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Undaunted: The Tiger of Auschwitz
It was the darkest period of modern history, particularly if you were Jewish in Europe. That is where Garmaine Pitchon was when Hitler ascended to power and unleashed a diabolical scheme to annihilate the Jewish race. Follow along as Eli Gonzalez tells Garmaine story in a vibrant, chilling, and compelling narrative. Always a rambunctious, curious girl, Garmaine found a way to not wear the yellow Star of David and got to experience more than most before Garmaine experienced loss at an epic proportion. Her entire family was murdered, beginning with her grandmother, killed in her own grocery store by a Nazi officer who forced her to make him a sandwich as she walked over her just-murdered beloved grandmother’s warm, flowing blood. Experience the horror of the 9-Day train ride to Auschwitz and become a first hand witness to when it was only Nazi’s and Jews and the veil was pulled off and absolute evil abounded. Yet, there is something about Garmaine’s story, something divine that happened. What was meant to destroy her strengthened her. What was meant to stop her lineage became a force to help desperate mothers years after. When there is a divine purpose for your life and that of your family, no one and nothing can stop it.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2016
68 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 27, 2019
Breathtaking tale of survival
A true tigre, Germaine’s story as a Holocaust victim and survivor is almost beyond comprehension. The ordeals she suffered and the many losses she endured were awful, but to see how she soldiered on, found freedom and love and built an incredible life brings tears to my eyes. A indescribable memoir that touches on so much detail of life at Auschwitz - it deserved more than 5 stars. Bravo Tigre.
A true tigre, Germaine’s story as a Holocaust victim and survivor is almost beyond comprehension. The ordeals she suffered and the many losses she endured were awful, but to see how she soldiered on, found freedom and love and built an incredible life brings tears to my eyes. A indescribable memoir that touches on so much detail of life at Auschwitz - it deserved more than 5 stars. Bravo Tigre.
July 11, 2017
Garmaine Pitchon is my husband's biological grandmother. My husband was adopted at birth and he met Garmaine, or "Nona", as we know her, for the first about 8 or 9 years ago when he was about 42 years old. I met her for the first time about 3 years ago. Nona is truly an amazing woman. She has spunk like no one I have ever met. She has been so open and welcoming to us as we entered into her life. We have heard some stories of her time in the concentration camps but as I read this book, I was chilled to the bone as I read about what happened to Nona and her family. Her drive to live and her willingness to help others during this time is unbelievable. After reading this, I have so much respect and admiration for her. She is an amazing woman with an amazing story to tell. We are blessed to have found her.
May 8, 2018
Definitely Movie material
I have read many, many Holocaust survivor memoirs and this is one of the best. Not because it is so well written but because it is so interesting. She gives great detail about each danger and hardship while staying strong and avoiding self pity. It is my first book to read about the Greek experience in WWII and I found it interesting from that angle. The writing is clear and compelling but not always grammatically correct, but the story is amazing.
I have read many, many Holocaust survivor memoirs and this is one of the best. Not because it is so well written but because it is so interesting. She gives great detail about each danger and hardship while staying strong and avoiding self pity. It is my first book to read about the Greek experience in WWII and I found it interesting from that angle. The writing is clear and compelling but not always grammatically correct, but the story is amazing.
February 17, 2019
Heartbreaking, uplifting, staggering, this story is all of them. A life of more cruel experiences than any one person should ever have to bear. But, of course, that was the brutality of the Holocaust.
Tigre, encountered the worst of the worst perpetrators of cruelty but also found goodness in some of those monsters.
Inspired by her parent’s strength & belief she battled on, her ultimate survival being her triumph over those who wished to exterminate her race.
The sole survivor of her family - telling their story so we never forget them.
Tigre, encountered the worst of the worst perpetrators of cruelty but also found goodness in some of those monsters.
Inspired by her parent’s strength & belief she battled on, her ultimate survival being her triumph over those who wished to exterminate her race.
The sole survivor of her family - telling their story so we never forget them.
July 4, 2019
Infuriating
Infuriating to read of Nazi atrocities. Hard to believe that human beings could be so brutal, sadistic, merciless. But they were.
Wonderful to read of Garmaine's toughness and will to live.
Unfortunately, this memoir needed good proofreaders and a good editor, and it did not get them.
Infuriating to read of Nazi atrocities. Hard to believe that human beings could be so brutal, sadistic, merciless. But they were.
Wonderful to read of Garmaine's toughness and will to live.
Unfortunately, this memoir needed good proofreaders and a good editor, and it did not get them.
May 27, 2018
Thanks
An excellent book. sad book, however, her faith in God was inspiring. God is faithful. she survived like ruth in Bible for Such a time as this. I really recommend reding this book
An excellent book. sad book, however, her faith in God was inspiring. God is faithful. she survived like ruth in Bible for Such a time as this. I really recommend reding this book
June 14, 2018
Holocaust memoir
Loved the tigre of auschwitz.interesting way of compartmentalizing emotions to cope with unbelievable horror and pain.😇highly recommend this excellent survival story.
Loved the tigre of auschwitz.interesting way of compartmentalizing emotions to cope with unbelievable horror and pain.😇highly recommend this excellent survival story.
October 8, 2018
The Eye of the Tiger !
I have read many books on the Holocaust. This was one of the best. Emotionally riveting but history must be revealed and understood to prevent the mistakes of the past
I have read many books on the Holocaust. This was one of the best. Emotionally riveting but history must be revealed and understood to prevent the mistakes of the past
April 28, 2020
Unbelievably strong woman who stared evil in the face and bravely shared her story so that we may never forget the lives lost and the atrocious acts humans committed against fellow humans. Her story can be hard to stomach which only speaks to her strength and faith.
July 3, 2017
Good is good!
What story. Having faith is an example of this story. Germaine,s story is unbelievable but true. Thank you for this story.
What story. Having faith is an example of this story. Germaine,s story is unbelievable but true. Thank you for this story.
December 2, 2025
I wrote and edited this book completely, received no credit for it aside from a mention in the back (it was ghostwriting, and I shouldn't have), but Eli put his name on the front of the book because he has a big head. Nona was a beautiful soul, and she is missed. Having had the pleasure of interviewing her week after week and writing this from a first person perspective, I'm proud to have taken a part in telling her story. The timeline we had to work with and Eli's later edits before the published final version caused significant grammatical errors. I'm rating this 3 stars because of all of these factors. I remember every moment of her story even though it's been years since I wrote it. Horrible what she went through, she was truly undaunted. For those leaving reviews about the writing, I apologize, and a few details may not even be correct due to Nona's memory at the time, and Eli's fabrication. God Bless.
September 18, 2020
Amazing story of survival
Somewhere around 2008. I was lucky enough to meet Maria one day quite by chance in the hot tub of the YMCA in Clearwater. She unexpectedly started telling me her story and at times Her accent was so heavy I had trouble understanding her. But her story was so heartbreaking and compelling I will never forget her. We must’ve sat in that hot tub for well over an hour crying together. Now it’s 2020 and I googled her and her book popped up. I read it in a evening understanding and finally the story was filled in. A great read and a greater lady! She was convinced that wearing the cross and believing in God got her through. ❤️
Somewhere around 2008. I was lucky enough to meet Maria one day quite by chance in the hot tub of the YMCA in Clearwater. She unexpectedly started telling me her story and at times Her accent was so heavy I had trouble understanding her. But her story was so heartbreaking and compelling I will never forget her. We must’ve sat in that hot tub for well over an hour crying together. Now it’s 2020 and I googled her and her book popped up. I read it in a evening understanding and finally the story was filled in. A great read and a greater lady! She was convinced that wearing the cross and believing in God got her through. ❤️
September 10, 2017
Amazing lady, what a strong woman.
It was a very sad but Amazon story. Would love to have met her.
May God bless them always. Love
It was a very sad but Amazon story. Would love to have met her.
May God bless them always. Love
September 21, 2017
Excellent
Very emotionally hard to read. So grateful she survived to tell it. Definitely a lesson to be learned by the world.
Very emotionally hard to read. So grateful she survived to tell it. Definitely a lesson to be learned by the world.
January 4, 2018
Truly inspiring
A truly inspirational life. God has a purpose for us all. He is there truly, in the valleys as well as on the mountains.
A truly inspirational life. God has a purpose for us all. He is there truly, in the valleys as well as on the mountains.
February 10, 2019
searing emotion, brutal, honest. poignant
April 8, 2019
Wonderful story!
Germaine made me feel her sorrow and hope. Dr. Samuel saw the strength in her and his sacrifice was rewarded with the legacy of her first born.
Germaine made me feel her sorrow and hope. Dr. Samuel saw the strength in her and his sacrifice was rewarded with the legacy of her first born.
October 4, 2019
Heart breaking
One of the most uplifting human endurance stories I've read. The strengh of Garmaine is unbelievable.
Couldn't put this book down.
One of the most uplifting human endurance stories I've read. The strengh of Garmaine is unbelievable.
Couldn't put this book down.
January 17, 2021
Must read
This was such a moving account of the horrors of what Hitler and his people did...I cried, but I also am amazed by her bravery and will to live. Incredible book.
This was such a moving account of the horrors of what Hitler and his people did...I cried, but I also am amazed by her bravery and will to live. Incredible book.
November 23, 2025
Well told story of survival.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews