The Apprentice of Buchenwald

The True Story of the Teenage Boy Who Sabotaged Hitler’s War Machine (Holocaust Survivor True Stories WWII Series)

By: Oren Schneider

Narrated by: Josh Bloomberg

Alexander Rosenberg was a smart and curious teenager who spoke many languages, collected stamps, played the violin, and lived a pampered life with his affluent parents in a tranquil Czechoslovakian town. The rise of fascism and Nazi Germany causes his protected existence to collapse, alongside the illusion of secular Jewish assimilation in 1930s Europe.

Using their last reserves of wealth and influence to escape extermination, the Rosenbergs go underground to avoid the Gestapo. Eventually exposed, captured, and taken to Buchenwald, the largest concentration camp in Germany, Alexander and his father collaborate to survive one day at a time. A chaotic chain of events puts young Alexander at the heart of a massive armament sabotage scheme. When his father is gravely injured and disappears after an air bombing, it is up to industrious Alexander to create leverage and use wartime machinations and raw talent to save his father's life.

This universal, true story of inner strength, resourcefulness and optimism was documented and written by Alexander's grandson, Oren Schneider. It is dedicated to brave people everywhere who choose not to give up.

©2023 Oren Schneider (P)2024 Tantor

An Absolutely Beautiful Story

An amazing story from the Holocaust. A timely read given history starting to repeat itself. A moving tale that we can all learn from.

Great job on an extremely difficult story to tell

Mr. Schneider did an excellent job recounting his grandfather’s experience of the Holocaust from beginning to end. Using the first-person was a great choice as it allowed insight into the confusion, uncertainty, and horror of the time. I also really appreciated how the story highlighted several key details that can so easily be glossed over or misunderstood. A few examples that stuck out to me: why more people weren’t able or didn’t think to flee until it was too late; the not-so-straightforward dynamics amongst prisoners as well as between prisoners and guards within the camps; the survivor guilt; the post-war struggle to find a place in the world. Thank you, Oren, for telling your grandfather’s story - it really is remarkable, something that needed to be recorded. Oh, and I loved hearing how his experiences shaped his and your family’s philosophy on life!

Fantastic story

Unusual that we are able to hear a true story of a survivor of a concentration camp. The story is woven with the author’s story and the enduring lessons he learned from his grandfather. Well written.