The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz - Book Review

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This is a true story, a historical nonfiction novel created from a secret diary written by Gustav Kleinmann whilst in concentration camps during World War 2, and corroborated by his son's Fritz's memoirs, published in 2012 with the title Doch der Hund Will Nicht krepieren, (which translated means But Still The Dog Will Not Die).

The Kleinmanns are a Jewish family living in Vienna who get caught up in the events of the 1930s. In 1939, Gustav and his eldest son are arrested and imprisoned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp. When Gustav is transferred to Auschwitz, 15-year-old Fritz volunteers to go with his father, despite it being considered a death sentence as he doesn't want his dad to be alone.



Through luck, fortitude, and a strong bond, these two men go on to survive the eight day Death March through snow away from the advancing Red Army to incarceration at Mauthausen, followed by a spell at Mittelbau-Dora, and then finally Bergen-Belsen, where they finally find freedom at wars end. It's a bleak read, a dark read, as one would expect.

The author also interviewed the younger son, Kurt, who was able to tie in the rest of the family's circumstances during that same period.

Gustav's wife Tini is courageous and resourceful, organising a work visa that enables the eldest daughter to go to England as a domestic, and Kurt when a young child, is sponsored and goes to America. Both end up living happy and successful lives.

Tini's story is fascinating, scrounging for work, money and food and doing whatever it takes to keep her family together, even sending parcels of clothing to Gustav and Fritz at the camps in the early days. Sadly, Tini and her youngest daughter were amongst those executed at a death camp near Minsk sometime later.

Although Kurt was aware of these deaths, it wasn't until he met the author for research purposes that he learned how the executions took place. Seventy plus years later, it is still gut wrenching news. This is a powerful and tragic read though the love of family and resilience shine through.
Interestingly both Gustav and Fritz went on to live long lives.

Published 2019 Penguin Random House

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