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  • The Pharmacist of Auschwitz

  • The Untold Story
  • By: Patricia Posner
  • Narrated by: Julian Elfer
  • Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (186 ratings)
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The Pharmacist of Auschwitz

By: Patricia Posner
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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Summary

The Pharmacist of Auschwitz is the little-known story of Victor Capesius, a Bayer pharmaceutical salesman from Romania, who, at the age of 35, joined the Nazi SS in 1943 and quickly became the chief pharmacist at the largest death camp, Auschwitz. Based in part on previously classified documents, Patricia Posner exposes Capesius' reign of terror at the camp, his escape from justice, and how a handful of courageous survivors and a single brave prosecutor finally brought him to trial for murder 20 years after the end of the war.

The Pharmacist of Auschwitz is much more, though, than a personal account of Capesius. It provides a spellbinding glimpse inside the devil's pact made between the Nazis and Germany's largest conglomerate, IG Farben, and its Bayer pharmaceutical subsidiary. The story is one of murder and greed, with its roots in the dark heart of the Holocaust.

Set against a backdrop ranging from Hitler's war to conquer Europe to the Final Solution, to postwar Germany's tormented efforts to confront its dark past, Posner shows the appalling depths to which ordinary men descend when they are unrestrained by conscience or any sense of morality.

Contains mature themes.

©2017 Patricia Posner (P)2017 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"A gruesome story eloquently told." ( Kirkus)

What listeners say about The Pharmacist of Auschwitz

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  • 09-05-18

Shocking

Detailed account of the horrors of this infamous Nazi death factory. Chilling and factual. Adds a layer of detail to what is commonly known. Shines a spotlight on this depraved and opportunistic coward of a man who squirms and ultimately gets away with genocide.

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6 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Towser T

I found this book fascinating and well researched. Some of the pronunciations in both English and German distracted - especially that of “Mengele”. However, it adds to the narrative of the holocaust and can thus be recommended.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

The Pharmacist of Auschwitz.

A very good book, I listened too it in one night and found it well researched.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Important History

This is a vital historical narrative that records one aspect of Nazi German atrocities carried out at the Auschwitz during WWII. Victor Capesius managed to evade capture as Nszi Germany collapse, and then he managed to evade the detection of his crimes long enough to escape any substantive Justice as West Germany changed its laws in accordance with an anti-Soviet US foreign policy. Ironically, although US anti-intellectualism dominated Europe after 1945 - Victor Capesius was tried in his native Romania (in absentia) in 1945 and Sentenced to Death for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. This verdict was ignored at the time in Western Europe. The author peddles an anti-Soviet narrative throughout and makes the incorrect statement that Joseph Stalin suggested the Nazi Leadership be immediately shot whilst a shocked Western Judiciary supposedly insisted on a proper trial. In fact, it was Winston Churchill (the admirer of Hitler) who suggested that Leading Nazis be shot without trial to save time - whilst it was Joseph Stalin who pointed out that international law decreed that a trial was needed for each suspect. As matters transpired, Victor Capesius died in his old age in 1985. The author omits that In 1975, the UN - after an investigation - ruled that Zionism is also a form of White Supremacy used to oppress and persecute the non-White occupants of Palestine. This is why this story should remind us that fascism can arise anywhere and that the decent people of the world should remain forever vigulent in their protection of freedom!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating- and a lot of NEW INSIGHT!!!

All who read about the Third Reich - the uprise, the years of horror which followed - will have read about the concentration camps BUT this book is different to what you expect...

It is not simply a portraitier account about the pharmacist of Auschwitz - no, it gives a lot more - the role of the large pharmaceutical firm IG Farben and so many others ....

Would I recommend this book: YES

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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informational and interesting

Some very disturbing information, but this story should be told as it is for people to get the best understanding to the evil these people did!
the performance of the book is good with a likeable voice in my opinion!
good purchase

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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a really good well researched book

I really enjoyed this insight in to the of a little known SS doctor/pharmacist who was responsible for numerous deaths through selections at the train stations for incoming Jews as well as transporting the poison to the gas Chambers.

i felt the some of the chapters were a little too political but it was needed to keep the context it is non fiction after all

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating story well narrated.

An insight into the life of a Nazi working in a concentration camp. You know all this happened but you still struggle to understand.

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1 person found this helpful

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A must read

Harrowing but a must read .voice over was easy on the ears . Brought tears to my eyes.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Miss Match

There did not seem to be much flow to the book and was very miss match and jumpy in regards to time line.

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