Denis Avey
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Denis Avey (11 January 1919 – 16 July 2015) was a British veteran of the Second World War who was held as a prisoner of war at E715, a subcamp of Auschwitz. While there he saved the life of a Jewish prisoner, Ernst Lobethal, by smuggling cigarettes to him.[1] For that he was made a British Hero of the Holocaust in 2010.[2]
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Denis Avey | |
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Born | (1919-01-11)11 January 1919 Essex, England |
Died | 16 July 2015(2015-07-16) (aged 96) Bakewell, Derbyshire, England |
Buried | St. Barnabas Church, Bradwell, Derbyshire, England |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1939− |
Unit | Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) |
Battles/wars | Second World War
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Awards | British Hero of the Holocaust |
Other work | Engineer author |
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Another matter is that Avey said that he exchanged uniforms with a Jewish prisoner and smuggled himself into Auschwitz to witness the treatment of Jewish inmates, whose camp was separate from but adjoined that of British POWs. His claim has been challenged.[3][4] His memoir The Man who Broke into Auschwitz, written with Rob Broomby, was published in 2011.