num_pages: 174
description: "If Martin Baranek's memoir of his hellish journey were fiction, I would dismiss it asbeyond comprehension.  The fact that in this book Martin's own words testify in somedetail to his experiences from ghetto to work camp to extermination camps to deathmarch to liberation and eventual arrival to the Land of Israel, powerfully teaches us thatthe unbelievable actually happened.  This is an eye opening window into humanity at itslowest and cruelest.  It is also one human being's intense will to survive and rebuild hislife anew.  I found it riveting and gut wrenching.  Martin Baranek's journey is a triumphof hope over despair." —Rabbi Gary Glickstein   "I first encountered Martin Baranek as an articulate and reflective survivor in the courseof my research on the Wierzbnik ghetto and the Starachowice slave labor camps.  Ashis powerful memoir records, these were but the first two circles of Hitler's infernothrough which he descended in the years of the Holocaust.  They were followed byBirkenau, Mauthausen, and Gunskirchen, with each stage of his incredible odysseymore challenging and horrifying than the previous one. Martin's overall story remainsvery powerful." —Christopher R. Browning, Frank Porter Graham Professor of History Emeritus,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill   "It has been said that a thousand doors had to open and close in the exact right timeand succession in order for one to survive the Holocaust. If even one door opened orclosed at the wrong time, your fate was sealed. Unlike 6 million other Jews,  thedoors  Martin Baranek went through appeared for him at just the right time.  Buthis survival was not just a matter of luck. Shining through on every page of thisexceptionally moving tale are Martin’s courage, perseverance and sheer will to liveunder the most brutal of conditions  This painfully honest account is a true testament tothe power of the human spirit to triumph over unimaginable adversity. Martin’ story is aremarkable memoir that is nothing short of inspiring.You may have questions aboutGod after reading this book -  but you will most certainly believe in miracles.” —Eli Rubenstein, National Director, March of the Living Canada   “...This is a fascinating chronicle of the Holocaust by an amazing man who shares thetale of his painful tragedy and the triumph of his survival against all odds. We areprivileged that Martin has shared his story with countless participants of the March ofthe Living that will pass on his message of NEVER FORGET to future generations...” —Mel Mann, Executive Director - Friends of the March of the Living, Miami, FL 
language: English
title: Determined: A Memoir
publisher: Outskirts Press