‘Eva Mozes Kor has written a very moving and vivid account of an extraordinary
and horrific experience. It is an important document showing the strength of the
human spirit and the capacity to forgive. She should be commended for having
the courage to write about her traumatic childhood, leading to the forgiveness
that freed her from hatred and brought her peace. May it inspire others to
emulate her.’ – Archbishop Desmond Tutu
In the summer of 1944, Eva Mozes Kor and her family arrived at Auschwitz.
Within thirty minutes, they were separated. Her parents and two older sisters were taken
to the gas chambers, while Eva and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man
who became known as the Angel of Death: Dr. Josef Mengele. They were 10 years old.
THE NAZIS SPARED THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY WERE TWINS.
While twins at Auschwitz were granted the ‘privileges’ of keeping their own clothes and hair,
they were also subjected to Mengele’s sadistic medical experiments. They were forced to
fight daily for their own survival, and many died as a result of the experiments, or from the
disease and hunger rife in the concentration camp.
Publishing for the first time in the UK in the year that marks the 75th anniversary of
Auschwitz liberation, The Twins of Auschwitz shares the inspirational story of a child’s
endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil.
Also included is an epilogue on Eva’s incredible recovery and her remarkable decision to
publicly forgive the Nazis. Through her museum and her lectures, she dedicated her life
to giving testimony on the Holocaust, providing a message of hope for people who have
suffered, and worked toward goals of forgiveness, peace, and the elimination of hatred and
prejudice in the world.
“This remarkable story is an important entry point in the teaching of Holocaust
History and the many issues which emerge from it, not least of all the triumph
of the human spirit.” - Richard Freedman, National Director, South African
Holocaust Foundation
My Thoughts:
The Twins of Auschwitz by Eva Mozes Kor is a first hand account of the authors experiences at Auschwitz. It is deeply moving and as it was a first hand account I felt a deep connection to the author and the feelings that she portrayed.
This book tells the story of Eva, her twin sister Miriam and the rest of her family that were ripped from their home and all that they knew and transported to what they found out to be Auschwitz. At a train station platform Eva and her twin Miriam were ripped from the rest of their family, who were never seen again. Eva and her sister Miriam were chosen to live as they were twins and Dr. Josef Mengele had experiments to carry out. Awful experiments that didn't care if the children lived or died. All of this took place under the guise of the creation of the perfect Aryan master race.
I believe this book is aimed at a younger audience but I think it should be read by all. Eva never shied away from her experiences at Auschwitz and my heart felt like it was crying in many places. The fear that was minute by minute and the squalor and the treatment of other human beings made me and has always made me angry.
Eva Mozes Kor seemed like quite a lady and an even more remarkable little girl. She was the strong one and on the very first day at Auschwitz she vowed to be strong and make sure that her and Miriam made it out alive. I am so very glad that this came to fruition for them as so many did not make it out.
Later on in the book we learn more about Eva and her life after Auschwitz. The events that took place seemed to drive her and help in her future decisions.
It is a given that I found this book deeply moving. What I hadn't bargained on was the particular connection with it being a first hand account. I think that stories like this are important whether true or fictional, nobody should ever be allowed to forget the events that happened under the Nazi Regime and everyone should be and continue to be educated on it.
Important and poignant, I implore you to read it too.
About the Author:
EVA MOZES KOR was a resident of Terre Haute, Indiana. Following her survival of
Auschwitz, she became a recognised speaker, both nationally and internationally, on topics
related to the Holocaust and social justice. Eva created the CANDLES organisation in 1985
to locate other Mengele twins and found 122 twins across the world. Ten years later, she
opened the CANDLES Holocaust Museum to educate the public about the historic event
she survived. A community leader, champion of human rights, and tireless educator, Eva has
been covered in numerous media outlets and is the subject of a documentary, Forgiving
Dr. Mengele. She passed away in 2019.
Find out more about CANDLES here.
Please do also have a look at the other stops on the blog tour.
Huge thanks for the blog tour support Leah xx
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