March to Freedom: A Memoir of the Holocaust by Edith Singer (2008) Paperback

By Edith Singer

Book Overview

In March to Freedom: A Memoir of the Holocaust, Edith Singer gives a first-hand account of the Holocaust. When she was 16, the Nazis placed Edith and her family in the Auschwitz death camp. This... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0981779409
• ISBN13: 9780981779409
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: impact Publishing
• Length: 102 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A powerful and moving account

In her memoir, Edith Singer bears personal witness to the catastrophe of the Holocaust. From her childhood home in Czechoslovakia to the barracks and barbed wire of Auschwitz, the author recounts the events of that time in unflinching detail, while revealing her own struggles with physical deprivation, humiliation, separation, loss, and religious doubt. Though subjected, with millions of others, to the ruthless cruelty of the Nazis and the regime's relentless process of dehumanization, Singer finds hope, faith, and freedom through resistance to evil and the will to share her story. From the power of memory she has constructed a vital message that will enlighten generations of readers.

A Life Never Forgotten

In March to Freedom Edith Singer states, "When I was liberated by the Russian Army on May 8, 1945, in a small German village, I promised myself that I would not talk or think about concentration camp ever again." How fortunate the world is that she did not keep her promise. March to Freedom is an excellent read that illustrates a young woman's fight for survival through one of the darkest periods in human history. Although the Jewish Holocaust is one of the most horrific moments in world history, it must be remembered, and the stories must be told if humanity is to learn from the past and prevent its mistakes from reoccurring. Edith Singer demonstrates courage and strength throughout the pages of her personal memoir sharing her experiences in Auschwitz and the Taucha labor camp with explicit detail. Singer's narrative tone, personal stories, and attention to detail permit readers of all ages to experience her journey of survival. In less than one hundred pages, readers witness her unwavering dedication to life. She explains how as a young woman she fought against the Germans and maintained dignity even when they attempted to destroy her identity. When forced to receive a tattoo on her arm, she expressed, "They are de-humanizing me. I will not be a person any more, only a number. Now, I am marked just like cattle"(52). Despite the evils of humanity, Edith Singer shines as a beacon of hope, retains her faith, and encourages others to stay strong. Even when she is weak from starvation and tempted with extra food, she remains vigilant and determined to fight against the Germans by sabotaging munitions. Her example of strength and honor is expressed throughout the book and readers will learn valuable lessons from her experiences. Edith Singer's personal story of survival is an inspiration to all and should not be missed. As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, it is increasingly important to document their stories, so humanity can truly understand the plight of those who survived the worst atrocity in humanity's extended existence. All who read March to Freedom will gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and how those who experienced its horrific devastation were forever changed and should never be forgotten.

Review of March to Freedom

The Nazis put Edith and her family in Auschwitz when she was 16 and later moved her to Taucha. In this book, Edith tells what life was like inside these two camps. Despite the horrible conditions of camp, Edith stays optimistic, finds extra food and clothing for herself and others, and sabotages a munitions factory. My favorite part is where Edith talks about resistance: "I resisted the Nazis, but I was not alone. Whether it was intentional sabotage or quiet suffering, it was resistance. Not giving in to the hunger and cold, not breaking down from the grueling work, enduring every imaginable pain, anguish, and torture--that was resistance. Every one of us who survived--and many who did not--resisted." That's powerful! I let my teenage daughter read this book, and she loved it because the book is intense, short, and incredible. The book is full of interesting details and shows the importance of family. March to Freedom is a great introduction to the experience of the holocaust, and it inspires people by showing them how one young woman stayed positive in a horrible situation.

A True Account of the Holocaust

Sixty-three years have passed since the Germans surrendered to Allied forces in the spring of 1945, yet the horror of Nazi atrocities remains as vivid in our collective social consciousness as ever. Books written by and about concentration camp survivors continue to be relevant today, reaching into the hearts and minds of yet another generation for whom the idea of genocide seems more like something from the movies than from history. Edith Singer is one of those clear voices bridging the past to the present. Her direct and insightful perusal of her experiences in Auschwitz strikes a strangely alarming mix of emotions within the soul. One so far removed from them by both time and political systems feels both a sense of disbelief that such inhumanity could really have occurred, and of dread that if it happened once it could very well happen again. Ms. Singer's nearly detached observations of events that were most assuredly the stuff of nightmares, demonstrates just how deeply affected she was by them, like a physician desensitized to the carnage around him. Without that desensitization, his emotions would overwhelm him and he could do no good. Ms. Singer likewise allows the reader to draw his responses from his own reservoir of suppressed emotion. The effect is startling. From her description of standing naked as Joseph Mengele selected the day's gas chamber victims, to the absence of children in the camp due to their immediate executions upon arrival at Auschwitz, the reader cannot help but be changed by Singer's tale. For this reason, March to Freedom stands as a vivid reminder of the depths to which humanity can sink if left unchecked, and of the heights to which we can and should reach to keep freedom in our grasp.