This was such a moving story - I had not heard of the story before and it kept me engaged throughout. Initially it took me a while to get used to the jumping timelines but I could see how it all fits together and you can see Fredy's story. At the end of the book there was a good summary and also a good timeline which I found really useful to consolidate the story.

It felt well written and written with heart and love for the characters as well as being well researched.

I started reading this book leading up to the memorial of 80 years since the holocaust and what an
Amazing man Freddy Hirsch was.
Freddy came from a Jewish German family ,he loved sports and hoped to enter the olympics and the outdoor life.
September 1943 Freddy was sent to Auschwitz with thousands of other people.

Freddy was wonderful with all the children and he fought vrty hard to feed them, and keep them as happy and Healthy as you could in the conditions they were living in.
It was cold no,food hardly any clothes the children washed themselves in the snow, but Freddy was determined to make sure the had something of a life.
This was a wonderful book told by Wendy Holden . How she manafed to write it without crying all over but am sure she dud.
Hope Freddy will always be remembered what he dud for those children

What a man Fredy Hirsch was. This book was very well researched and very will written. Fredy seemed like a lovely man who was totally devoted to the children in his care. A hard book to read but it was very good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

The book hangs together very well and does a very good job of telling Fredy Hirsch's story. I think that is why I have scored it with 4 stars rather than the 5 that I would certainly have offered if this had been his auto-biography.

Whilst Wendy Holden had access to all sorts of archives and many of the people who knew Fredy extremely well and who survived for decades after the war to tell their stories, I am always chary of possible "poetic licence". Personal memory is fragile enough but personal memories of other people are impossible to be unbiased. I was also surprised to discover his arrival in Auschwitz came around two thirds of the way into the book.

Fredy Hirsch was without a doubt a talented, loved, highly respected individual who achieved an incredible amount for so many people in the face of adversity and this biography does much to reveal that.

Having said all that, I am very pleased that I have read The Teacher of Auschwitz as I learnt a lot more about the way things dis-functioned during the Hitler's invasion and occupation of so much of Europe. Overall, I believe there is much to be gained from reading The Teacher of Auschwitz, even if you happen to agree with my caveats.

This book is based around the story of Fredy Hirsch. a young Jewish prisoner and It is based on his true and inspiring story.
Fredy is a smart and loving man, hiding his homosexuality from the SS, whilst doing his best to care for the children in the camp and protect them from the dangers the best he can.
What an inspirational story .
We must never forget these accounts .
As is written in the prologue “ A person is not forgotten until his or her name is forgotten “
Powerful but true words indeed .

having read about the real life man behind this book a fair bit i new i needed to read this. but also didnt know if i could. its such a horrific time. and when you hear about these brave warriors who lets face it put there heads above the paripit more than many could bear it tears you apart and inspires you in eqaul measure.
i cannot began to talk about quite how i feel about this time in our history. i have an extreme interest in the time. but i have cried many a time over it too. its horrible. and so recent. and i still cannot begin to get my head around it being able to happen. but then sadly, i see some of things we are wtinessing today. some of the REAL problematic micro agressions to different groups in our society and you can see a crawling there. a significant shif that could easily sail away. and if social media is anything to go by makes for a very scary future for us indeed.
back to this book. wow. wow. wow. its must be fiction. it must! but its not. and that makes it more stark but more incredible in eqaul measure.
how one man took his life into his clever hands to provie a better place for our little people. to protect them he got smart. he new the egos aroud him of the ss and so he worked them. this gives me great smug pride in how he played them so well. i hope he went to bed at night with some cheeky satifisfaction of how much their ego was allowing him to suck up and therefore save the people they were daily trying to destroy.
he saved so many people. he literally took the mortaility rate of those children down by 10s of percent.
he gave them hope. he taught them hope. he built them hope. i cannot thank humans like this enough .for being better than i can ever imagine being faced with such fear. i crumple now at the thought of it never mind actually facing it.
i implore anyone with an interest in ww2 and those in the camps to read this. astounding.

I really like the book cover with the bright yellow butterfly representing freedom, that the Jewish people had in their hand until the Nazis snatched it away. The butterfly would also represent the hope that Fredy tried to give all the children that were ever in his care. The cover image would also fit a scene in the book very well too.
The bright yellow amongst the other more drab colours certainly catches your eye, so I would think the book would stand out on a bookshelf well.

The book’s prologue reveals Fredy’s arrival at Auschwitz and explains the conditions those prisoners had to endure on what was a long journey. All crammed into the carriage with just one bucket of drinking water for the whole carriage. Many died on journeys like this one and Fredy’s carriage was no exception to deaths, hysteria and a mixture of denial and fear. Denial that they could be going any where worse than where they had just been and fear that the rumours they had heard about the mass extermination of Jews was true and that when they got to where ever they were going they would either be immediately murdered or would be worked to death and suffer every day until they died. Those “looking on the bright side” as many valiantly tried to do would be telling those around them that this place could be better, that they wouldn’t be here long as the allies were winning the war etc. Even Fredy had tried to “look for the good” as he always did hoping they were not going to Auschwitz, even though those around Fredy told him what SB6 meant on the transportation paperwork, Fredy had hoped so much they were going to be wrong.

The book then flips back to Fredy’s early life with his family. Fredy didn't have the best or easiest childhood, never feeling he fit in at home or at school, perhaps that's what taught him to always search for the good in what he had and what was around him.
Fredy moves around in an attempt to stay ahead of the Nazis as many Jewish people did at that time. Fredy also realises he is “different” he doesn’t have a girlfriend, nor does he want one. This is something that causes him many problems in the jobs he does with people jumping to the conclusion he is homosexual which at the time was still a controversial topic and of course the Nazis party hated it and threw homosexual people or anyone they suspected of being homosexual into camps. Fredy does date a few women in an attempt to satisfy what was expected of him by those employing him. Fredy has an excellent work ethic and always strives to be as fit and healthy as he can be. He eventually meets and embark on a relationship with Jenda whose family also welcome him. Jenda is somewhat protected by his family and their wealthy status and has yet to really experience racism, anti-homosexuality & the Nazis regime.

Eventually, as with most people the Nazis caught up with Fredy and he ended up in the Thereseinstadt Ghetto. Fredy immediately offered himself forward to Jakob Edelstein, the leader of the Jewish Council there to work with the children and help care for the other people forced to live in the ghetto.

At Auschwitz Fredy helped those around him clamber from the carriages, those Auschwitz prisoners in the striped uniforms try to offer advice and answer questions without drawing the ire of the Nazis who basically want everyone moved and sorted as quickly as possible. When people notice the black smoke coming from two tall chimneys, one comments of the smell wondering what it is, one says it smells rancid, one of the people in the striped uniforms answers 'rotten flesh usually is'.
Fredy tries to help those around him quickly adapt and comply with the harsh orders that are being barked at them by the Nazis. When their heads are shaven, and they are directed to the showers, Fredy hopes its water that comes out of the shower heads not gas. Then clothes thrown at them by those in the striped uniforms, no chance to find sizes just put on what you’re given and be quick about it. Next there’s the line to be tattooed. When a nearby guard hears Fredy speaking, trying to reassure the younger people around him he realises that Fredy is German he instructs Fredy he is exempt from the tattooing. If these Jewish prisoners thought conditions and life were hard in Thereseinstadt they are soon wishing them selves back there. Auschwitz is a concentration camp with one purpose, to exterminate the Jewish people as Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party have decreed.

Fredy helped a lot of children 'escape' the horrors of Thereseinstadt, then Auschwitz in creating as safe a haven as was possible. Then, via the concerts, he & the children performed, he provided some 'relief' from the terrors of the daily life of existing in Auschwitz. Fredy and those he asked to help him taught the children so they did not totally miss out on an education, though doing this was strictly forbidden by the Nazis. Fredy created 'games' that meant the children had some outlet & and escapism, yet by playing the games, there were serious lessons behind them, such as obeying the Nazis. He taught them morals and values, not to steal from each other, to help each other and to respect the older prisoners too. Fredy managed to get as many children as he could way from the harsher conditions and routines of Auschwitz. He is constantly worrying about these young people especially when Dr Mengele shows an interest. Fredy isn’t a push over for the youngsters though and when one breaks Fredys groups rules, he kicks him out of the group.

The book is well written and describes things so well that you can both visualise and almost “feel” the surroundings, such as when Fredy describes the train carriages as 'a coffin on wheels' you can imagine how claustrophobic those inside the carriages must have felt with no option but to stand pressed up against each other.
Though the book is fiction it is based on real people and events. If you’ve read Heather Morris books then this book is written in a similar way and is well worth reading. Though these books may be fictionalised they need to be read so the real people and their stories are never forgotten. Fredy Hirsch is one of the many names that should always be taught about and remembered as he truly did build a wall against suffering in the hearts of those around him.

At first I struggled to connect with the story as it was told in the first person in the voice of Fredy Hirsch. Given that he died during the war and hasn't left documented testimony I felt this was going to be a work of complete fiction, however, I couldn't have been more wrong. The book was meticulously researched and referenced, with an epilogue giving the details of all the factual characters and their connection with Hirsch.
This is an extremely disturbing account of suffering during the war, however, I firmly believe that these stories must continue to be told and listened to. It is to the author's credit that she wrote such an accurate and well researched account of the life of Hirsch and of the people he came into contact with. Disturbing and harrowing, but imperative these stories are not forgotten.

It’s a very difficult read, emotionally. I found it heartbreaking and traumatic but it’s a great read! It hurts your heart that all this happened!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It is such a complex subject to cover, and although this is well-written and thought-provoking, it is still difficult. yet It is a recommended read.

The Teacher of Auschwitz is the story of Fredy Hirsch a young German Jew who established the Children’s block inside the family camp in Auschwitz. Whilst parts of the story are fictionalised there is a vast part of it that is based on survivor testimonies and archives that will give the reader not only the sense of the horrors that took place but also the amazing courage and spirit of a man who did his utmost to make the lives of the children bearable right up until his death at the age of 28.
From an early age it was clear that there was something different about Fredy, he neither wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps as a butcher or his elder brother Paul and become a rabi. He was interested in sport and had dreams of attending the Olympics. When it became clear that was not going to be an option, he turned his attention to helping children working in youth programmes first in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt before ending up in Czechoslovakia. With his precarious status he eventually found himself transported to the ghetto in Terezin and this is where he first starts working with the children there, giving them a purpose and some discipline in the hope that they could block out the reality of what their life had become and still be children. Unfortunately for him it is his compassion for the children and a determination to defend them that sees him shipped to Auschwitz in 1943.
There are so many times that I forgot just how young Fredy was. He always seemed to know just how to make the best of a situation, giving just the right amount of respect to the guards to get what he needed for the children under his care. He filled their days with stories and laughter and was always fair with them, instilling a routine that would give them the best chance for survival, whilst all around them was death and disease. Right to the end he never gave up hope that they would all make it out alive even when others tried to provide him with evidence to the contrary.
For Fredy there was no good ending as he was destined for the gas chamber on the very day he died but thanks to him and the tireless work he did, there were those that did and were able to tell the story of this remarkable man. As I read this book a name came up that I recognised and it was then that I realised I had come across Fredy Hirsch before in The Librarian of Auschwitz and The Children’s Block, two stories written by and based on the lives of other survivors that had been touched by Fredy and the work he did but now I feel that I finally know the man himself and his is a life that should be celebrated.

A book from the title I thought I'd be interested in - and I was correct. A really good read and well writing. At times a tiny bit of a slow read, but overall a very good piece.

4.5 stars

Brilliant, great reading. Page turner. Easy to follow, great characters with good twists. I wasn't sure who the murderer was. Interesting and actually funny for the dead to watch the living.

Another remarkable story about a Jewish prisoner of war and how they managed to selflessly look after others and save lives. This book is in honour of Fredy Hirsch and his life. His and others remarkable lives must not be forgotten and this book deserves to be read far and wide so no one ever forgets.

Fredy Hirsch was an amazing man that made life bearable for the children in the camp this was an emotional book but a story that should be read and never forgotten

Amid one of history’s darkest chapters, The Teacher of Auschwitz illuminates an extraordinary story of courage, compassion, and resilience. Fredy Hirsch’s incredible determination to bring light and hope to the youngest prisoners of Auschwitz defies belief and underscores the power of humanity even in the face of unimaginable cruelty.

Fredy’s role as a teacher in the concentration camp was an act of quiet rebellion. His tireless efforts to create a semblance of normalcy—a space where children could sing, learn, and imagine—were acts of defiance against a system designed to strip away all dignity and hope. The image of brightly painted walls and innocent laughter juxtaposed against the smokestacks of Auschwitz is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

The book delves deeply into Fredy’s struggles: negotiating with SS officers for better conditions, risking his life daily, and creating a sanctuary amid the horrors surrounding them. Fredy’s story is not just one of selflessness and bravery; it is also a reminder of the extraordinary capacity of individuals to protect others, even in the face of their own mortality.

Having visited Auschwitz myself, I am struck by how reading stories like this brings that haunting space vividly to life. The personal narratives lend a profound weight to the numbers and statistics, grounding the incomprehensible in individual acts of love and defiance.

The lessons from Fredy’s story—and the Holocaust as a whole—are as relevant today as they ever were. They serve as stark reminders of the depths of human cruelty but also of the resilience and power of compassion. By engaging with such narratives, we honor the victims, ensure their stories are not forgotten, and recommit ourselves to vigilance against hatred and injustice.

The Teacher of Auschwitz is a must-read for those seeking to understand the Holocaust not just as history, but as a deeply human story. It’s a book that will stay with you, reminding you of the profound strength of the human spirit.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Another heartwarming true story of life in WW2 with friends, relationships and an inspirational teacher who also had his own secret that could have sent him to any early execution. I did find it a little slow and skipped entire pages.

The Teacher of Auschwitz, both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story. Telling the story of one man who strived to make the lives of the children of the camps more bearable. Often struggle to read these books due to the nature of the story, but this was very well written.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I find the stories of those who experienced the holocaust incredibly devastating, inspiring and important, and the story of Fredy Hirsch is no exception.

The author has so clearly taken a great deal of time and consideration in how she’s gracefully written Fredy’s story. The way in which she details the impact Fredy had on the lives of so many feels so well demonstrated and the use of fictionalised characters has been done simply to depict his innate goodness successfully, without creating a work of fiction.

This isn’t the sort of book I couldn’t put down and felt desperate to read given the harrowing nature, but at no point did I lose interest in the story of Fredy Hirsch and felt the ending was incredibly poignant, respectful and necessary.

I would recommend this book to anybody who would like to read more on this topic following books such as The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice.