Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story

“Today, we require individuals with strength of spirit over the banality of evil, bravery over the malicious, and empathy for victims of hatred and lies. We need people who demonstrate acts of kindness.”

There have been many nonfiction books written about the Nazi death camp Auschwitz. This one, by talented author Keren Blankfeld, is intimate, authoritative, riveting, unrelenting, and detail-oriented. It reads like a novel, with well-developed characters, gripping episodes, and a powerful narrative.

One of the most difficult aspects of writing any book about a Nazi death camp is the need to conduct extensive research. Author Blankfeld accomplishes this with wide-ranging interviews, accurate maps, pictures, diagrams, as well as numerous citations and references. She conducts countless hours of in-depth interviews with many of the central characters, their families, and much more time pouring over records, research, and data.

Lovers in Auschwitz captures the story of two Holocaust survivors, Zippi Spitzer and David Wisnia, who fall in love during their imprisonment by the brutal Nazi SS. As Auschwitz is being emptied of prisoners near the end of WWII, the lovers are separated on different death marches. They promise to meet at the Jewish Community Center in Warsaw, which by then had been destroyed. David fails to appear at the appointed location. Zippy waits for weeks, but David never appears. Finally, emotionally crushed, she gives up. David survives a Nazi death march from Auschwitz and is liberated by Americans, from the 101st Airborne. David, who has always loved the idea of being an American, stays with the troops, rather than meeting Zippi in Warsaw. After the war, they each lead remarkable lives while apart. More than 70 years later, they are reunited.

From the moment they first see each other as prisoners in Auschwitz, shortly after it opens, Zippi and David fall in love. Zippi is several years older than David, who sang professionally before the war. They are captivated by each other at first sight.

Zippi is a very talented graphic artist, working for the SS handling extensive clerical responsibilities. David works in the sauna, where prisoners are deloused with harsh chemicals and have their body hair shaved. These turn out to be among the safest and most secure jobs for any Jewish prisoner. Had their burgeoning romance been discovered by the SS, they both would likely have been hung for all to see. But if careful, they could survive.

Zippi joins the resistance at Auschwitz, vowing to save as many women’s lives as possible. And she does. Zippi and a close friend named Katya oversee recording prisoner information for the SS and managing roll-call data. What the Nazis do not know is that the women manipulate the daily death total and they use that ability to save hundreds of women from death.

However, trapped within the daily nightmare of slavery, starvation, cruelty, gas chambers, and crematoria, one slip up and the partners in resistance and the star-crossed lovers could meet a swift end. Katya and Zippi also copy their records to smuggle information to the Allies about the mechanics of a camp that deliberately murders more than 1.1 million people, mostly Jews. Zippi even makes a detailed cardboard creation of every Birkenau building.

Another friend of Zippi is a woman named Roza, who repeatedly gives Zippi aprons. Later it is learned that this may have been part of the process of smuggling gunpowder from a nearby munitions plant into Auschwitz for a prisoner rebellion, which takes place on October 7, 1944. The gunpowder destroys Crematoria IV at Birkenau (Auschwitz II), one of the Nazis’ primary crematoria. For Zippi this is one of many risky acts of resistance that could easily have resulted in her own death. Yet each time, her courage won over fear.

An unusual aspect of this book is prior knowledge of a very special prisoner in Auschwitz named Alma Rosé. There is an excellent book about her life in Auschwitz that was reviewed by this reviewer for NYJB in 2023. In that book, Zippi’s life is also exposed, especially her ability to “organize” almost anything, fool the Nazis repeatedly, access top SS leaders, and save countless lives.

Alma Rosé is a very famous violinist, well-known throughout Europe. Her father had been the long-time concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, until being forced out because he was a Jew; and her uncle was the famous composer, Gustav Mahler. When Alma Rosé arrives in Auschwitz with typhus, Zippi helps her survive a clinic where almost every prisoner dies. Together, they create a unique women’s orchestra at Auschwitz. While Alma Rosé transforms a motley group of semi-talented female musicians into an excellent orchestra, it is Zippi who pulls the orchestra together from a technical perspective. From recruiting musicians to locating and copying music, to interacting on the orchestra’s behalf with the SS, Zippi is the glue that holds the orchestra together.

Zippi is eminently courageous and gregarious. Shortly after Auschwitz opens, she befriends almost everyone in the Women’s Camp and quite a few SS officers. She has the valor to ask Nazi leaders for whatever she requires. Katya and Zippi are well-known and their requests to the SS are usually provided. Their influence is almost beyond measure.

David and Zippi observe many romantic interludes in the place at Auschwitz known as “Kanada.” It is a warehouse that processes everything that the Nazis steal from prisoners before they are gassed and cremated. Close friends who work in Kanada carve out small places high up among the huge piles of clothing for Zippi’s romantic interludes with David. They must climb up these unsteady piles of clothing to discover and enter their special hiding place. Had a guard walked in to see them, they likely would have been hung. Their romantic moments are infrequent. But each interlude is magic for Zippi and David. Each time they are together, their love makes the terror outside of their secret place seem father away. In these moments, the war, torture, brutality, and genocide fade away.

Although David remains unaware until many years later, Zippi saves his life several times by using her influence with the SS. She has done the same for countless other prisoners, undoubtedly saving the lives of at least several hundred women. Zippi’s willingness to participate in acts of resistance at Auschwitz demonstrate her stalwart courage and willingness to risk her life to save others. Her bravery is the foundation of this story.  

Author Blankfeld displays adroit attention to detail in revealing this incredible story of evil, darkness, death, love, and passion. Her skill allows the reader to comprehend the extreme depth of terror and hardship for prisoners at Auschwitz. It also demonstrates the power of prisoners who have the courage, cognitive ability, skills, and the moxie to risk their lives by asking select Nazi guards and leaders for help.

This is truly a story about the triumphant human spirit. It reveals that there are many compassionate people who are willing to risk their life to save others in need of help. Here we see good conquer over evil, strength of heart over relentless hatred, and the power of one good person’s courage over vile malevolence. We live in a time of resurgent antisemitism. It never disappears. Today, we require individuals with strength of spirit over the banality of evil, bravery over the malicious, and empathy for victims of hatred and lies. We need people who demonstrate acts of kindness. We need another brave Zippi to guide and save us from eternal hate.