Dora: The Nazi Concentration Camp Where Modern Space Technology Was Born and 30,000 Prisoners Died

by Jean Michel, Louis Nucera (Translator)

440pages. in8. Broché.

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Emily]

I don’t know how to put a rating on a book like this. A book that details the mechanization of murder, the juxtaposition of barbaric and cutting edge, real stories about a young boy so desperate to quench his thirst that he kills himself drinking rocket fuel and a prisoner with a bullet in his head miraculously able to charge and terrify the SS officer who put it there — it’s not the sort of book that fits on a scale of one to five stars. While it’s not on the same literary level as Wiesel or Levi, I almost think it should be required reading and I’m surprised it’s not more well-known. Michel does go down some pretty niche if not slightly confusing paths (mostly concerning details about V2 plans and Himmler) with some vague references, which probably makes this memoir less accessible than others. But I can’t fault him for his asides and personal theorizing. His sardonic humor (aimed at the SS and von Braun in particular) is both genuinely funny and extremely exasperating, knowing that most of them got away with their crimes. I’ll be thinking about this book and the snapshots of life at Dora it burned into my mind for a long time.

[Danica]

Extremely moving and exhilarating account. Michel's clear driving motivation to always resist and escape, even in the depths of hell, are truly inspiring.