The Thirty-Six
Siegmund Siegreich
The Thirty-Six
Siegmund Siegreich
Do I believe in the Thirty-Six? I believe in miracles.
Do I believe in the Thirty-Six? I believe in miracles. Sigi had just turned 15 and was living a carefree life in Poland when WWII was declared. Within days, Germany crossed the Polish border and randomly, to assert their intentions, exterminated Jews and Poles. The Siegreich family relocated further into Poland, to Bedzin, hoping the war would pass quickly.
It was not to be. Their train enroute to their new home was attacked and they lost many of their belongings, and some friends. Within days of setting up in Bedzin, while out shopping for food Sigi was picked up by German soldiers and taken off with other Polish citizens where he was forced to dig a large trench. The German soldiers then shot the Polish men, one by one. In the first miracle of his life, Sigi was saved by a man who grabbed him and threw him into the trench before him. And Sigi’s new life of horror, pain, drudgery, miracles and adventures began.
Sigi went on to lead the most extraordinary life in order to survive. Operating a bicycle courier service between Jewish ghettos in Poland, escaping from his first workcamp, working with the Polish resistance and, toughest of all, being returned to another workcamp
Review
Simon Auld, freelance reviewer
‘Not another Holocaust memoir,’ I groaned under my breath when I received my review copy. And there is really nothing new in Sigi Siegrich’s story of the horrors of war-time Poland – the deprivations of daily life, the humiliations (and worse) suffered at the hands of the Nazi occupiers, the overnight disappearances of family and friends – never to be seen again. But (big, big ‘but’), this particular telling – this particular viewpoint – is mesmerising. It is personal and well beyond personal, self-aware without self-pity and honest without hatred.
The publishers are marketing this book as an adult title, though I think (because it is so well written and so well told) that young readers will also find it compelling. So, get a copy for your teenage nephew, niece or grandchild. They will be horrified and they may even shed a few tears. I can guarantee that they won’t forget it – and that is the main thing!
This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in approx 3 weeks
Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.