Whenever I start a book that is based on a real person, a real family, I feel a deeper sense of responsibilty, as if I am a witness to this particular time of their life. Helene Hannemam, was the wife of a gypsy, the mother of five children, a nurse, and though as an Aryan, she could have saved herself, she did not. She refused to allow the SS to take her husband and her children without taking her. They found themselves in Auschwitz, eventually in the gypsy camp. She would go on to be assigned to Dr. Mengele, and ordered by him to start a school for the young children in the camp. Of course, his concern for the children was far from altruistic.

I'll admit I didn't like how this book started, something about the way the author chose to begin Helenes story, bothered me. I made another error, trying to listen to this on audio, with a narrator that I felt didn't relate the gravitas of the situation, but instead made it sound as if she were going to a picnic. I quit listening and grabbed the book, started over, and found what many other readers felt reading this story. Bravery, concern, people struggling to live, mothers struggling to keep their children alive, and yes, so much horror. Dr. Mengele never paid for his crimes and he was a man who was beyond evil.

An emotional read like so many written about the Holocaust, but the first I have read about the Romany. As many I have read, I am surprised by how many stories still need to be told, an evil without end.

What a powerful story! It is rather slow moving and reflective. But it is so full of love in the midst of so much hate. It’s a story of courage, compassion and sacrifice. The author tells Helene’s story beautifully. Even though it wasn’t particularly quick moving it was still gripping. It takes the reader and won’t let them go. I had to finish. I wanted to know what happened to this woman who sacrifices her freedom for her family. You get a glimpse into a side of Auschwitz you don’t often hear about... the gypsy camp. The flow of the writing is excellent. It’s melodic. It’s dramatic. And the heart of the characters is captured impeccably well.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.

I got a copy of this ebook from Netgalley to read and review.

Man, in history class we learned of Auschwitz and the Holocaust, but putting it into perspective from an insiders point of view really seals it. This is a story of a mother that vows to never leave her children’s side, that does everything in her power to protect them, even if she comes up short. The whole story is dark and ultimately heartbreaking, not only for Helene and her family, but for the whole camp in general. If you like historical fiction then you need to add this one to your list. You will be sad/glad that you did .

Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar was a truly remarkable read. When I first began the journey into this story, I had no idea of the magnitude of human emotion that lay within the pages, especially as I reflected on the truth of the story. This book tells the story of the Romani gypsies that are so often forgotten in the sheer horror of the atrocities that went on at Auschwitz. The Romani people were persecuted as the Jews were, forced into "little Auschwitz" where they too suffered terribly, including entire barracks being massacred to avoid typhoid outbreaks, medical experimentation, and genetic tortures. Of the over 23,000 Romani sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, 19,000 perished in the gas chambers at Birkenau before World War 2 ended.

All of these facts were new to me, as I had never read anything about the Romani's plight during this time period. As I absorbed the horrors that Helene faced, I was overwhelmed by her faith, her persistence, and her courage. She chose life in a death camp to be with her family when she could have walked away free. She demonstrated what it means to love so much that you will sacrifice your life for others. I was so inspired by her choice to use her gifts and her heritage to bring a little joy and love into seemingly hopeless situation. At the end of this novel, I was left in tears as I reflected on the bravery of this real-life woman, especially as I looked further into the real actions and cruelty of the doctor she worked for and the female guards. Overall, this book was an extremely emotional read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to know more about what went on at Auschwitz.

I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a powerful read that I highly recommend. This past month has consisted of a sea of books that were slow to start however I was immediately engaged in this book from the start. At times the writing style was simple and awkward (possibly related to the language translation) however at other times I was stunned by the authors ability to articulate emotion and love. I truly enjoyed this book and the incredible story of Helene Hannemann and her devotion, dedication and ability to love.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I immediately downloaded this book upon reading the summary of Helene's story: married to a gypsy, she chooses a Nazi concentration camp with her five children over freedom. This promised to be an emotive ride....except it wasn't.

I'm not sure if the emotion was lost in translation, but the ingredients are here to leave the reader in tears. Helene receives some privileges in Birkenau due to her status as an Aryan and a nurse, However, nothing makes up for living in squalor and fear under the rule of the infamous Dr Josef Mengele. Unfortunately, the style of writing was what I would expect in a middle school journal. For example, at one point a character refers to life in the camp as 'unpleasant.' This book is a series of understated blandness. It's all tell, no showing. We never feel Helene's despondency, only see her going through the motions. One cannot feel emotion simply because we are told to. Even when the conclusion was more heartbreaking than I had anticipated, it didn't feel real.

In the hands of the right writer, this story could have been one to stay with the reader, and unforgettable strike to the heart, but it never gets there.

I knew from the description that I would be interested in this book. I was not disappointed! It was interesting to think of a German mother in Auschwitz. While she had a different experience than others, it was still terribly horrific. I could not put this book down. Highly recommend!

This historical novel based on the life of Helene Hannemann and her family in the Auschwitz concentration camp for Gypsies is beautifully written with rich characters brought to life. The reader will fall in love with the characters fighting to survive and experience the atrocities of this time period. A truly excellent book!

I've read many Holocaust novels, but always wanted to read more about the horrific testing on the children by Dr. Mengele. Also, I had no previous knowledge about the Romani people being targeted and taken to Auchwitz and after reading the synopsis of 'Auschwitz Lullaby', I knew it was a must-read for me.

Helene (a german mother of four whose husband is Romani) was a fierce protector of her children at the camp (her husband was separated from the family) as well trying to protect all the others. Helene's first weeks at the camp were very difficult. She was bullied and abused by the women guards. A Romani women helped her and her children move to their camp to be protected. Once it was in notice that Helene was german and a nurse she was wanted at the hospital. At times I felt she closed her eyes, not wanting to accept the atrocities that were occurring at the camp at the hands of Dr. Mengele. However, she did use her German influence to stand up to Dr. Mengele to get the supplies and food needed for her students/patients.

I wanted a more in-depth history about the Romani people and why they were targeted by the Germans. After finishing the book, I did do some research. Also, I wanted more detailed information as to why Dr. Mengele performed his tortuous and deadly surgeries under the guise of research. I do know a bit from other books, but I felt this was skimmed over. Overall, I enjoyed 'Auschwitz Lullaby' and do recommend it. It definitely added to my knowledge of the Holocaust.

This is a powerful but also disturbing book considering the subject matter is the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. What makes this book particularly meaningful is that it focuses on the gypsy population that was rounded by the Germans, imprisoned, and largely exterminated over time. Most literature on the Holocaust focuses on the Jewish population, which makes sense considering the sheer number that were murdered. However, it is important to recognize and remember that other groups were targeted as well.

The story revolves around Helene Hannemann, a German woman who married a Gypsy man. When the SS came for her husband and five children, she was given the option to stay behind and remain free, but she refused to abandon her family. While in the gypsy camp at Birkenau with her five children, she was offered the position of opening and running a children's nursery school by Dr. Mengele, because she was a nurse and because she was German (which meant she would do a better job than anyone else in Mengele's opinion). The story is told as if Helene had written a diary of her life in the camp (which is not known to have occurred) and the author changed the names of Helene's husband and children, but he indicates at the end of the book that many of the prominent characters were real people and that the major events in the book actually happened.

While parts of the story are fictionalized, in the sense that there is no documentary evidence of specific conversations for example, the portrayal of day-to-day life in the gypsy camp and in the concentration camp more generally is very realistic and consistent with what survivors reported.

The author does a good job of portraying the evil of the Nazi officials at Birkenau and the violence displayed by certain officials, as well as the horrors and misery experienced by the Gypsy prisoners (and other prisoners). The author uses emotional depictions to give the reader a sense of what was being experienced and provides more detailed information were appropriate, but without sensationalizing it or without being overly graphic in descriptions.

While not a pleasant read by any means, it is certainly a worthwhile book to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Auschwitz Lullaby tells of story of Helene Hanneman, a young German woman who chose to accompany her Romani husband and 5 children to Auschwitz II, a separate camp set aside for imprisoned Gypsies. The SS had made clear to Hanneman that as she had no Gypsy blood she was not required to go but she chose to be there for her children. While at Auschwitz she came under the notice of the infamous Dr Joseph Mengle. Hanneman was trained as a nurse and was given a job working in the camp hospital. Later Mengle, insisting that he was impressed with Hanneman’s skills built a school/ nursery on the grounds and had her run it. The children at the school received better and more food, clothing, and access to heat in the frigid winter. It’s unclear whether or not Hanneman knew the school was simply a front Mengle used as a selection pool for his experiments on twins and other Gypsy children. It is cetain though that she strived to give her children at least a small bit of care and normalcy in such an abnormal situation. Imagine trying to run a school in a prison camp with thousands of prisoners being eliminated and thousands more being shipped in almost daily. Now understand Helene Hanneman was a real person just trying to make it through the day in this hell. It’s a lesson for us all.

Best book I've read all month. If you love World War II historical fiction, don't miss this one! You will be inspired by the power of a mother's love and humbled by the suffering that some have endured.

Once again, I am kicking myself for letting an incredible book languish too long on my TBR. It took me nearly two months to get around to starting this baby - and a single evening to finish it! We'll ignore that moment when my fellow woke up at 2 AM to query why I was bawling my face off, but I simply couldn't put it down. 

I love how the story starts out like any other day, with a mother getting ready for work and looking after her family. There is just enough historical backstory to set the tone for understanding the trials and hardships the communities targeted by the Nazi regime were facing, but not so much information as to feel like a textbook. Instead, the frustration and encroaching restrictions were communicated in tender, yet highly emotive way, and amplified by the ways in which individuals reacted to circumstances. 

I can only imagine the terror that would have accompanied a knock on the door, or footsteps coming up the stairs, and the constant fear that your neighbours were just waiting for a moment to report on you. And harder yet to imagine the difficult choice of saving yourself or accompanying your family to their assured destruction. I was heartened by Helene's endless compassion, constantly cool head, and the ways in which she used her position as a German woman within the camps to benefit others and not just her immediately family. 

My heart nearly broke in two the moment when Helene and the children were separated from her husband, and I genuinely felt the longing and unanswered questions that accompanied not knowing his fate. Conditions in the camp were as awful as is expected, but as someone with relatively little knowledge of the Gypsy camp within Auschwitz and the Nursery that was opened within, I was fascinated by this horrifying anomaly. I tried not to think too hard about how Barracks 29 and 31 became available for use, but appreciated how Helene worked tirelessly to ensure there was the smaller fragment of hope for the children in her area. Each little act of defiance felt like a hard-won victory, and each act of kindness an awe-inspiring sacrifice. 

I enjoyed the spunk of Helene's oldest son, and have to admit I cheered a little when he was throwing rocks at officers. Perhaps it's because I found the Hannemann so endearing, and Helene's compassion so encompassing, that Dr. Mengele's experiments seemed that much worse. The juxtaposition of their actions created a high-drama, high-tension reading in the absence of constant abuse, violence, or other such war crimes. I hesitate to say more on the plot, as I don't like handing out spoilers, but I will say that Helene's character is faultless to end. 

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! It's one that I loved so much that once I finished the Galley I immediately went out and bought a print copy. It's not a happy read, but it is power, moving, and based on true events that are entirely worth knowing. And as a translation, it is exceptional! The prose is seamless and flowing, with rich imagery and approachable language. This is the type of book that can be easily enjoyed by WWII enthusiasts and novices alike.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Helene’s husband Johann was a member of the Berlin Philharmonic before the Nazi’s turned the world upside down. Because he is Romaini, or Gypsy he was no longer allowed to work even though he is a violin virtuoso. Helene can still work because she is a purebred German. The family of seven lives in their own apartment. Food is hard to obtain but they have enough to get by.

Their last day of freedom was like any other. Helene readied the older four children for school. Johann and their youngest child slept up until minutes before their world exploded. As Helene and the children left for the day, Nazi soldiers stormed up the stairs. They had finally come for Johann and the children. Helene was free to stay, but she refused to be left behind.

Thus begins the days of physical and mental anguish. The family is taken via cattle car to Auschwitz. They are hungry, thirsty and terrified. Once they arrive at the camp, Johann is separated from the rest of his family. The barracks are cold, dirty and survival is the only thing everyone cares about. Helene’s family loses the precious few pieces of warm clothes they have to thieves before they realize that their world has forever changed.

Because Helene is a nurse, she is immediately of use to her captors. Life becomes incrementally better when she is moved to a different barracks with women she can trust with her children while she works. Her job in the camp brings her in close contact with one of the most horrific men in the Nazi party, Herr Doktor Mengele.

Helene fears for her children, but is strong and stands up for herself. Mengele admires her and puts her in charge of the Zigeunerlager kindergarten in Auschwitz-Birkenau. While it seems wonderful in the beginning, offering more food and things for the children to do, it is probably just a show for the visiting Nazi leaders. And it is the perfect place for Mengele to find twins to try his experiments on. As the war nears the end, what will happen to Helene and her children as well as the rest of the prisoners?

Escobar’s telling of Helene’s story is heartbreakingly beautiful. The strength of the prisoners, the brutality of the Nazis and the bits of love and happiness that were found in one of the most horrific places on earth all play out in on the pages. This book is based upon the true story of Helene Hannemann and her five children. He visited Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II, Holocaust museums and read scores of documents during his research for this poignant book. The result personalizes the countless atrocities experienced in the camps.

Reading the story of Helene and her family was not always easy. It is evident Escobar put his heart and soul into Auschwitz Lullaby. I would not be surprised to see it becoming as influential as The Diary of A Young Girl (also known as The Diary of Anne Frank) and deservedly so. Escobar’s words will haunt you long after the last page.

Copyright © 2018 Laura Hartman

Let me just say that I have read a lot of books that take place during WWII. I find each and every one of them haunting and hard to wrap my brain around. This book is no exception. It was so well written that I found myself struggling to stay warm and feeling without hope. How did anyone survive the horrors that were done to them? How do you continue to have a will to live when the conditions are so deplorable? I simply can not imagine.

I think that Helene Hannemann will stay with me for a very long time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Auschwitz Lullaby is yet another heartbreaking and jarring novel depicting the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis. I have trouble with novels based on the Holocaust that use the war as a backdrop for romantic or saccharine stories. But there are some excellent novels based on real events that serve as an important reminder of this dark time in history. The Auschwitz Lullaby mostly worked for me. It is based on the true story of Helene who was a German woman married to a Roma man, who at the time was referred to as a Gypsy and was part of one of the groups targeted by Hitler for annihilation. At the beginning of the book, the Nazis come to Helene’s house to apprehend her husband and their five children. Unable to let her children go, Helene makes the decision to go with them. She ends up interned as a prisoner at Auschwitz with her five children and separated from her husband. Because she is German, she is entrusted with running a nursery for her children and other gypsy children under Mengele’s supervision. The novel is an account of how Helene does what she can for her own children and for the other children in the nursery, while surrounded by death and depravity. The writing is straightforward but it works to convey Helene’s story and the story of the horrific treatment of the Roma people by the Nazis.

My one quibble is that the story is presented as Helene’s journal as found and read by Mendele many years after the war. This is apparently not based on fact. It feels hokey and I felt that it diminishes the story of Helene’s courage and the suffering of the people she tried to help. This flaw is only evident at the beginning and end of the book, and wouldn’t deter me from recommending it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar is an eye-opening, wonderfully written novel. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I have read many books about World War II. Many of the books were based on real people. As any student of WWII knows there are many books about the Holocaust. Yet, every time I finish another novel I come away with new things that I have learned about that horrible time in history. The author’s dedication speaks volumes: “To the more than twenty thousand ethnic Gypsies who were imprisoned and exterminated in Auschwitz and to the quarter million murdered in the forests and ditches of Northern Europe and Russia.” I had no idea that Gypsies were in Auschwitz. When you say Auschwitz you think of Jewish persecution. This novel opens up a new door to other atrocities that occurred in Auschwitz.

The author tells a compelling story that is based on a true story, a real family. This story is about a Helene Hannemann. She was a German woman who fell in love with and married a Roma Gypsy. The Germans were so intent on making sure of the purity of their race that even if one of the parents were German it could not save the children who were considered half-breeds. Helene Hannemann was taken to Auschwitz with her husband and five children as gypsies were rounded up by the Nazis in 1943. Even though she is German and doesn’t have to go but she refuses to let her family go without her. This is a book about the devastation, sadness and determination of the many women and children of the Auschwitz Gypsy concentration camps. More importantly this book is about a mother’s fierce determination and unwavering love for her children.

The book is beautifully written. It tells this family’s story with care, tenderness, and love. As the reader you feel attached to this family and their trials while living in Auschwitz. High praise for Mr. Escobar. If you are a fan of Historical Fiction and want to further you knowledge of this era I urge you to pick up this book.

Thank your to Mr. Escobar, the publisher Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very heartbreaking read, based on a true story, we meet Helene and her family as the Nazis are coming to take them to a prison camp for being gypsy. Helene is Aryan and therefore not required to go, but she refuses to leave her family. And so follows an account of a brave, strong woman who will go to any lengths to protect her children in the most horrific of circumstances. I read someone who said we didn't need any more stories written about Auschwitz, but I think that everyone who suffered is entitled to be remembered in any way they can be, and for us to be reminded of the horrific things human are capable of. I couldn't help but compare this to the way my government has incarcerated the refuges into prison camps and wonder why nothing has been learned from the past.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

AUSCHWITZ LULLABY
By Mario Escobar

It was an honor to read this haunting yet powerful story of love and humanity that refused to be extinguished in the most horrifying circumstances. I wonder how well I would hold up in the face of mass murders, starvation and death. Crimes committed against innocent people whose fault not of their own making is being in a different ethnic group than German. This is a factual account of one woman's love of humanity and her brave attempts at making the Auschwitz victims lives easier to endure and survive. I have never before heard of the "Gypsy Jews," whom during Hitler's reign labeled and exterminated them because they weren't German.

Helene Hanneman and her husband who she adored was labeled a "Gypsy Jew" and considered by the Nazi's to be a lower class than Helene because she was German. Their five kids that comprised this loving husband and wife were also considered a lower class and were also labeled "Gypsy Jews." In May of 1943 Helene receives that dreaded knock on the door from Nazi soldiers telling her since she is German she can remain at home. Her husband and five children were to be carted off. What would you do?

Immediately upon arriving Helene and her five children get separated from her husband who gets whisked away off to the hard labor camps. Helene and her children are kept together and sent off to the gypsy Jews," barracks It is deplorable living conditions. When Dr. Joseph Mengele arrives he picks Helene to set up a nursery school and kindergarten. The reason he picks her is because she is both German and a nurse, he thinks she will be the most efficient The school provides a respite by heat during the winter and more food.

This is really an unforgettable true story about Helene's kind and loving spirit. She is a devoted mother and she brings humanity to every life she touches. This story illuminates the pure goodness in the face of evil. It is both haunting and unforgettable. It is the story of how one woman can impact so many lives This was sad but I am so glad I read it. It is informative and powerful. I will never forget this story.

Thank you to Net Galley, Mario Escobar and Thomas Publishing for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. ""

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars on Goodreads.

Stephen King is quoted as categorising three types of terror.   The gross-out. The horror.  The terror.      Personally, I'm not into any of these things but Mario Escobar's novel of historical fiction plonked me firmly into a place where all three were daily facts of life.    This was real horror on a level fiction doesn't go close to. 

<b>The place?   Auschwitz.
The novel?   Auschwitz Lullaby.</b>

Helene Hannemann was a German woman,  married to the love of her life, and mother of five children.     It just so happened her husband was Romani and it was 1943 Germany, so when the SS came to round up her family she insisted she was going wherever they were going.   Thus, all seven of them found themselves on a cattlecar bound for the deplorable conditions of the Gypsy camp at Auschwitz.    Whilst there Dr Josef Mengele entrusted Helene to set up a Kindergarten and school for the children of Auschwitz.   To her surprise they were provided with extra rations and supplies for the Kindergarten and Dr Mengele showed a particular interest in the children.     With the benefit of hindsight and history books readers can guess at Mengeles interest but there was no such luck for Helene and the children.         This is their story - two protagonists, both real - told according to the heartbreaking and distressing facts.   

Auschwitz Lullaby is not an easy read but it is an important one.     As WWII and the Nazi crimes against humanity slip further into the past it is easy for us to lose sight of the impact of the events that shaped the world and for the lives lost to become reduced to a series of numbers.     Reading closes this distance and brings the   horrors of Auschwitz and the  lives of at least one family up close and personal.   There's no way I will forget this story any time soon.    And though I don't gravitate to horror stories, this is one I'm glad to have read because it's so important we remember.

Despite the difficult content the writing was beautiful, the story sad, and I found myself highlighting great chunks of text.   Being an historian, Escobar included a Chronology of the Gypsy Camp at Auschwitz and Historical Clarifications in which he points out the few places his fiction veered from the facts.     

I know some people have tired of, or avoid, reading these kinds of stories.     This is one I strongly recommend.    I give my thanks to Mario Escobar for sharing Helene's story and would like to reassure him that his fear of <i>"... not being able to capture the greatness of Helene Hannemann’s soul within the lines of these pages" </i> was completely unfounded.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.