An Englishman in Auschwitz

by Leon Greenman

"Leon Greenman was born in London at 50 Artillery Lane, Whitechapel, in 1910. His father Barnett Greenman and mother Clara Greenman-Morris were also born in London. His paternal grandparents were Dutch, and at an early age, after the death of his mother, his family moved to Holland, where Leon eventually settled with his wife, Esther, in Rotterdam. Leon was an antiquarian bookseller, and as such travelled to and from London on a regular basis. In 1938, during one such trip, he noticed people digging trenches in the streets and queuing up for gas masks. He hurried back to Holland the same evening, intending to collect his wife and return with her to England, because the whispers of war were getting louder and louder." "However, the British Consulate assured the family that, in the likelihood of war, they would be notified to leave with the diplomatic staff should it become necessary. In May 1940, Holland was overrun by the Nazis. Leon had by then entrusted his passports and money to Dutch friends, but when he asked for their return, his friends told him that they had burnt them for fear of the Germans finding them in their home. The British Consulate was now abandoned, and effectively so were Leon and his family. They had no proof of their British nationality and had no money. From then on, Leon fought to obtain papers to prove they were British, but these arrived too late to save the family from deportation to Auschwitz II, Birkenau, where Esther and their small son, Barney, were gassed on arrival. Leon was chosen with 49 others for slave labour. An Englishman in Auschwitz tells the remarkable story of Leon's survival, of the horrors he saw and endured at Auschwitz, Monowitz and during the Death March to Gleiwitz and Buchenwald camp, where he was eventually liberated. Since that time, Leon has been talking about the Holocaust and continues to recount his experiences to this day, at the age of 90, as a warning to young and old alike."--BOOK JACKET.

Genres: Holocaust, World War II

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Rabspur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant true story of the only Englishman to be held in Auschwitz, where he witnessed the atrocities carried out on the Jews and where he last saw his wife and two year old son before they were led off to the gas chambers. Leon Greenman survived The horrors of Auschwitz and died at the age of 97. He never remarried and lived in London where he carried out lectures in schools about what he witnessed during his time at Auschwitz.
Highly recommended read.

[Amy Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who wants to learn about the human impact of the Holocaust. Leon's story is a very sad one but, thanks to survivors like him, it helps to educate the future generation to make sure the Holocaust is never forgotten and never happens again.

[Dg Noc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very touching and direct story , perfectly narrated in his own words by a survivor. All my respect and my love to all victims of antisemitism past and present.

[Sharron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty much everything you expect it to be but beautifully written. I had the priviledge of listening to a lecture whilst at college given by Mr Greenman and I have never forgotten him and was saddened to hear of his death a couple of years ago. A truely fine and admirable gentleman who was both very lucky and very unfortunate at the same time and he would have told you the exact same thing. RIP Leon Greenman

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching and heartwarming all at the same time. A real eye opener.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author was my great-uncle by marriage.