In April 1944, Rudolf Vrba and Fred Wetzler became the first Jews ever to escape Auschwitz, grappling with electrified fences, dodging watchtowers and evading the eagle-eyed SS with their vicious guard dogs in order to secure their freedom.
However, their mission didn’t stop there. After traversing treacherous terrain, Vrba began work on his next task: to reveal the horrors of the Holocaust via an eyewitness report that ultimately reached presidents, prime ministers and the Pope – and he saved over 20,000 lives.
Chronicling Vrba’s perilous story in his new book, The Escape Artist, journalist Jonathan Freedland joins us to discuss this astonishing real-life tale and its relevance today.