This extraordinary book is an account of what two young teenaged boys, each one half of sets of fraternal twins, experienced, in the time preceding, and during their incarceration, in Auschwitz during World War II.
They were subjects of cruel, invasive, and horrific medical experimentation performed by Dr. Josef Mengele and his staff of doctors and technicians. Mengele's particular subjects of interest were sets of twins and dwarfs, who upon their arrival at the concentration camp, were separated from other family members who were often sent directly to their deaths in the gas chambers, or worked to death if they were deemed fit enough upon entry.
The two boys were Kalman Braun, who became Kalman Baro-On in his new post-war life in Israel, and Leopold Lowy, who emigrated to Canada where he married and became the father of three, including Richard K. Lowy, a filmmaker and the author of this book.
In Auschwitz, the two boys worked together on whatever duties were assigned to them by their Nazi handlers. Any mistake or misstep resulted in harsh punishment, but their solidarity helped them to survive, with Leopold (known as "Lipa"), the older and more worldly wise, often advising and protecting Kalman.
Many years later, Richard Lowy made a film about his father's life, which was shown on Israeli TV. Kalman, who had been searching fruitlessly for Lipa for decades, saw it, and that ultimately led to their being reunited. Kalman contacted Richard, and with his reminisces, along with his father's, this extraordinary book came about.
The book includes accounts of their Auschwitz experiences from Kalman and Leopold, maps, and other supporting documents, all carefully annotated and footnoted. Reading what these boys and the other inmates experienced is horrifying.
Yet, the reader leaves on a positive note, because both of these boys, as men, were able to create new and productive lives, a testament to the resilience of their humanity, and a lesson about what can be accomplished in life despite an experience of the worst that humankind can inflict on one another.
I highly recommend this book with the caveat that it is not sparing in its recounting of what Kalman and Leopold and millions others experienced at the hands of the Nazi regime. It does not whitewash or excuse any of the crimes that were perpetrated, or diminish their impact. We must never forget, but we can heal.
