Lauferin: The Runner of Birkenau

The German invasion of Poland brought to an end the happy and privileged childhood of Lusia Hasman (Haberfeld) when she was eight years old. The family fled Lodz for Warsaw with the intention of escaping to Russia but were caught up in awful and momentous events. Lusia, however, was a remarkable little girl, whose wit, bravery and enterprise kept her alive. It was through her work as a messenger to the charismatic Pani Schmidt in two concentration camps, and her “wheeling and dealing” that she ensured not only her own survival, but that of her mother too. This very personal book is as gripping as a thriller, but it is much more: it is a story of courageous and triumphant survival.