Journalist Keren Blankfeld Explores the Heart-Wrenching Tale of ‘Lovers in Auschwitz’

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed every year on January 27th to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest death camp operated by Nazi Germany during World War II. More than 1 million Jews lost their lives there. Despite the passage of 79 years, new revelations about life in Auschwitz continue to emerge. The latest revelation comes in the form of Keren Blankfeld’s book, “Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story,” which was released on January 23rd. The book tells the story of two Jewish prisoners, David Wisnia and Helen “Zippi” Spitzer, who managed to maintain a relationship while imprisoned in Auschwitz but were separated after their liberation and remained apart for 72 years.

Both David and Zippi endured grueling labor in Auschwitz. David was tasked with carrying dead bodies, while Zippi was assigned to carry stones. However, their talents were recognized by the Nazis, and they were given special roles. David, an opera singer, was made to perform for the Nazis, while Zippi, a graphic designer, was asked to create diagrams of the camp and clean uniforms.

The couple first met at “the sauna,” a place where uniforms were cleaned, in early 1943. They exchanged stolen glances and began communicating through messengers. Their first “date” took place in February 1944 when they climbed to a makeshift ledge at the top of a new warehouse called Canada. They spent around 30 minutes to an hour together, supervised by fellow inmates who received favors in return. They bonded over their shared love of music, with David, a former child star, singing to Zippi. Their relationship was not just emotional but also physical.

At one point, they made a pact to reunite in Warsaw after the war. Zippi fulfilled her part of the agreement, but David secured a job with the American military, which he saw as his ticket to freedom. Devastated, Zippi returned to Bratislava, her hometown, and later worked at a displaced persons camp. David settled in Levittown, Pennsylvania, where he raised a family and pursued a career selling encyclopedias and singing as a cantor. However, he always wondered why he survived Auschwitz while millions did not.

Over the years, David tried to reach out to Zippi through fellow survivors, but she was too hurt to meet him in person. Additionally, she had married and felt it would be inappropriate. While David shared his Holocaust experience publicly, Zippi chose to confide in select historians, some of whom were interviewed by Blankfeld for her book. It was only in August 2016 that Zippi allowed David to visit her Manhattan apartment. By then, she was widowed and homebound. The two reconnected and David introduced her to his grandchildren. Zippi revealed that she had saved David’s life multiple times by removing his name from lists of prisoners to be killed. She then requested him to sing the Hungarian song she had taught him.

Zippi passed away two years later at the age of 99, followed by David in 2021 at the age of 94. Their remarkable story lives on through “Lovers in Auschwitz.” Blankfeld, a journalist, met David in 2018 while researching the stories of World War II refugees who came to the U.S. During their meeting, David mentioned his girlfriend from Auschwitz, prompting Blankfeld to delve deeper into Zippi’s story. She interviewed historians close to Zippi and discovered an unpublished manuscript by her, which became a valuable resource for the book.

“Lovers in Auschwitz” adds to the existing history of resistance during the Holocaust and stands as a rare tale of joy amidst the darkness. The Nazi camps aimed to strip prisoners of their humanity, but David and Zippi’s love defied these dehumanizing conditions. As Blankfeld explains, their relationship served as an act of resistance, preserving their humanity and refusing to be reduced to mere numbers.