The Auschwitz Volunteer

Beyond Bravery

By: Witold Pilecki, Jarek Garlinski - translator

Narrated by: Marek Probosz, Jarek Garlinski, Ken Kliban, John Lee

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1940, the Polish Underground wanted to know what was happening inside the recently opened Auschwitz concentration camp. Polish army officer Witold Pilecki volunteered to be arrested by the Germans and report from inside the camp. His intelligence reports, smuggled out in 1941, were among the first eyewitness accounts of Auschwitz atrocities: the extermination of Soviet POWs, its function as a camp for Polish political prisoners, and the "final solution" for Jews. Pilecki received brutal treatment until he escaped in April 1943; soon after, he wrote a brief report. This book is the first English translation of a 1945 expanded version. In the foreword, Poland's chief rabbi states, "If heeded, Pilecki's early warnings might have changed the course of history." Pilecki's story was suppressed for half a century after his 1948 arrest by the Polish Communist regime as a "Western spy". He was executed and expunged from Polish history. Pilecki writes in staccato style but also interjects his observations on humankind's lack of progress: "We have strayed, my friends, we have strayed dreadfully.... We are a whole level of hell worse than animals!"

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2012 Jarsolaw Garlinski and Aquila Polonica (U.S.) Ltd. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Amazing!!!

VERY powerful, While most people know from history, of the horrors of concentration camps, few people are aware of the horrors, and the cruelty,

True experience

As a Polish born immigrant, I find this an extremely powerful and profound experience.

The reading by a Polish person with an accent in English makes this more authentic. Their intonation during some painful moments shows the shared suffering of the Polish people and the depth of their soul.

I am surprised this is written so well, even with some diary like phrasing or repetition, it is an understatement to say this was written under duress.

Bless Poland and our people. Bless all peoples who suffer and live with the consequences and leftovers of great past and present suffering.

Wow!

Some very insightful lessons! Especially in today's current divisive climate- it gives one pause- are we doing it again?

Incredible Story

I was absolutely amazed by this story a d wish that they would make a movie about this book it is incredible

Worth every minute for a glimpse of Auschwitz

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Provides a captivating first hand account of time a prisoners life and trials in a concentration camp...all while organizing and eventually escaping the horrible conditions. Only to be murdered after the war was over.

Amazing story.

Everything about this audiobook was superb; the details of the events/experience, the narrators and even their accents. It was truly inspiring and made me feel pathetic and ungrateful for ever complaining about life as we know it today in our country.

The bar of manhood

When I first began this book I was some what disappointed. The reader at times can be hard to understand. The book is all so written as an account in some ones life and therefore has had little effort put in to creating a gripping story line. However getting further in to the book I realised what this book really is, a story of one of the bravest and best of the species called human beings. Durring a time when any normal person would have done anything possable not to go and anything else to leave Mr. Pilecki volunteered to go and choose to stay, in order to complete his work. He is the bar in which any man should strive to reach. I feel as I shall try harder to be a stronger better human,man, after listening to this book. I recommened this book highly for a few different reasons but mainly because it has changed my perspective.

Hope in the Midst of Hell

The book is based on written notes and lacks any character development which sadly leaves the reader wanting more. In the big picture it is paints an astonishing picture of the power of hope. I felt like I listened to a book that was “flat”. I learned a great deal…for that reason I would say get this book and listen.

very good

I thought this book was great. I would recommend to anyone interested in that era. be warned not the audiobook to listen to if you are going out to a party. I found this book to be really humbling.

Transformational.

Not for the faint of heart. I particularly enjoyed the narrator's accent, as if it were the writer's voice in the reading. Like a potent medicine, this narrative must be taken in small doses, and accompanied by significant helpings of hope and pondering, in order to pick through the horror to seize the light. The author's fortunate physical condition, wits and good attitude and holding on to a sense of purpose enabled him to take the steps to leverage circumstances. At any moment things could have turned out differently. But things worked out, and he pressed on.