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To Survive Sobibor
This is a story of the struggle for survival and for sanity throughout the inhuman experiences of the Holocaust and the postwar years. The author paints a phenomenally detailed picture of an individual life and of the lives of the Jews of Poland before their destruction, during the occupation and the Holocaust, and after liberation by the Soviet army. With its comprehensive description of Sobibor and the prisoners' revolt, this is not only the fascinating memoir of an extraordinary life but also a valuable historical testimony.
Dov Freiberg was only twelve when he was hurled into the crushing events of the German occupation of Poland. His father was killed by German soldiers in the first days of the war, and his mother fought valiantly to keep her four children fed as the ghetto walls grew more and more constricting. Smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto, young Dov was soon captured by the Nazis and imprisoned in the living hell of Sobibor death camp, where he witnessed the extermination of his people. One of several hundred inmates to escape during the prisoners' revolt, he began anew his struggle for life in the unfriendly forests of occupied Poland. By the time the Soviet army liberated the region nine long months later, Freiberg found himself the lone survivor of his family.
Dov Freiberg was only twelve when he was hurled into the crushing events of the German occupation of Poland. His father was killed by German soldiers in the first days of the war, and his mother fought valiantly to keep her four children fed as the ghetto walls grew more and more constricting. Smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto, young Dov was soon captured by the Nazis and imprisoned in the living hell of Sobibor death camp, where he witnessed the extermination of his people. One of several hundred inmates to escape during the prisoners' revolt, he began anew his struggle for life in the unfriendly forests of occupied Poland. By the time the Soviet army liberated the region nine long months later, Freiberg found himself the lone survivor of his family.
622 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 23, 2025
An incredible account by a man privileged to live and report events of great historic importance. From the Lodz and Warsaw ghettos to Sobibor and the escape of Oct 14 1943 to survival in the forests as a partisan to the DP camps and finally to the vessel Exodus. Moving, rich in detail and emotion.
June 6, 2022
A really long memoir, with a lot of detail about both his life before, during, and after the war. I can say that this was very emotionally riveting. The author certainly did not spare any details, and the book is all the better for that. I really felt "there" with him emotionally while reading. I felt hopeless when he did, despaired when he did, and became hopeful when he did. The author really seems to have a knack for conveying emotions. I also appreciated the rather thorough descriptions of the various personalities in the camp. 5/5
For other books about Sobibor, I would wholly recommend From the Ashes of Sobibor: A Story of Survival, A Promise at Sobibor: A Jewish Boy's Story of Revolt and Survival in Nazi-Occupied Poland, and of course Escape from Sobibor. You can also read a translated version of Shlomo Szmajzner's Portuguese memoir here.
For other books about Sobibor, I would wholly recommend From the Ashes of Sobibor: A Story of Survival, A Promise at Sobibor: A Jewish Boy's Story of Revolt and Survival in Nazi-Occupied Poland, and of course Escape from Sobibor. You can also read a translated version of Shlomo Szmajzner's Portuguese memoir here.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews