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The Last Letter Before Auschwitz: The heartbreaking true story of love and longing during the holocaust
A daughter’s powerful journey into her mother’s greatest secret—and the war that split her life in two.
From June 1940 to October 1943, the young German-Jewish refugee Ernst Cosmann, known to his friends as Erco, wrote 109 letters from his home in the Netherlands—and later from the Dutch transit camp Westerbork—to his fiancée, Ilse Birnbaum, who had fled with her parents from Berlin to Amsterdam. But whereas Ilse survived with the underground Joop Westerweel resistance group, Erco did not share her fate. On September 14, 1943, Erco was finally transported to Auschwitz. In his last letter before his departure, he wrote “Stay strong, believe in our love and our shared future.” He never returned.
More than seventy years after they were written, Ernst’s 109 letters are a testament to the resilience of love in the face of unimaginable loss. In The Last Letter Before Auschwitz, Ilse Birnbaum’s daughter, Haya, unravels her mother’s lifelong secret—her life in the resistance, her first love, and the incredible loss she endured.
Weaving together Ilse and Ernst’s heartbreaking story with the historical context of Jewish life in the Netherlands, Haya Ravinsky-Mandelbaum paints a haunting picture of life before and after the war and brings to light the incredible hopefulness of its members in an often-overlooked part of World War II.
From June 1940 to October 1943, the young German-Jewish refugee Ernst Cosmann, known to his friends as Erco, wrote 109 letters from his home in the Netherlands—and later from the Dutch transit camp Westerbork—to his fiancée, Ilse Birnbaum, who had fled with her parents from Berlin to Amsterdam. But whereas Ilse survived with the underground Joop Westerweel resistance group, Erco did not share her fate. On September 14, 1943, Erco was finally transported to Auschwitz. In his last letter before his departure, he wrote “Stay strong, believe in our love and our shared future.” He never returned.
More than seventy years after they were written, Ernst’s 109 letters are a testament to the resilience of love in the face of unimaginable loss. In The Last Letter Before Auschwitz, Ilse Birnbaum’s daughter, Haya, unravels her mother’s lifelong secret—her life in the resistance, her first love, and the incredible loss she endured.
Weaving together Ilse and Ernst’s heartbreaking story with the historical context of Jewish life in the Netherlands, Haya Ravinsky-Mandelbaum paints a haunting picture of life before and after the war and brings to light the incredible hopefulness of its members in an often-overlooked part of World War II.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2025
184 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 26, 2025
Absolutely Eye Opening
There are so many things people don’t know about World War II. For most of us we are taught about the fighting and concentration camps. But reading about the aftermath for the survivors brings more tears to my eyes. Thank you for writing and sharing your story!
There are so many things people don’t know about World War II. For most of us we are taught about the fighting and concentration camps. But reading about the aftermath for the survivors brings more tears to my eyes. Thank you for writing and sharing your story!
July 2, 2025
last letter before Auschwitz
Wow what an amazing piece of history. In the face of such horrific circumstances what a beautiful love they shared. Ernst was always so positive, always looking for a bright spot. Just breaks your heart that so many many people were tortured and murdered by the Nazi. We say Never Again. But here we are in 2025 and so much hatred and suffering
Wow what an amazing piece of history. In the face of such horrific circumstances what a beautiful love they shared. Ernst was always so positive, always looking for a bright spot. Just breaks your heart that so many many people were tortured and murdered by the Nazi. We say Never Again. But here we are in 2025 and so much hatred and suffering
November 20, 2025
Last letter
An amazing and personal read during a horrific time in history. Let us never forget.
To keep all 105 letters from your loved one during this time is an amazing feat. Thank you for sharing.
An amazing and personal read during a horrific time in history. Let us never forget.
To keep all 105 letters from your loved one during this time is an amazing feat. Thank you for sharing.
September 14, 2025
Sadly, this wasn't as interesting a read as I was expecting. Maybe something was lost in the multiple translations.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews