Denis Avey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 11 January 1919 Essex, England |
| Died | 16 July 2015 (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 |
| Awards | British Hero of the Holocaust |
| Other work | Engineer author |
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]
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.
- ^ Broomby, Rob (16 March 2010). "How a BBC investigation found genuine 'Hero of the Holocaust'" (PDF). Ariel. p. 5. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ Harrison, Keith (19 October 2012). "Qualification of Award of British Hero of the Holocaust Award 2010". whatdotheyknow.com. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ Walters, Guy (17 November 2011). "The curious case of the 'break into Auschwitz'". New Statesman. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ Graham, Alison (2014). "Witness to Auschwitz". Radio Times. Retrieved 20 September 2014.