The Children’s Block-  Otto B Kraus- Historical Fiction

A work of fiction based on fact. Cold hard fact that the author lived through. Fact that

every man woman and child should know and learn about until the ends of time. The

Czech edition was entitled “Smoke is my brother”. Says so very much…..I read this

having previously read “ The Tattooist of Auschwitz” so knew what I was in for…. so

I thought. Alex is a teacher and undercover he teaches the children in their block in

Auschwitz, never knowing what the next day let alone hour may hold. He keeps a

diary that is carefully concealed. Whether it will ever be found or who by he does

not know. If found by the guards it will be burnt to yet more smoke. I learnt so

much. That when Germany first took rule there were lots of things that the Jewish

were not allowed. To even buy fresh fruit or to listen to music. Strange rules

hidden amongst the things we know about clothes and doors being marked to make

them stand out. That in the camps there were often ten thousand a day sent to the

gas chambers. This is a disturbing read but as I mentioned beforehand one that

should be read so that is can never ever happen again. As I write this, I learnt of

the camps around today where we really don’t quite know what is going on. How can

mankind be so very unkind? A read to remember. 

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