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After Auschwitz: The Inspiring True Story of a WW2 Holocaust Survivor
After surviving the worst war in history, Vera is not afraid to fight another.
1944. Czechoslovakia. Vera “Verushka” Roth is thirteen years old when she is torn away from her happy and comfortable life and sent to Auschwitz. At the camp’s gates, she is advised by prisoners to lie about her age, a little lie that saves her from certain death.
Not knowing the fate of the rest of her family, Vera holds on to her mother, relying on her love and protection to survive the camp’s horrifying and inhumane conditions. When the two are finally released at the end of the war, they set off to pick up the broken pieces of their lives.
Trying to find meaning in life after total devastation, Vera joins Hashomer Hatzair, a Jewish youth movement helping survivors in the aftermath of the war. Empowered by their optimistic vision of revival, she chooses to go by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, and is determined to start anew in Israel.
But even though she survived the worst atrocities in history, Vera is on her own and must face extreme challenges in an unknown and volatile land. As war erupts in Israel and her new home comes under constant fire, Vera must prove she has what it takes to fight for her new life.
After Auschwitz tells the inspiring true story of Holocaust survivor Yehudit Harel and is a heartbreaking and inspiring testament to the power of hope, family and perseverance in times of strife.
1944. Czechoslovakia. Vera “Verushka” Roth is thirteen years old when she is torn away from her happy and comfortable life and sent to Auschwitz. At the camp’s gates, she is advised by prisoners to lie about her age, a little lie that saves her from certain death.
Not knowing the fate of the rest of her family, Vera holds on to her mother, relying on her love and protection to survive the camp’s horrifying and inhumane conditions. When the two are finally released at the end of the war, they set off to pick up the broken pieces of their lives.
Trying to find meaning in life after total devastation, Vera joins Hashomer Hatzair, a Jewish youth movement helping survivors in the aftermath of the war. Empowered by their optimistic vision of revival, she chooses to go by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, and is determined to start anew in Israel.
But even though she survived the worst atrocities in history, Vera is on her own and must face extreme challenges in an unknown and volatile land. As war erupts in Israel and her new home comes under constant fire, Vera must prove she has what it takes to fight for her new life.
After Auschwitz tells the inspiring true story of Holocaust survivor Yehudit Harel and is a heartbreaking and inspiring testament to the power of hope, family and perseverance in times of strife.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2025
517 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 7, 2025
This book.. ugh always break my heart for these people who suffered.
May 22, 2025
A Gripping Tale of Survival and Hope...
In After Auschwitz, Yehudit Harel describes her journey from a happy childhood in Czechoslovakia to the heart of Auschwitz with raw honesty and gentle elegance. A single, desperate lie saves Vera Roth's life at the age of thirteen, and her mother's everlasting love shines brightly in the face of unimaginable evil. Harel's survival goes beyond the physical; it demonstrates undying faith, ferocious resilience, and the strength of the human spirit. She chooses to go by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, as she faces new challenges and forges a new identity with courage and conviction. This memoir is filled with both tension and tenderness, telling not only the horror of the Holocaust but also of renewal and hope. Readers will be left heartbroken and uplifted, permanently altered by her triumph over despair. Highly recommended. I volunteered to review a complimentary copy of this book.
In After Auschwitz, Yehudit Harel describes her journey from a happy childhood in Czechoslovakia to the heart of Auschwitz with raw honesty and gentle elegance. A single, desperate lie saves Vera Roth's life at the age of thirteen, and her mother's everlasting love shines brightly in the face of unimaginable evil. Harel's survival goes beyond the physical; it demonstrates undying faith, ferocious resilience, and the strength of the human spirit. She chooses to go by her Hebrew name, Yehudit, as she faces new challenges and forges a new identity with courage and conviction. This memoir is filled with both tension and tenderness, telling not only the horror of the Holocaust but also of renewal and hope. Readers will be left heartbroken and uplifted, permanently altered by her triumph over despair. Highly recommended. I volunteered to review a complimentary copy of this book.
July 27, 2025
Those who don’t know history are bound to repeat it.
I’ve read many historical fiction books about the Holocaust but ashamedly this is my first non fiction read. It sounds ignorant I’m sure but to realize the real people behind such atrocities is shocking to my mind. I try my best to not be naive about the world I occupy but it’s hard for me to imagine the real lives of the people behind the photos. This helped. And in the current political climate of the US where I live it’s so scary to see some of the same things happening. May we all continue to educate ourselves and stand up for those unable to. May we never be cowards when it comes to defending other humans.
I’ve read many historical fiction books about the Holocaust but ashamedly this is my first non fiction read. It sounds ignorant I’m sure but to realize the real people behind such atrocities is shocking to my mind. I try my best to not be naive about the world I occupy but it’s hard for me to imagine the real lives of the people behind the photos. This helped. And in the current political climate of the US where I live it’s so scary to see some of the same things happening. May we all continue to educate ourselves and stand up for those unable to. May we never be cowards when it comes to defending other humans.
August 26, 2025
Read as if you were sitting in a room together and having a chat. There’s parts about religion I don’t understand (my own ignorance) but a story of how one human has come through a life of hardship. Seems easy to find books/stories/people based during WW2 but what happened after!? Refugees in their home towns with nothing but the shirt on their back and restarting life. Stark reality of restarting after war.
November 9, 2025
a must read
This was a book written from the heart. Yehudit had a happy childhood which was abruptly stopped when the Germans invaded Hungary. She reclaimed her life after the war and created a life in Israel this is a book written by a determined courageous woman
This was a book written from the heart. Yehudit had a happy childhood which was abruptly stopped when the Germans invaded Hungary. She reclaimed her life after the war and created a life in Israel this is a book written by a determined courageous woman
November 28, 2025
heart wrenching bravery
I’ve never felt so immersed in a book so truthful and heart breaking ,it’s made me have different understanding of these times when
Life for Jewish people was so bad .its a must read .
I’ve never felt so immersed in a book so truthful and heart breaking ,it’s made me have different understanding of these times when
Life for Jewish people was so bad .its a must read .
January 6, 2026
Factual
This is a true store of one family during WWII and the horrors they experienced. It was hard for me to be thru, due to the horrors and it is told as a documentary. The pain is there, but little reprieve.
This is a true store of one family during WWII and the horrors they experienced. It was hard for me to be thru, due to the horrors and it is told as a documentary. The pain is there, but little reprieve.
Read
August 27, 2025Really puts into perspective the displacement and complete loss of identity of so many Jews. Puts a little perspective into the thinking behind some people and the whole Gaza conflict right now.
November 21, 2025
A narrative
I don't usually like narratives but this one was different for me. I felt like I was listening to a dear relative tell her life's story.
I don't usually like narratives but this one was different for me. I felt like I was listening to a dear relative tell her life's story.
January 11, 2026
I've always been interested in learning about the Holocaust and Yehudit (Vera) tells the story of how her happy, comfortable life as a child was disrupted by being sent to Auschwitz and the tragic journey she faced after. The ending was unexpected and I do recommend having tissues close by.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews