoners that occurred leave the reader despairing, but the conviction of the torturers offers some retribution. The prisoners of Auschwitz were stripped of all dignity, yet found solace in each other’s stories and their dreams of freedom.

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