Heartbreak with the Tattooist of Auschwitz

Book 19 in the 24 in 2024 challenge came by way in an airport lounge. We were waiting for our flight out of Townsville, and I had finished reading all the books I had with me. Wandering through the airport shops, I noticed The Tatooist of Auschwitz in the Best Seller section. It caught my interest, and I got a copy to take with me on the last leg of our holiday.

Plot summary

Lale was trying to live his life in Czechoslovakia until the Nazis came. They deport him and thousands of other Czech Jews to Auschwitz. Thanks to his knowledge of languages and his desire to survive, he makes friends with the tattooist of Auschwitz, and becomes his assistant. When the tattooist is removed, Lale takes on the role and remains there for the duration of his time in the camp. Things change forever when he meets a young girl in the camp who will steal his heart and give him a new reason to survive.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz has big questions

I will start with what I liked. This is a compelling and interesting read. There are themes here which are hard, and not recommended for younger readers. But it’s a well-researched and interesting story, all the more fascinating because it’s based on a true story. It has been made into a Stan series (which I haven’t seen) but which has been very well received.

But I do feel that this book leaves some big questions untouched. Throughout the book, Lale complies with his captors in order to survive and to procure food, medicine and easier work conditions for Gita, his love, and others of his friends in the camp. The tone of the book is that this is praiseworthy. Lale is helping others and surviving himself. But he does involve himself, he does collaborate with the Nazis in several small ways. Having read a great many first hand accounts of camp life, I believe that Lale would have been much scorned by other camp members. He would have been seen as helping the enemy for his own gain.

And was it right for him to do some of the things he did? I can’t really believe that the ends justify the means. There is one part which I feel is particularly unaddressed. After the liberation by the Russians, Lale helps to procure women for the Russians to sleep with, in return for food and freedom. I can’t square the choice to become a pimp with virtuous behaviour.

I know it’s easy to say this, as I read a book on an airplane to a relaxing holiday, or write with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake at my elbow. The suffering, fear and utter cruelty of the camps would change people, force them into impossible situations. I can’t say that I wouldn’t make similar choices out of fear and a desire to survive. But so many did not make those choices. Many, many Jews and other prisoners in these atrocious camps stood up for their beliefs and morals. They suffered. Many died. I think I would say that Lale’s actions are understandable, but not commendable.

I would have liked this book to explore this topic a bit more. To maybe share more of Lale and Gita’s thoughts on their choices. The Tattooist of Auschwitz was a great holiday read and certainly thought provoking. It is a great way to remember this couple. Perhaps they did not wish to share that deeper part of their struggle. But I think it lacked a little of the depth that was at the bottom of this fantastic story.