Smoke Over the Birches — Paul Richard Sully

Seventy years ago in the summer of 1944, Auschwitz had reached the height of its murdering capacity whilst Adolf Eichmann was setting his sights upon the half million strong Jewish Community in Hungary. However, within the camp remarkable events were taking place. Whispering Birches is a fictional account that gives some insight into these real events. Franz Wolff, an invalid SS soldier, is sent to Auschwitz Concentration Camp as guard. Hardened and cynical he is put in charge of the Materials Section (later known as Canada) where confiscated possessions are recycled and sent back to Germany. Canada becomes the most attractive address in Auschwitz as inmates get better food and treatment. Elena Prikaznova, a Slovakian Jewess, is assigned to the hell of Monowitz. She cheats her way into Canada and on discovery is forced to sing for her life. In doing so, she captivates the heart of Franz and others. Franz changes his ways siding increasingly with the inmates. At first, Elena rejects Franz preferring Mihael, a fellow Slovakian inmate, but she eventually relents and falls in love with her captor. Though fictional Whispering Birches is inspired by real events and persons. Franz Wunsch was tried by both the Gestapo and Simon Wiesenthal for race crimes. In the case of the former it was in connection with his forbidden affair with inmate Helena Citronova and other actions to protect inmates. Many of them later testified at his post war trial including Helena who travelled from Israel. Mihael is inspired by Walter Rosenberg who escaped Auschwitz, writing the Vrba Wetzler report now considered the most accurate representation of the Auschwitz atrocity. The book does not represent real opinions or persons. The book recounts a story of love, betrayal and bravery that will leave you challenged as to what is morally right or wrong.