THE NAZIS KNEW MY NAME

Magda Hellinger and Maya Lee with David Brewster SIMON & SCHUSTER, RRP $33

Told in her words, this is the survival story of Magda Hellinger, who boldly and bravely used intelligence, personal skills and nous to avoid the World War II Nazi death chambers. After being deported from Slovakia in 1942, the Jewish kindergarten teacher found herself elevated to inmate positions of authority in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, at one stage in charge of experimental block 10, where women were used as guinea pigs for reproductive tests. Branded with the inmate tattoo #2318, Magda eventually became known to SS figures (hence the book’s title). But her forced role enforcing Nazi rule also thrust her into an unenviable position, balancing SS demands and whims with caring for and retaining the respect of fellow inmates. Having met her husband, Bela, in the camps, she ended up in Melbourne, passing away in 2006. Her daughter Maya Lee adds to her legacy, ensuring Magda’s journey is documented for future generations.

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