Light in the Dark: The Last Sanctuary from the Holocaust

by Robert Marshall

An extraordinary true story of survival and courage through the Holocaust. Poland, 1943. It was the last refuge of the desperate, a warren of sewers underneath their city. Above, as the Nazis destroyed the ghetto of the city of Lvov, a small band of Jews escaped into a grim network of tunnels, living for fourteen months with the city's waste, the sudden floods, the fumes and the damp, the rats, the darkness, and the despair.

Their only support was a lone sewer worker, an ex-criminal who constantly threatened to leave them. Many died; some falling into the rushing waters of the river, some simply of exhaustion. At one point the survivors found themselves trapped in a chamber, filling to the roof with storm-water.

Yet survive they did, even infiltrating the camps above to find their missing relatives. When the Russians liberated Lvov, they emerged from the sewers filthy, bent double, emaciated, unrecognizable... but alive.

This powerful story based on a long series of interviews, and a hitherto private diary, creates a blazing testimony to human faith and endurance.

Genres: Holocaust, World War II

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2022

Reviews

[Nick Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting piece of history - that of the survival for fourteen months of a small group of Jews in the sewers underneath Lvov in Poland now Ukraine following the liquidation of the ghetto by the Nazis in 1943. I'm hesitant to criticise how the actual book was of moderate interestingness only because I understand there is limited scope for storytelling about a year and a bit sitting in a dark sewer waiting for the Polish drainage inspector who has aided in the subterfuge to bring you food. It's more important that the story is told than that a compelling and attractive narrative is created from this. Nevertheless, a short, informative telling as opposed to one which squeezes the absolute maximum of emotional impact from the events - which suited me as someone more interested in the facts than the human interest.

[Joe Borg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Lvov Jews hiding in teh sewers for 14 months during WW2 with the invaluable aid of a Polish sewage worker Leopold Socha.

Who says the Poles or Christians did not help the Jews in WW2 needs to read this book

But why does the book have to end with such a divisive sentence? 'This is God's retribution . This is what comes of helping the Jews'

There is a story of Gustav Wilhaus : "he had no use for children , he had them thrown up in the air while he took aim and shot them from the verandah . He often did this in the presence of his little daughter who used to appluad his successes"

[Lauren Rhicard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book more, it is such a gripping true story that made me not want to put this book down- I read it in two sittings!

The story follows the survival for fourteen months of a small group of Jews in the sewers underneath Lvov in Poland now Ukraine following the liquidation of the ghetto by the Nazis in 1943.

This read was totally an incredible and harrowing one, which was written super respectfully based on interviews with the actual survivors and is not over dramatised for shock value (not that it needs to be!).

I absolutely love history books, in particular ones based on WW2- One of my favourites is actually ‘The Twins of Aushwitz’ by Eva Moses Kor- and this one completely lives up to the same standards.

A truly incredible story I really recommend ♥️

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this story, I had no idea I actually knew it already! I have the movie, and while I was reading I was picturing the movie in my head. So I dug the movie out and watched it again. There are a couple of differences, but otherwise, the movie is pretty true to the book. Well worth a read if you enjoy WWII memoirs/true stories.

[Lilly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written account of an absolutely unbelievable turmoil faced by escapees of a liquidated ghetto. I did find myself at some points wishing that it was slightly more non-fiction esque / historiographical in nature, and I certainly found myself more interested in reading the second half of the book which had more frequent discussions of conflicting accounts/ discussing the notes made by Chiger in comparison to the oral accounts of the others. But overall this is an incredible undertaking by Marshall, written very respectfully and not over-dramatised for shock value (not that the account needs that anyway tbh). A really valuable addition to microhistories of ww2

[Enza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book tells the true story of Lvov Jews hiding in the sewers for 14 months during the second World War. They were blessed with the help and loyalty of Socha, a Polish sewage worker that showed true devotion to making them see the light again. This book was written upon interviews of the survivor's experiences and recollection of the horrors they endured. It's a must read to understand the extraordinary true story of survival and courage through the Holocaust.

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing

Although every story of Holocaust survival is an amazing story, this one is truly astonishing, of a group of Jews evading the Nazis by hiding in the sewer under a city. Truly incredible story.

[Val.F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A respectful but harrowing story of the horrors a small group of jews went through to survive in a sewer under the ghetto in Lvov. A heartbreaking but powerful read and an amazing story of how strong the human will is to put up with such an awful place to live.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible …

… true story of fortitude, bravery and survival in appalling conditions when so many others didn’t. Definitely a must read.

[Leigha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing style not for me.

[Jack Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunting, harrowing but hopeful.

“This is God’s retribution. This is what comes of helping the Jews”.