The True Story Behind ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’

At last, the eagerly anticipated TV version of the widely popular book from 2018, The Tattooist Of Auschwitz, has made its way onto our screens. This six-piece show stars the likes of Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, and Anna Próchniak, and portrays a tale of romance amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. Set in the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp that operated during the Second World War, this adaptation is sure to captivate audiences.

Heather Morris, an author from New Zealand, wrote a book that has sold over three million copies worldwide. The book became number one on the New York Times Bestseller lists in 2018. Morris met Ludwig Sokolov, also known as Lali or Lale, in Australia in 2003. He was 87 years old, and had recently lost his wife, Gita. Lali shared the story of their love and how they survived Auschwitz. Initially, Morris wrote a screenplay based on the story, but when no one wanted to make it into a movie, she decided to write a book instead. She stated that 95% of the book is based on facts that were researched and confirmed. However, it is unclear how much of the TV series directed by Tali Shalom-Ezer is based on true events.

Book's Tale

The book starts by telling the story of Lali who was sent to Auschwitz. There, he met Pepan, a fellow Jewish inmate who taught him how to tattoo. Pepan was responsible for branding the numbers onto the prisoners' bodies. While tattooing a number on a woman named Gita, Lali fell in love with her. Gita was also from Slovakia. They kept their relationship a secret in the camp. However, Gita didn't reveal her surname to Lali as she believed that they wouldn't survive Auschwitz. Gita worked at a warehouse where confiscated items from the prisoners were stored. She managed to sneak out some valuable jewels and money and gave them to Lali. Lali exchanged them with a German worker for medicine or to bribe the SS guards. When Gita fell ill with typhoid, Lali arranged for her to get penicillin.

There have been reports that the Russians are making progress, so the captives are being relocated. Right before Gita departs, she reveals to Lali that her last name is Furman. Lali is transported to Mauthausen and then to a different death camp in Austria, but somehow finds a way to flee. Sadly, he is then forced to perform labor for Russian soldiers. Nevertheless, he is able to escape yet again and makes his way to Bratislava, where he learns that many prisoners from Slovakia are being transferred. After waiting for two weeks at the railway station, he eventually catches sight of Gita. Lali takes the opportunity to ask Gita to marry him, and she joyfully accepts.

Real-life Experiences

A significant portion of the book accurately portrays events that occurred in real life. According to an article written by Morris in The Guardian, Lali indeed worked as a tattoo artist while imprisoned in Auschwitz. Morris explained that it was a coping mechanism for Lali: he believed that continuing to tattoo would increase his chances of survival. In July 1942, Lali (also known as prison number 32407) met a young woman named Gisela "Gita" Fuhrmannova, tattooed her number onto her, and the two of them truly did fall in love.

The book received criticism from Wanda Witek-Malicka at the Auschwitz Memorial Research Center. She disputed Morris' claim about Gita's identification number being 34902 as there were no surviving documents to support this. Witek-Malicka also noted that a prisoner arriving at Auschwitz at that time could not have been given such a high number. According to Gita's own testimony, her identification number was 4562. Morris later corrected this in subsequent editions of the book.

In the camp, Lali and Gita started a secret love affair despite its prohibition. They exchanged letters sneakily by passing them between their dorms and eventually began a romantic relationship. Lali even went as far as smuggling prohibited items to help acquire medicine and other necessities for the prisoners. Just eight days before Auschwitz was freed, a group of Czech inmates in the Mauthausen camp exchanged the Jewish Star on Lali's uniform with a red triangle, a symbol for political prisoners which made him less vulnerable to danger. Lali eventually escaped the camp and made his way back to Bratislava where he was reunited with Gita.

Critics pointed out some discrepancies between the book and real history, including the use of antibiotics during the war. However, Morris explained to Sky that her novel is a work of fiction based on one person's memories, not a factual account of the Holocaust. She emphasized that many survivors have expressed gratitude for sharing Lali and Gita's story and see it as a representation of their own experiences.

Lali And Gita's Fate Post-war?

In 1945, the couple got married and changed their surname to Sokolov, which sounds more Russian. Later on, they moved to Melbourne and established a textile business. They welcomed a son named Gary in 1961. Despite this, they kept the details of how they met private and never discussed it publicly. It wasn't until 2003, when Lali decided to tell the story to Heather, that Gary learned about his mother's complete past. Morris, being interviewed by The Guardian, said that his mother never talked about being in Auschwitz, not even to him.

In 2006, Lali passed away before the book about him and Gita was published. His son, Gary, shared with Sky what he wishes people will learn from the series. He wants people to believe that difficulties will eventually come to an end and to maintain a positive outlook as much as they can. He hopes that regardless of what anyone is going through, the show can inspire them by giving them a sense that there is always a future to look forward to. This message of hope is a remarkable legacy that Lali left for people to hold onto.

The show called The Tattooist Of Auschwitz can be watched on Sky Atlantic or NOW TV.

Laura Martin works independently as a journalist who focuses mostly on popular culture.