The Last Jew of Treblinka

A Survivor’s Memory, 1942-1943

By: Chil Rajchman, Samuel Moyn - preface, Solon Beinfeld - translator, Claire Bloom - director

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Quickly becoming a cornerstone of Holocaust historiography, this is a devastatingly stark memoir from one of the lone survivors of Treblinka.

Why do some live while so many others perish? Tiny children, old men, beautiful girls - in the gas chambers of Treblinka, all are equal. The Nazis kept the fires of Treblinka burning night and day, a central cog in the wheel of the Final Solution.

In the tradition of Elie Wiesel's Night and Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz and The Drowned and the Saved, Rajchman provides the only survivors' record of Treblinka. Originally written in Yiddish in 1945 without hope or agenda other than to bear witness, Rajchman's account shows that sometimes the bravest and most painful act of all is to remember.

©2009 Chil Rajchman (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A Human Story of Selflessness and Resilience

I received this audiobook for free as part of my Audible Plus membership.

The Last Jew of Treblinka: A Survivor’s Memory, 1942-1943 is a memoir written by Chil Rajchman and translated by Solon Beinfeld. Rajchman tells of his experiences in the Treblinka death camp and his subsequent escape. He paints an initial image of depravity, suffering and despair, which is transformed into a story of hope and freedom. Stefan Rudnicki provides consistent, clear and nearly emotionless narration throughout the work. Emotionless carries seemingly negative connotations, however, his work expertly fits the overall tone that Rajchman conveys. This work is highly recommended for those interested in humanity and the will to overcome hardship.

Rajchman's history begins when he and his family are taken from their home in Warsaw and shipped by train to Treblinka. He recounts only minor details of his life before the train ride, and this conveys notions of humility as he writes about events that extend far beyond his personal story. At one point in Treblinka, a woman destined for gassing says to Rajchman: "you see what is being done to us, that's why my wish for you is that you will survive and take revenge for our innocent blood, which will never rest" (Ch. 7, 2:23-2:32). He is telling her story, and the story of thousands like her.

Contributing to this idea, Rajchman writes matter-of-factly. The majority of the camp guards are nameless "murderers". They whip, beat, torture and dehumanize their prisoners. Rajchman doesn't express significant emotional attachment to these actions and events; he simply explains things as they were. This also lends to the idea that he and the other prisoners are overcome by general feelings of shock and disbelief. Although Rajchman includes a few exclamations of incredulity and sarcasm, expressions of fear, anger, resentment and disdain are rare, even when he speaks of the death of his family. He primarily recalls accounts in practical terms throughout the work. This concept is perfectly captured as he works as a barber, cutting off the hair of women condemned to death: "I have become an automaton that cuts off their hair" (Ch. 6, 8:01-:8:04).

Stefan Rudnicki expertly matches Rajchman's account with his nearly monotone, unemotional, deadpan narration. These are positive qualities in a narrative that communicates despair, helplessness and hopelessness. This is a short work, coming in at three hours and four minutes, and Rudnicki's narration never grows tiresome or irritating. He provides clear pronunciation, a consistent flow and convincing dialects, which all heavily contribute to the engrossing nature of this work.

Although Rajchman's memoir is mostly distressing and heart breaking, the final chapters are laced with hope and victory. In order to avoid spoiling the narrative, it should be simply stated that his ability to write about this history were because of actions of incredible bravery and resilience.

The Last Jew of Treblinka should be experienced by anyone who takes their life for granted. Rajchman speaks of one of the darkest and most harrowing periods in human history. His account puts modern life and all its luxuries into perspective. He overcame incredible adversity, and he chose to share his experiences with us. He teaches what it means to live a selfless life in service to others. Please don't miss this.

absolutely riveting story of true heroes and evil

everyone should read this, This should be aandatory reading in high school!! It's astonishing to me, that some are denying a holocaust!!

The Last Jew

Heart wrenching story as are all Holocaust survivor renditions. insightful to camp life, death and torture.

At a loss for words

I've listened to hours of interviews of survivors on YouTube & have read many books, but I have never heard or read some of these details. I think it's very important to know what happened. It was short, which was fine. It's a lot to take in. The narrator was perfect. I felt like I was with him every step of the way, and experiencing every emotion. It's gut wrenching but I'm glad I listened to this author's testimony. I will never forget.

Shocking story of incredible courage

I feel compelled to explain my reason for bestowing 5 stars on a book about the most despicable of human brutality. It isn’t - obviously — that I enjoyed this autobiographical narrative of one survivor’s record. It is that he had the forethought and the strength and the courage and the determination to stay alive under circumstances none of us should ever have to imagine, much less experience.

Gut-wrenching in the extreme, this most powerful account of only one of the many death camps in operation during World War II, is written with such stark and often disturbing clarity that it felt criminal to put it down once begun.

Well written

Hard to put in words this is a good book because of the horrors of what this person went through. Shockingly sad.

Whew! A hard listen, but a good one

This gives you a feel for the gritty, daily oppression of Jews under the Nazis, in a way similar to the Hiding Place for non-Jews. You get a real glimpse inside the mind of someone who is trapped in nightmarish conditions, and is trying to make the best of it. The survivor doesn't whitewash his actions, but still comes across as a sympathetic figure. This one is worth hanging onto.

Important. Worse conditions than I expected.

I'm glad I heard this. I visited Auschwitz in Nov 2017. It is shocking that some people try to deny these things happened. It is shocking to hear how many people participated in the atrocities. But sadly today in America so many hold similar ideologies, for example, about their ideas of public health being more important than individual freedom. Many people today believe, like the Nazis, in survival of the fittest. It matters that we know the ways each of us could hold beliefs that coincide with the violators of the freedom of others. This would be the best we can do, learning of these atrocities, be firm we will in NO way participate in harming the freedom of others, and will not carry any of their beliefs at all, because they lead to suffering.

Amazing

It really is an amazing story or survival and tenacity. I do have a question tho without giving stuff away..
Did anyone else survive (aside from yourself) out of the people that participated in the final event?
Thank u for sharing your story

Heartbreaking

Great narrator. Very sad to listen to this account. What a display of strength.