The Fighter of Auschwitz: The incredible true story of Leen Sanders who boxed to help others survive
£7.90£8.50 (-7%)
‘He had the dream again last night… He taps the gloves of his unbeaten Polish opponent. There are rumours that the loser will be sent to the gas chamber.’
In 1943, the Dutch champion boxer, Leen Sanders, was sent to Auschwitz. His wife and children were put to death while he was sent ‘to the left’ with the others who were fit enough for labour. Recognised by an SS officer, he was earmarked for a ‘privileged’ post in the kitchens in exchange for weekly boxing matches for the entertainment of the Nazi guards. From there, he enacted his resistance to their limitless cruelty.
With great risk and danger to his own life, Leen stole, concealed and smuggled food and clothing from SS nursing units for years to alleviate the unbearable suffering of the prisoners in need. He also regularly supplied extra food to the Dutch women in Dr. Mengele’s experiment, Block 10. To his fellow Jews in the camp, he acted as a rescuer, leader and role model, defending them even on their bitter death march to Dachau towards the end of the war.
A story of astonishing resilience and compassion, The Fighter of Auschwitz is a testament to the endurance of humanity in the face of extraordinary evil.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Cassell (17 Aug. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 336 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1788404300 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1788404303 |
| Dimensions | 12.7 x 1.91 x 20.32 cm |
by paula learmouth
The incredible true story of Leendert Josua Sanders, a professional Dutch boxer who boxed to help others survive. This is a book I knew was going to a hard read because of the genre, but one that I was looking forward to read. We are told the story of Leen before and after his time in Auschwitz. On 18th August 1942, Leen his wife, Selli and children, Jopie and David left home on Paviljoensgracht for the last time, but always having hope that one day they would return. On 14th January 1943 Leen walked through the gates to Auschwitz with the words “ARBEIT MACHT FREI” (Work sets you free) above the gates. After walking through those gates, he was sent to the left as he was healthy and fit and could work, unlike his family that were put to death. Working in the kitchen, Leen could hide food to give to others as well as other things. Leen knew he had to fight and win if it means someone doesn’t go to the gas chamber. Boxing became more of a job for him, that brought helped himself as well as his ‘organisation’ (You will learn what his organisation means through reading the book). We learn the way Nazi’s thought and how they invaded the Jewish community. After the war Leen became an American citizen, but will never forget what he had to do or saw. His left arm bears his concentration camp number: 86764, something that holds a lot of memories.
I found this an emotional book but one that needs to be read. The back of the book holds a lot of information, Bibliography, Testimonies of Auschwitz survivors, Articles, Newpapers archives, Magazines and other sources.
by Faye VanLandingham
Seldom does a book have me in tears when it ends. This one did. Simply told in simple language but with a WOW! impact on this reader.
by paula learmouth
I’ll never stop reading this genre of memoirs because they’ll never stop teaching me how amazing and courageous people are in the darkest of times and this one is no different. This memoir is important for so many reasons because the man whose life this is about, Leen Sanders, had to fight all his life, but perhaps more significantly he had to fight even after the war to get an Extraordinary Pension he so rightly deserved by proving how his experiences in Auschwitz had effected him. This book is so thoroughly well researched and written that you can be left in no doubt the impact that Leen’s life inside Auschwitz had on others but ultimately on him too.
by Mrs Channy
Well written book
by prdg
My Thoughts: I really enjoy any books like this, people telling stories about experiences in Auschwitz, it absolutely fascinates me yet breaks my heart at the same time & this one was no different in that respect.
What set this one apart from a lot of the others I have read is that you got to experience a lot of Leens life before Auschwitz too, with really opened the story up and really intensified all of t he emotions that this book had me feeling!
This book focussed more on the facts than the feelings of the main character which again helped the reader remember that it all actually happened, that it’s not a novel!
The descriptions were perfect and made it easy to visualise the places mentioned and meant I could really immerse myself in the book, which I probably did a little too much given the dream I had the night I finished it ????????????♀️
An incredibly powerful story of a man who uses his gifts to his advantage, not just to help himself but to help provide for others too. A story of courage, resilience and ultimately doing what is right in a situation that is so very wrong.
One that should be added to the TBR of anyone with an interest on the subject, just be warned that the story can be harrowing at times.
by LAP
This is a little different from my usual choice in books however some may or may not know that I do like to try and read different stories of Auschwitz and the Holocaust in general. Mostly because I believe that it should never be forgotten and in reading peoples personal accounts of those atrocities, we won’t ever forget.
Leen’s story is not only of his time in Auschwitz but his life beforehand, as a professional boxer. I found this account very interesting and it was the first account I have read so far that has clearly shown me the gradual progression of the Nazi’s way of thinking and how that slowly encroaches upon the Jewish community.
This account is very factual and whilst of course Leen loses several family members there are few entries around his feelings on those matters nor of his witness to countless horrific things he encounters throughout his time in Auschwitz. I found this more hard hitting than the accounts I have read where we see the prisoners mourn the loss of family and friends and also relaying the trauma of what was done.
He is getting a job done – and the job is to keep people alive the best he can. And to do so he is relying upon his boxing skills, the favour that brings him and his ‘organisation’. You will come to know what is meant by ‘organisation’ when you read this fantasticly inspiring book.
It goes to show that, no matter your circumstances, you must keep your humanity – as this is what keeps not only you alive but allows you to keeps those around you alive.
Thank you to Leen for the lives you saved.
“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” – The Talmud