The Jewish Camp Doctor: The Incredible Gripping True Story of a Holocaust Survivor

by Isaac Cohensius

For a brief moment, we look into each other's eyes. Then she turns silently and gets back into the carriage. I stare at the window, but she does not appear anymore. A shiver runs down my spine. Those were not my wife’s eyes… The officer hesitates for a moment, then looks at me and says very “You should be glad that you stay here. Your patients will not travel that far anymore.”

Germany, 1942. Despite his young age, Isaac Cohensius is no stranger to strife. After two years under the thumb of Nazi-occupied Holland, he risked everything to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. But his celebration was short-lived, and it was not long before Isaac and his newlywed wife were sent East – shattering his hopes for a quiet, stable life.

Barely into his thirties, Isaac is thrust into the position of camp physician. Every day, Isaac watches as prisoners labor day and night to construct roads and railways for the German war machine. Every day, they scrap for food and shelter under the inhumane conditions of the Nazi forced labor camps. And every day, Isaac struggles to keep them alive.

Under the guise of treatment, Isaac keeps the sick and the elderly from the manual labor that would undoubtedly spell their doom. But helping sick Jews during the war means defying death in more than one sense, and Isaac’s quest to save as many Jews as he can, might prove more dangerous than he ever imagined.

Perfect for fans of Heather Morris and Limor Regev, The Jewish Camp Doctor is a captivating tale of courage and resilience in the face of evil, which brings to light the incredible true story of Dr. Isaac Cohensius.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Holocaust, World War II, Ebooks

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2024

Reviews

[Wendy Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A factual account of horrific events shameful to humanity that occurred in fairly recent history"While on one view,there is a proliferation of holocaust accounts it is important that they are told

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I’m reading is called “The Jewish Camp Doctor”, by Issac Cohensius. It is based on the life of a Jewish doctor named Isaac. He is an outstanding human being and a very determined man. His granddaughter translated the book into English, and it was released in 2008. Based on the unimaginable circumstances he experienced in a concentration camp, it is also an intriguing and informative, and is a strong read that truly stays with you, despite the fact that it can occasionally be disjointed due to the lack of background information. He worked as a camp doctor, janitor, and labourer while surviving eight different concentration camps. He never gives up trying to keep his sick and elderly patients alive while they are working on the construction site. As a camp doctor, his “sick room” was the only area in the camps that the Germans did not dare to enter for fear of disease. He took advantage of this to hide whatever he wanted to in his sick room, including written notes that were the basis for this book that included distributed extra portions foods to share with them. How intelligent he was.

[Melissa Acquaviva · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jewish Camp Doctor is a very quick read, an excerpted memoir of Dr. Issac Cohensius, a Danish Jew born in the Jewish area around Amsterdam and taken to the labor camps in the Silesia region, separated from his wife of one day, and forced to become the doctor or krankenbehandler for a total of 8 labor concentration camps. He was finally liberated in 1945. Dr. Cohensius was a strong and kind man, a true believer in his hippocratic oath. He is forced to do many things that he never would have thought possible to survive. This memoir only covers his time from initial removal to Westerbork, then his further transfers to Niederkirch and Seibersdorf. He was further transferred to five other camps, including Blechammer. Upon liberation, he continued his medical practice, and after confirming the early death of his first wife at Auschwitz, became married to a woman he had been close with at Blechammer. They moved to Israel where he started a family, was a medical practitioner and and a doctor for the Israel Defense Forces.
Dr. Cohensius was not a person to describe horrific detail of the crimes committed against his people. His memoir of this time very honestly speaks of his confusion, his innocence, his willingness to hope that the Germans would not harm and abuse the Jews. As he begins to lose that hope and has to change his actions to permit survival, the reader is taken on a journey with him through the conflicts in his mind and the absolute incomprehension that these men around him were suffering. That he himself, was suffering. He was very human in his descriptions and frustrations, even about those of his fellow prisoners and patients.
This was a very important memoir, even though it only encompassed a portion of what he was able to commit to paper. His courage in sharing any part of his experience reminds us all that we must NEVER forget.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, while short and written matter of factly, it definitely brings home the struggles and hardships of this time. A time that will never be forgotten. These survivor's stories are so important.

[Jenn Riemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jewish Camp Doctor by Isaac Cohensius is a gripping memoir that sheds light on the unimaginable challenges faced by a Jewish doctor in Nazi camps. It's raw, honest, and incredibly moving. Cohensius shares what it was like trying to help others with almost nothing—both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Some parts felt a bit disjointed, and I wished for more background at times, but overall, it’s a powerful read that really sticks with you. Definitely recommend if you're into real-life stories of resilience and moral strength.

[Cheryle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Jewish doctor in Nazi labor camps

An intense, moving true story written by the doctor inmate himself who survived the camps and later served as a Captain Physician in the Israeli Army until 1953. An amazing record of survival. Honest prose from a man who suffered much. He saved an unknown number of prisoners with his actions. I streamed this book on Kindle Unlimited to my Amazon HD 11 Fire Tablet.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible human being

Dr. Cohensius was an incredible man that not only survived the Holocaust but went in as a doctor and spent years helping others in different camps. He became a laborer at times well. A true story that is told as though he’s speaking to you and giving you a different perspective then a lot of other WW11 books I’ve read.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Camp Doctor's Holocaust Memoir...

"The Jewish Camp Doctor" by Dr. Isaac Cohensius offers a unique and compelling perspective on survival during the Holocaust. This memoir chronicles Cohensius's experiences as a young physician in Nazi labor camps, highlighting the moral complexities and daily struggles he faced while trying to save lives under oppressive conditions. The book stands out for its exploration of the medical challenges in camp life and the innovative methods Cohensius employed to protect vulnerable prisoners. His account provides rare insights into how medicine became both a survival tool and a form of resistance.

Cohensius's engaging writing style, combining keen observation with occasional satirical wit, makes this heavy subject matter accessible. His journey from a doctor in occupied Holland to a resilient survivor and successful gynecologist in Israel is both inspiring and deeply moving. This memoir is not just a personal testament but a valuable historical document, essential for those interested in World War II history and medical ethics. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Germany, 1942. Despite his young age, Isaac Cohensius is no stranger to strife. After two years under the thumb of Nazi-occupied Holland, he risked everything to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. But his celebration was short-lived, and it was not long before Isaac and his newlywed wife were sent East – shattering his hopes for a quiet, stable life.

Barely into his thirties, Isaac is thrust into the position of camp physician. Every day, Isaac watches as prisoners labor day and night to construct roads and railways for the German war machine. Every day, they scrap for food and shelter under the inhumane conditions of the Nazi forced labor camps. And every day, Isaac struggles to keep them alive.

Under the guise of treatment, Isaac keeps the sick and the elderly from the manual labor that would undoubtedly spell their doom. But helping sick Jews during the war means defying death in more than one sense, and Isaac’s quest to save as many Jews as he can, might prove more dangerous than he ever imagined.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jewish Camp Doctor is the true story of Isaac Cohensius. He became a doctor even when his father wanted him to be a merchant. Although Jewish, Isaac was able to finish his degree at Utrecht after Jews were dismissed from the school. He was given permission to return to Utrecht to take the final exams. He then returned to Westerbork and the next day was shipped out with his wife. Part way to the camp, the train was stopped and a selection was made and he and his wife were separated. She was to go on to Auschwitz and her death. Isaac went on to another camp where he worked as a doctor. He ended up in at least 10 camps.
His story is very accurate and powerful.

[SKP]

I actually did not finish this book…I found it difficult to read. I think maybe something was lost in translation. I found myself reading the same sentences over and over without comprehension. There was a time when I would have plowed on, but I have recently come to the conclusion that life is too short, and my TBR W-A-Y too big, for me to try to spend time with books when they seem like too much work.

[Beth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent example of difficulties being a doctor in the camps.

Short and he was not able to finish so it stopped before the end of the war. Excellent account of being stuck in the middle of ordinary people struggling to survive and cruel, murderous authority. There is no way to please both. His frustration shines through honestly without becoming whiny.

[Brooks Euler · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good man

This story of Isaac Cohensius, was written in a manner that conveys the horror and difficulties this young doctor encountered during his imprisonment. Unfortunately, although he was a good man and a goid doctor, he wasn't a writer. It is not captivating in anyway. I read it to the end, out of respect for his suffering. I cannot recommend this book.

[RAYMOND DAVIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odd, strange, and curious

A very determined man becomes a doctor and so is forced into z German labor camp. His becomes a campdoctor, janitor, laborer, is beaten but never quits. A wonderful story. Read it. I'm ppl

[Beth Hill]

Great book

Very interesting book I could barely put it down such a good man that never stopped in helping out so much

[Brittany Schaefer · Rating 1 out of 5]

very slow

Very slow I love holocaust books this one took forever to read and was very hard to keep my interest

[colette kerlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

Very interesting read.
He was an exceptional man. I’m so glad he lived and had a wife and family. And
He was happy in Israel.

[Betty Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good insite to another of the horrible camps!

[Jenaud Meader · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to say this kind of book is boring but I had to leaf through it many times. Sorrry.

[Lori Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject matter what it is, it seems wrong to give it low star rating….. But, I was not a fan of the writing style. It is very matter of fact and flat.

[Bunny loves books · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Beth Dupre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like to read books about WWII and Nazi Germany . But I found this book difficult to follow. I think it may have been the way it was translated.