Based on the true story of a brave German nurse tasked with caring for Auschwitz’s youngest prisoners, Auschwitz Lullaby brings to life the story of Helene Hannemann—a woman who sacrificed everything for family and fought furiously for the children she hoped to save.
On an otherwise ordinary morning in 1943, Helene Hannemann is preparing her five children for the day when the German police … for the day when the German police arrive at her home. Helene’s worst fears come true when the police, under strict orders from the SS, demand that her children and husband, all of Romani heritage, be taken into custody. Though Helene is German and safe from the forces invading her home, she refuses to leave her family—sealing her fate in a way she never could have imagined.
After a terrifying trek across the continent, Helene and her family arrive at Auschwitz and are thrown into the chaos of the camp. Her husband, Johann, is separated from them, but Helene remains fiercely protective of her children and those around her. When the powers-that-be discover that Helene is not only a German but also a trained nurse, she is forced into service at the camp hospital, which is overseen by the notorious Dr. Mengele himself.
Helene is under no illusions in terms of Dr. Mengele’s intentions, but she agrees to cooperate when he asks her to organize a day care and school for the Romani children in the camp. Though physically and emotionally brutalized by the conditions at Auschwitz, Helene musters the strength to protect the children in her care at any cost. Through sheer force of will, Helene provides a haven for the children of Auschwitz—an act of kindness and selflessness so great that it illuminates the darkest night of human history.
Based on a true story, Mario Escobar’s Auschwitz Lullaby demonstrates the power of sacrifice and the strength of human dignity—even when all hope seems lost.
“Auschwitz Lullaby grabbed my heart and drew me in. A great choice for readers of historical fiction.” —Irma Joubert, author of The Girl from the Train
- An international bestseller
- Full-length World War II historical novel
- A finalist for 2019’s Empik Award for Literature
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs, research notes from the author, and a historical timeline
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This novel was a real eye-opener for me. I had heard of and read about the Holocaust of course and seen many horrific pictures but never knew about the prison camp that held gypsies. I had only heard about the Jewish camps. Although fiction, this book held lots of truth. Helene Hannemann was a real person that was held in Auschwitz-Birkenau with her five children. Her husband was separated from them and sent elsewhere. Many of the names of doctors, guards, and officials were real and portrayed as they truly were. I spent time looking them up and reading more about what they did and what happened to them.
I was appalled at the inhumane treatment of these thousands of people that were thought of as less than animals. The hardest part was reading about some of the things that were done to the babies and the children. I cried many tears and had to stop reading at various points just to recuperate before continuing. And although it was hard to read, everyone should be required to read about these true events in history. Too many rumors have been circulated about the Holocaust never happening, but most assuredly it did. As the saying goes, those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. And please Lord Jesus, come back before something this horrific ever happens again!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Fiction Guild but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
enjoyed this book up to a point which is why i couldn’t give it a higher number. i would recommend it though because it gives a different perspective from the gypsy side of being in the camps
Beautifully written fictionalized portrait of a young German woman married to a Romany violinist who refused to abandon her family when they were sent to Auschwitz. She ran a nursery school until the family was murdered in Birkenau gas chambers
Her tenacity is inspiring
Auschwitz Lullaby is based on the true story of Helene Hannemann, a German woman married to a Gypsy man who had five kids. All were taken to Auschwitz. Though she had the opportunity, because of her pure German heritage, to stay behind, she chose to go with her family to the concentration camp. There was no way they were going anywhere without her. Because she was a nurse, Helene began working at the camp’s hospital and was eventually assigned, by Dr. Mengele, as the director of a nursery school in the Gypsy camp.
This was a truly compelling, heartbreaking, powerful read. I’ve read many WWII books, but never one that delved into the plight of the Gypsies during that time. It was informative and impossible to put down. I read the majority of it in one day.
I can’t sugarcoat things. It wasn’t an easy read, but it’s one that everyone should read. We can never forget the atrocities that took place. We must always remember. Mrs. Hannemann’s story was one that needed to be told and I’m so glad this author did it. This is a story that I’ll be thinking about for a very long time and one that I’ll be recommending to everyone.
“Help me to tell the world the story of Helene Hannemann and her children” . . . writes the author in her opening statements.
Married to a Romani Gypsy, Helene Hannemann is concerned that the welfare of her family lies in the hands of those who aggressively seek to destroy it. Her pure German heritage adds a layer of protection over her own future, a luxury that her husband and five young children do not have. When the worst possible scenario is realized, Helene bravely refuses to be separated from those she loves; bravely taking the train to Auschwitz where death hangs over life like a smokey specter.
Surprisingly, Helene captures the attention of Dr. Josef Mengele, whose aspirations for greatness among the Third Reich supersede any resemblance of the Hippocratic oath. When she is chosen to organize a school for the children among the Gypsy camp, her nurse’s training serves her well as Helene concedes a deal with the devil himself. And the rest . . . . as one might say, is history.
Written beautifully, carefully, and reverently . . . . . “Auschwitz Lullaby” exposes unspeakable cruelty and brutality in such a gentle way that it makes one’s heart sing a love song for those who lived to die.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated are entirely my own.
After just visiting the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC and learning about the more than 20,000 ethnic gypsies that were exterminated this book brings it even more into perspective. How could this happen we ask ourselves, but isn’t it happening now with all the hate and violence around us. I won’t candy coat this gut wrenching, emotional roller coaster that this book will take you on. It is a story that cried to be told and the admiration I have now for this woman who stood up for her children as well as others when as a German she could have walked away. This is a book that everyone needs to read and let it change you for the better. We can hate the atrocities but may we seek to love and pray for the perpetrators. I wish I could give this 10 stars. Exceptional!
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I have a few suggestions before reading this book. You should find a quiet place, grab a blanket and something to drink. Get a pillow so you can use it to scream in. For me these were must necessities to get through this harrowing account of history that was deplorable.
Helene Hannemann was a special woman who loved her family deeply. She was of Aryan German descent while her husband was a Gypsy. The story seems relatively tame until one day when everything seemed normal, walking up the stairs to their place were SS guards. Helene’s worse fear was coming true. They were there to take her husband and children away. Oh how I cried as I pictured Helene clutching her children with all the strength she had. There was no way she was staying behind while her family were going to face an unbearable future.
The author pulls no punches as the camp is described in deplorable condition. Men were separated from their family and the story focuses on Helene and her children. I have read many books about the concentration camps were Jews were sent. The book has now made me aware that other nationalities were targeted as well. The book is based on a true story and the author has done an admirable job of showing us what a mother will do to protect her children.
I was sickened when Dr. Mengele was introduced into the story. He was such a heartless and ruthless person. This is where my pillow came into play. I stopped reading half way through the book, and screamed into the pillow as long as I could. The senselessness of this man’s actions made anger take me over. How can anyone send innocent women, men and children to death while smiling the whole time? The author goes into vivid details of the torture, mistreatment and inhumane actions taken on these people. I will never understand how a person can declare himself king of the world and dismiss human life with a wave of a hand.
This book is a hard one to read, but important because it gives us a glimpse inside a world where death was an odor that lingered in the air twenty-four hours a day. You could screams of agony from children who were starving and shivering from the cold. The women there with the children grew weary as one by one a life was taken . Helene was a mother who was willing to stand up for what was right, did not worry about her safety and never gave up hope.
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.
Wow
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild, I was not required to give a favorable review. This was a very intense book about a mother and her children that were gathered up during WWII. She was born German but her husband was a Romani heritage. At during the war there were taken to the camps as same as the Jews. She is a mother and doesn’t want to be separated from her children so she went with them but there was things she would have to do to protect her children.
Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar is based on the events of a German Aryan Helene Hanneman and her family. She was married to Johann who was a gypsy and a talented violinist. The Hanneman’s had five children (including twins).. One day during the war Helene is stopped on the streets and is told the German soldiers were taking away her gypsy husband and children. She is told to stay. Helene refuses and goes with her family. The family is separated. Helene and the children to one area of Auschwitz and Johann to another. The downward spiral begins.
I was immediately interested in their story at the beginning. However, after arriving at Auschwitz, I felt like I was just reading a timeline of events. I received a copy from NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.
“We cease to exist when there is no one in the world capable of loving us.”
I have long been fascinated with the Holocaust and have a number of books on the subject. All are nonfiction. This one is a fictionalized account of a story based in fact. In 1943 a German woman, Helene Hannemann, who was married to a Gypsy, was taken with her husband and 5 children to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. She herself was not required to go because she was German, but she refused to stay home without her children and husband. Separated from her husband the moment they arrived, Helene and her children were placed in the Gypsy camp, yet another group of people Hitler deemed unnecessary to live. During her time there, Dr. Josef Mengele, dubbed the Angel of Death for his cruel experiments on the Jews, asked her to start a kindergarten and nursery for the Gypsy children in the camp. She agreed, and being a nurse, was able to help the children for as long as she could. Mengele wanted to have children at hand for his experiments and the nursery provided that.
The fictionalized account begins now. Readers are told through Hannemann’s diary of her life in the death camp until one fateful day. Escobar’s research is spot on and we are given glimpses into this most infamous of Hitler’s death camps. It is a very difficult book to read at times, but it is beautifully told and is something we should remember. Man’s inhumanity to man is at its worse here in the death camps. I read this book in one day. Heart-wrenching and painful though it was, it will be a wonderful addition to my library.
*My thanks to Nelson Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. My opinion is entirely my own.