Tattooed into the Holocaust psyche

PETA KROST MAUNDER

It is the true story of a young Jewish Slovakian man, Lale Sokolov, who was forcibly sent – like millions of other Jews – to Auschwitz concentration camp. But, unlike most who landed up there, he survived.

He was kept alive because he had a position vital to the Nazis running the camp, and losing his skills would have been a real inconvenience. He was the person who ensured that every inmate was marked forever with a blue number. This number is one of the most painful symbols of the Holocaust – one that remains with every survivor.

Despite the horror and sadness around the events, the story is inspiring in its telling of Lale’s fierce determination to make it out of Auschwitz and to save as many people as he can along the way. It is a story about a love that transcends the depths of depravity, hell on earth and the worst kind of survival odds. It is a story of survival at all costs.

In this hell that is Auschwitz, his eyes met with Gita – the young woman who he instinctively knew was the love of his life – when he was tattooing her. He did his best to avoid looking into the eyes of those whose bodies he was defacing. But with Gita, it just happened.

Lale’s determination to have a regular life and family in normal times with Gita made him fight hard to ensure they both survived.

There have been so many Holocaust stories, not least of all those set in Auschwitz, but this one is different. In spite of how it brings to life the day-to-day anguish of life in Auschwitz, it is still uplifting and beautiful.

It shows the incredibly strong and loving bonds people made and held onto, be they among women, fellow workers and those who shared barracks. It shows the indelible connection following one conversation and the sharing of a secret. The story even tells of the bonds created between two Polish workers and Lale. They became his lifeline and enabled him to help so many, sometimes in the smallest way or by saving their lives.

The book is written from Lale’s perspective and, reading it, it feels as if the reader is in his head. Interestingly, the book was written by Heather Morris, an Australian writer who met Lale after the death of his wife at the end of 2003. She was neither Jewish, nor did she know much about the Holocaust. She had also never written a book before.

It was because of this, he wanted her to tell his story. And together they shared three years in which he offloaded his story, his guilt, his love and much more.

It was so vividly written from Lale’s perspective, it’s hard to believe it was written by someone who heard the story 70 years after the fact.

This story brings home the fact that Lale and Gita were just two “ordinary people” whose fate was sealed by the fact that they were European Jews during World War II. And, like every other person who entered those unforgettable and fateful gates into Auschwitz, they had an extraordinary story. Many of those who survived, like Lale, kept their story to themselves almost until it was too late. So many would have died without sharing what is, in effect, our legacy.

I am grateful that Lale survived long enough to transfer his life story to Morris, who did such a beautiful job in giving it to us. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read The Tattooist of Auschwitz.