This was difficult for me to get through, I didn’t complete it as it wasn’t able to keep my attention. I ended around 25%

Bravery, compassion and many other words could be used to describe Magda in this book. I have been devouring books on the Holocaust and survivors for a few years now. I never think anything could surprise me about survivors stories but in every survivor story/memoir I have to pause reading, take a deep breath and give eternal thanks to those who perished and those who survived. I know I do not have the strength they had.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book so much, I never used to read anything with History in it. I’m glad that I’ve began to love reading these genres.

Thank you so much for my gifted copy to read and review.

A great book about survival a theme I don't know you can not write about when the Nazis are involved. Another look into what life was like back then and the horrendous suffering people had to endure.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Magda Hellinger survived three years (1942-1945) in Auschwitz during World War II. Although a prisoner herself, she became a leader assigned by the Nazis to oversee fellow prisoners. Now, thanks to her daughter, Maya, Magda's story has been told. And it is an important one. It is estimated that of the 1.3 million people sent to Auschwitz 1.1 million were murdered. That definitely puts Magda Hellinger in the minority. How did she do it? She simply took one day at a time and tried to help the other inmates (who weren't selected for the gas chambers upon arrival) live for one more day. To her dismay, she couldn't save everyone, but she did the best she could to help. There were many times, she had to be a strict disciplinarian so the Nazi soldiers would not perceive her as soft. She often risked her own life to get a little extra food or clothing for others while she also 'educated' newcomers about what to expect from life in the camp. It's hard to comprehend what she lived through for those three years and the horrors that she witnessed. Everyone should read Magda's story--especially when we find ourselves complaining about our own inconveniences. We have never even come close to what this woman went through. A special thanks to Maya Lee for bringing her mother's story to print and reminding us all that despite the most inhumane circumstances, we can still find greatness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this beautiful ARC. This was a heartbreaking story of Magda Hellinger and her experience as a Jewish woman in the concentration camps during the Holocaust. This was the tale of a woman trying to survive and do the best she could in the positions she was put in and help anyone she was able to. I highly recommend this book.

This is a story of a daughter trying to help get her mother’s story into the world. This is the story of trying to survive Auschwitz and other Concentration Camps. Magda was just a woman trying do whatever she could to survive and make it home. She helped the other people in camp by getting extra food, protecting them when she could and all of this while trying to survive herself.

I’ve always admired the stories of triumph and survival from WWII, and with every memoir I read, I gain a little more understanding.
The stories should never be forgotten, instead should live on, to be read by many.
I will continue reading and learning as many stories about individuals like Magda. different point of view during the Holocaust, one we may not have seen before. It was gut wrenching, and so worth the read.
I hope you all make this part of your myst red non fiction. Essential reading in my opinion.

The Nazis Knew My Name is an phenomenal book in every way...evocative, chilling, tense, heart crushing, thought provoking and memorable. Despite the horrific true stories, there is also a sense of optimism and hope. Magda Hellinger miraculously survived more than three years in Auschwitz-Birkenau and wrote and spoke passion into her experiences. Her daughter Maya Lee poured her heart into this important book which should be required reading for everyone. Both mother and daughter needed this story to be told to remind it is critical that this should NEVER happen again.

Kindergarten teacher Magda was amongst the first Jews deported to Auschwitz and one of the few to survive over three years. She writes vividly and matter-of-factly with stoicism and without pity about the horrors she experienced and witnessed including "making sport", dehumanization, standing cells, rats, endless roll calls, hunger, dangerous latrines, cracking lice and "up the chimney". She often risked her life for others and came close to death herself several times. As her mother and rabbi told her, she was destined for a special mission. She certainly lived as though she did. Her organizational skills meant she was selected to become Blockälteste (experimental Block 10 supervisor) and Lagerälteste (camp supervisor) which placed her into the general dreaded despised German category including Irma Grese, the "Hyena of Auschwitz" whom she knew. Josef Mengele knew her, too. She was forced to discipline prisoners and after the war was accused by a few of cruelty. Unbeknownst to them it was to save their lives, at least for another day. Not only did she endure three years of torment but also a death march.

The descriptions of what happened to those in this book after the war are fascinating. The glossary of terms is very helpful. The interviewees' quotes at the back are very telling of Magda's acts of kindness, courage, eternal optimism and quick thinking.

Though I have read many, many books on the Holocaust, this one has a special place in my heart. Clearly the subject matter is very difficult but those who read this will be enriched, rewarded and inspired.

My sincere thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the honour of reading this haunting and exceptional book. I cannot adequately convey my thoughts but am extremely grateful these stories have been put to paper.

A non-fiction story that read like fiction, which for me is always a plus in that the book doesn't read like a textbook! Maya Lee, the daughter of Magda Hellinger has always been fascinated by the few details that her mother and father would give her of their time in concentration camps. Both shared little and even with Magda writing a book, Maya came to find out that there were many details left out, so she went on a mission and this book is the outcome of her wanting to flesh out her mother's story.

While I am not naive of the concentration camps during World War II, it is hard to read about them and I tend to try to find books set during this time, but not in this place. For some reason this book while horrific in so many ways, knowing it was true made it feel more special and valuable of a read. I also had no idea that some of the Jewish people were put in charge of "blocks" and even had to inflict discipline on their own family, friends, neighbors and so on.

If you think you have read all you can/want of World War II, I would challenge you to add this one. Maya does such a fantastic job of honoring her mother's legacy and giving the reader another story of survival and hope during a time where both were limited.

A powerful and inspiring book about a time in our history that should never be forgotten. It's an amazing tale about a courageous woman's efforts to save as many people as she could. An emotional read.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS BOOK WITH ME!
I got behind in the COVID DRAMA and missed posting about this important book.
Thank you!

What a powerful book! I don’t think I have read a story of any Holocaust survivor who had the role as functionary at Auschwitz like Magda Hellinger did. She was a natural leader and did what she could for as many people as she could, which is awesome. I had never heard of anyone saving victims from Mengel’s selections, but she did. I am grateful her daughter shared her story with the world. It’s a story of someone who persevered in the face of incredible adversity and just kept going.

What a truly inspirational book on the suffering of the Jewish people during WW2. The story about this amazing woman and the efforts she went through to save as many people as she could was heartbreaking and a story of true courage. This should be on everyone’s list of books to read this year!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Nazis Knew My Name
A Remarkable Story of Survival and Courage in Auschwitz
by Magda Hellinger; Maya Lee
Pub Date 09 Nov 2021
Atria Books
Biographies & Memoirs



I am reviewing a copy of The Nazis Knew My Name through Atria Books and Netgalley:



In March of 1942 Magda Hellinger was a twenty five year old Kindergarten teacher along with nearly a thousand other young women were deported as some of the first Jews to be sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp.



It isn’t long before the SS discover that by putting prisoners in day-to-day charge of the accommodation blocks, they could deflect attention away from themselves. Magda was one of the prisoners selected for leadership and put in charge of hundreds of women in the notorious Experimental Block 10. She found herself constantly walking a dangerously fine line: saving lives while avoiding suspicion by the SS and risking execution.


It is through her inner strength and shrewd survival instincts, she was able to rise above the horror and cruelty of the camps and build pivotal relationships with the women under her watch, and even some of Auschwitz’s most notorious Nazi senior officers.



The Nazis Knew My Name is based on Magda’s personal account and completed by her daughter’s extensive research, this awe-inspiring tale offers us incredible insight into human nature, the power of resilience, and the goodness that can shine through even in the most horrific of conditions.



I give The Nazis Knew My Name five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

"...an unputdownable account of resilience and the power of compassion." - Full review to appear in BookList

Harrowing tale told extremely well! I loved this. I am a teacher and part of my curriculum includes the Holocaust. I read a lot of memoirs and histories concerning this event and this was a great one. Thanks for the chance to read it.