This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration in the University of Birmingham marked a long-awaited change in Holocaust education. For the first time, the story of survival delivered by speakers was not the first-hand testimony of a Holocaust survivor, but was delivered by her son and his wife. As fewer survivors remain able to share their experiences directly, the poignancy and importance of Holocaust books, written testimonies of remarkable stories crafted by survivors, is coming to light.

One remarkable book that stands out is Adieu Birkenau, a graphic novel by Auschwitz survivor Ginette Kolinka in collaboration with illustrator J-D Morvan. The novel accounts Kolinka’s extraordinary journey to survival, from her blissful teenage years in Paris at the onset of the war to her family’s rapid escape from Nazi occupation. Amidst her several imprisonments and eventual deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen (concentration camps in Poland and Germany) Kolinka’s unbelievable resilience is evident through her perseverance against the inhumane treatment of the Nazis and horrific living conditions of the camps. The story is equally one of hope, artfully weaving the past and present (based in 2020 during the Covid outbreak) as Kolinka strives to educate younger generations by relating her story. The novel follows her last trip to Auschwitz, accompanying a class of students from the school that she attended as a child, a full-circle celebration of her survival.

Morvan’s illustrations are skilful and powerful, adding visual and emotional depth to the novel unique to other examples of Holocaust literature. They sensitively emphasise the vulnerability of victims, and the frailty of the human figure in such deprived conditions. Vivid depictions of concentration camps as they appeared during the war are rarely seen beyond the television screen, hence the landscapes and interiors that Morvan creates offer readers a new, accessible way to engage with victim’s experiences.

As is the nature of graphic novels, the story is quicker paced than other Holocaust books, somewhat detracting from the emotional relationship that the reader builds with Ginette and the other individuals who feature. However, for un-keen readers and teenage audiences, the illustrations and bitesize blocks of text help to make the story more engaging and approachable, assisting in the teaching and delivery of Holocaust education. Importantly too, the melancholy tone of the dialogue is well integrated with Ginette’s humorous remarks, reflecting her uplifting and witty character despite her traumatic past. In conversation with the school children on the tour, her honest and direct personality shine through as she emphasises the barbarity of her experiences without sugar-coating. Digesting the novel, it feels as though the reader knows Kolinka personally, as though having learnt of her experiences through a casual conversation. This effect, achieved through the carefully worded dialogue and clever integration of the past and present day, is unique to other Holocaust novels, partially replicating the experience of speaking to survivors which will soon become impossible.

Adieu Birkenau, an incredibly special testimony to the survival story of Ginette Kolinka, should become a staple in the school curriculum. An accessible and engaging form of Holocaust education, the novel is vital for the prevention of future reoccurrences of such tragic, discriminative events. Kolinka’s story is one to be admired, demonstrating unbelievable courage, resilience and emotional strength. It encourages readers not to take anything in their environment for granted, to reflect on their own personality and strength, and to delve further into Holocaust research.

Rating: 4/5

‘Adieu Birkenau’ is published by SelfMadeHero and is available for purchase now.

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