The Auschwitz Photographer

by Anna Dobrowolska

This book paints the most comprehensive picture of life inside Auschwitz published to date. It tells the story of Wilhelm Brasse, who spent 5 years in the camp as a prisoner-photographer and was a unique witness to the Auschwitz reality. He took pictures of the inmates, made private portraits of his SS masters and documented the medical experiments of Doctor Mengele.

Brasse’s experience has been the subject of a celebrated documentary “The Portraitist.” This book, in addition to recounting his personal narrative , explores many lesser-known aspects of daily life in the camp such as the orchestra, sports events and even a brothel. It is amply illustrated with 300 photographs, some published for the first time, and supplemented with accounts of other inmates as well as historical commentary.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2015

Reviews

[Maria Espadinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prisoner 3444

*** For all the spoilers ahead you’ll have to blame the Nazis and Wilhelm Brasse, definitely not me ***


They took away his name but gave him a task — something that identified him even better — taking pictures. He was ordered to take photos of prisoners, Doctor Mengele “scientific experiments”, executions, gas chambers... — in general, portraits of life (death) on camp...

The Nazis of Auschwitz experienced a sadistic pleasure in their war crimes. They needed to revisit their hideous acts as a source of enjoyment. (F***ing creeps!!!). That’s why they needed a competent photographer! That’s why they needed him! And that was his passport to survivance!!!

But he needed more than just surviving! He wanted something higher! A cause! Something to fight for! A noble project! And he found one: he had to save those photos to show the whole world all the terror that once upon a time happened in Auschwitz. And he was willing to risk his own life to accomplish that purpose!...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/200...

Wilhelm Brasse is another Holocaust Hero!
Mr. Brasse, it was an honor and a pleasure to meet you!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[dee (andie) 🕺🏼✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

IF U LIKE HISTORICAL NON FICTION READ THIS, IT'S WRITTEN BY MY MOM 🥰🥰🥰

[Angeline Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book on the Holocaust from the vantage point of a Polish prisoner. I highly recommend it

[Veronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bol som fotografom v Osvienčime je osobná spoveď bývalého poľského väzňa Wilhelma Brasseho, ktorý bol viac ako štyri roky väznený v koncentračnom tábore Osvienčim. Jeho fotografie, ktoré v tábore vytvoril patria k jedným z dôkazov, ktoré obleteli svet a na základe ktorých bolo podané svedectvo o zverstvách, ktoré sa tam diali.

Tento desivý pohľad spracovaný do knižnej podoby na základe memoárov je veľmi emocionálny ešte viac, keď si čitateľ uvedomí, že je to skutočný príbeh. Wilhelm bol nútený do pozície táborového fotografa, čím zvečnil utrpenie nevinných ľudí, ale aj samotné obete experimentov. Poznačilo ho to natoľko, že sa už nikdy viac v živote fotografovaniu nevenoval.
Je to neľahké, hlboké čítanie, ale o to dôležitejšie. Detailne opísané osudy ľudí, bežné dni v tábore a neľudskosť podaná bez akejkoľvek servítky. Vďaka Wilhelmovi Brassemu sa ocitnete priamo v táborovom pekle a budete z každej stránky cítiť zúfalstvo, túžbu po slobode, vnútorný boj a v neposlednom rade brutalitu. Veľmi realistické podanie osudu v knižnom spracovaní patrí k jedným z najlepším, ktoré som mala možnosť čítať a rozhodne knihu odporúčam, ak sa zaujímate o túto tému.

[Marisol · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

“We were told that we no longer had names; we were numbers. We were not persons, but prisoners.”

This was a very difficult and upsetting read and contains some very distressing images.

Such an awful story. I’m thankful Wilhelm Brasse was able to share his story with us.

“You are now in Auschwitz Concentration Camp and the only way out of here is through the crematory chimney.”