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The Volunteer

One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz

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The Volunteer

Written by: Jack Fairweather
Narrated by: David Rintoul
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About this listen

The incredible true story of a Polish resistance fighter’s infiltration of Auschwitz to sabotage the camp from within, and his daring escape to warn the Allies about the Nazis’ true plans for a “Final Solution.”

To uncover the fate of the thousands being interred at a mysterious Nazi camp on the border of the Reich, a young Polish resistance fighter named Witold Pilecki volunteered for an audacious mission: intentionally get captured and transported to the new camp to report back on what was going on there. But gathering information was not his only task: he was to execute an attack from inside - where the Germans would least expect it.

The name of the camp was Auschwitz.

Over the next two and half years, Pilecki forged an underground army within Auschwitz that sabotaged facilities, assassinated Nazi informants and officers, and smuggled out evidence of terrifying abuse and mass murder. But as the annihilation of innocents accelerated, Pilecki realized he would have to attempt another perilous mission: escape Auschwitz and somehow - with more than 900 miles of Nazi-occupied territory in the way - deliver his alert to London before all was lost....

Completely erased from the historical record by Poland’s Communist government, Pilecki remains almost unknown to the world. Now, with exclusive access to previously hidden diaries, family and camp survivor accounts and recently declassified files, Jack Fairweather reveals Witold’s exploits with vivid, cinematic bravura. He also uncovers the tragic outcome of Pilecki’s mission, in which the ultimate betrayal came not on the Continent, but in England.

©2019 Jack Fairweather (P)2019 HarperAudio
20th Century Europe Judaism Military War Holocaust
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good book

I liked this book. I was very surprised that I would. the narrator did a good job throughout. the book is educational & it shows what people went through in the camps. the end of the story was a surprise. would recommend.

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Amazing!

There’s good reason this recently won the Costa Prize. I suspect this book will haunt me for a while. The material is not easy listening but the story is fascinating. The narrator does a great job of conveying the gravitas of the situation. The author portrays some of WW2’s most horrific events in real time. So glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and gave it a listen.

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Good story

Good book. Could be hard to follow some specifics but still a great book. Over enjoyed it

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