The Survivor

The Survivor by Michael Calvin and Josef Lewkowicz is a harrowing yet profoundly inspiring narrative that delves into the life of one man who endured the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust and emerged with an unbreakable spirit bent on justice. This extraordinary true story chronicles the incredible journey of Holocaust survivor Josef Lewkowicz, who withstood the torment of six death camps before playing a pivotal role in the pursuit and prosecution of Nazi war criminals.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'A riveting, compelling, mesmerizing journey. Josef Lewkowicz is a hero in every sense of the word. The Survivor both terrifies us and inspires us. It's a must read.'
– Tova Friedman, author of The Daughter of Auschwitz.

One of the last great untold stories of the Holocaust, The Survivor is an astonishing account of one man's unwavering determination, resilient faith, and remarkable courage in the face of relentless evil.

At only sixteen years old, Josef Lewkowicz became a number, prisoner 85314. Following the Nazi invasion of Poland, he and his father were torn from their family and transported to the Kraków-Plaszów concentration camp. There, under the constant threat of extreme violence and sudden death, they endured grueling labour and lived in inhumane conditions. Josef would go on to experience the unique horrors of six of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Mauthausen, and Ebensee.

From the perilous salt mines to agonizing forced marches, and from ruthless summary executions to the brutal conditions at Amstetten, where prisoners were used as human shields against Allied bombing, Josef faced the spectre of death at every turn for many years. Liberation finally came at the end of the war when Josef was freed from Ebensee, a camp where conditions were among the worst ever witnessed by the allied forces.

When Josef returned home, he found himself the sole survivor in an extensive family of 150. Driven by a profound sense of loss and the need for retribution, he joined the Jewish police while still in a displaced persons' camp. Soon after, he was recruited as an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army, where he was given a team to hunt down Nazis in hiding.

In this role, Josef was instrumental in the capture and identification of high-ranking SS leaders. Most notably, he played a critical role in the apprehension and prosecution of one of his greatest tormentors, the Butcher of Plaszów, Amon Göth—portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in the acclaimed film Schindler’s List. Later, Josef dedicated his life to helping orphaned children of the Holocaust rebuild their lives, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to justice and humanity.

The Survivor is not merely a tale of survival, but rather a poignant and powerful testimony of one man's extraordinary courage and steadfast resolve to seek justice against overwhelming odds. It is a testament to the human spirit's enduring capacity for resilience and redemption.