L'angelo di Auschwitz Mala Zimetbaum l'abrea che sfidò i tedeschi
The book is published by Marsilio.
This girl, she had many sibilings, and their family pretty numerous, was an activist of an association created for promoting peace and understanding between all folks, considering the anti-semitic winds that before the war, started to blowing always more dangerously creating discrimination, and the consequences we all know.
Arrested when in Bruxelles, Mala was at first brought at Mechelen where she started to understand the atrocities committed by Nazis. Being a girl profoundly in love for languages, she was fluent in so many tongues, she became soon a priviledged prisoner and she worked in an office, cataloging all the people who would have been sent at some point in the camp of Auschwitz. Making some pressures, she was in grade of saving the existence of some little relatives and tried all her best for helping also the rest of prisoners. These pressures for setting free her relatives meant to her the arrival in Auschwitz.
Horrible situation and conditions, people were treated as beasts, Mala was assigned in a section where most of women deceased because one of the most horrible places ,but thanks to the knowledge of various languages, she became again a priviledged prisoner. She could work as a translator, she could eat, she had good clothes, she could spend a lot of time outside, and her life wasn't miserable as the ones of the other prisoners. She could also write letters to her relatives, in particular she established a solid correspondence with her sister.
She sent cryptic messages to her, remarking the fact that although she was a priviledged prisoner, she didn't change her ideas.
Yes, because there is to say that some Jewish decided to join the cause of Germans, fighting close to them, killing other Jews, and working actively in the camps with them. Although in love for Charles, soon Mala met in the camp Edek Galinski and the two started a love-story, planning later to escape from the Auschwitz camp.
I remember that when I interviewed mr. Staub an Ukrainian deported in Auschwitz and I asked him why he didn't never run away from that place, abruptly his eyes saw again that horror; projected in a past never forgotten, he whispered discouraged: "Because, trust me, it was impossible. Impossible."
The idea that some people did it, is irresistable! Sure, they were special prisoners, so people with a certain freedom, but it is irresistable.
The end unfortunately is not positive for the protagonists, but they remain anyway heroes for what they were in grade to do.
Mala was a girl in grade of being helpful; she helped other prisoners, she tried to bring them some food, medicines and whatever the prisoners needed.
I want to read more books written by mr. Sessi. The book is written very well, it is captivating and well structured.
The echoes of Primo Levi and extracts from his books remind to all of us what happened during that period. This book is a strong message for our times.
I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of this book.
Anna Maria Polidori
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