« In my “work of remembrance” I put all my effort, as we all should, into young people. To show them the horrors they could be lead to, as many of their forebears were. To show what happens when there is inaction in the face of injustice, exclusion and barbarity. In this ‘“work of remembrance” we must also remind young people that the executioners were ordinary people, just like any of us. So, we must be vigilant as to how we respond to others, so we do not in turn become their executioners. » 

Sam BRAUN

Book of interviews with teaching notes

“Not a soul would have believed me, so I kept quiet” – Interview with Stéphane Guinoiseau

It would take forty years for Sam Braun to tell his story, until the day he decided to break his silence and undertake a work of remembrance. Sam gained quite exceptional wisdom from his imprisonment at Buna-Monowitz, one of many camps in the Auschwitz complex of concentration camps.

Stéphane Guinoiseau has brought together this extraordinarily rich story which gives a detailed and sincere account of surviving the camps. Sam discusses about how hard it was for him to start talking about his experience, whilst he maintains the sensitivity to speak to us about humanism.

Entretien avec Stéphane Guinoiseau

“Not a soul would have believed me, so I kept quiet” A book with accompanying teaching notes

Sam Braun was 16 years old when he was arrested with his parents and little sister by the French Milice in Clermont-Ferrand. Their crime? They were Jews in Nazi-occupied France. They were taken to Drancy, then deported to Auschwitz. Sam would come back alone. More than 60 years later, after having said nothing for a long time, Sam Braun answers, with simplicity and intelligence, detailed questions from the humanities teacher who became his friend.

This account is an indispensable resource for the study of history at all secondary-school levels. Personal tales of a universal drama. But in addition, genuine reflexions of the need to bear witness, the words of Sam Braun are a model of humanism and generosity. This book also invites students to reflect upon simple but fundamental questions: Can we forgive? Why remember? How do some people become inhumane? Why do other people choose to risk their lives to save others ?

Sam Braun - livre pédagogique