COSTABOOKAWARDWINNER:BOOKOFTHEYEAR-#1SUNDAYTIMES(UK)BESTSELLER“Superblywrittenandbreathtakinglyresearched,TheVolunteersmugglesusintoAuschwitzandshowsus--asifwatchingamovie--thestoryofaPolishagentwhoinfiltratedtheinfamouscamp,organizedarebellion,andthensnuckbackout....FairweatherhasdugupastoryofincalculablevalueanddeliveredittousinthemostcompellingproseIhavereadinalongtime.“--SebastianJunger,authorofThePerfectStormandTribeTheincredibletruestoryofaPolishresistancefighter’sinfiltrationofAuschwitztosabotagethecampfromwithin,andhisdeath-defyingattempttowarntheAlliesabouttheNazis’plansfora“FinalSolution“beforeitwastoolate.TouncoverthefateofthethousandsbeinginterredatamysteriousNazicampontheborderoftheReich,athirty-nine-year-oldPolishresistancefighternamedWitoldPileckivolunteeredforanaudaciousmission:assumeafakeidentity,intentionallygetcapturedandsenttothenewcamp,andthenreportbacktotheundergroundonwhathadhappenedtohiscompatriotsthere.Butgatheringinformationwasnothisonlytask:hewastoexecuteanattackfrominside--wheretheGermanswouldleastexpectit.ThenameofthecampwasAuschwitz.Overthenexttwoandhalfyears,PileckiforgedanundergroundarmywithinAuschwitzthatsabotagedfacilities,assassinatedNaziinformantsandofficers,andgatheredevidenceofterrifyingabuseandmassmurder.ButashepiecedtogetherthehorrifyingtruththatthecampwastobecometheepicenterofNaziplanstoexterminateEurope’sJews,Pileckirealizedhewouldhavetoriskhismen,hislife,andhisfamilytowarntheWestbeforeallwaslost.Todoso,meantattemptingtheimpossible--anescapefromAuschwitzitself.CompletelyerasedfromthehistoricalrecordbyPoland’spost-warCommunistgovernment,Pileckiremainsalmostunknowntotheworld.Now,withexclusiveaccesstopreviouslyhiddendiaries,familyandcampsurvivoraccounts,andrecentlydeclassifiedfiles,JackFairweatheroffersanunflinchingportrayalofsurvival,revengeandbetrayalinmankind’sdarkesthour.AndinuncoveringthetragicoutcomeofPilecki’smission,herevealsthatitsultimatedefeatoriginatednotinAuschwitzorBerlin,butinLondonandWashington.
