The romantic relationship between Helena Zitron, a beautiful Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz, and SS officer Franz Wunch remains one of the most confounding stories of Holocaust survival. Fascinating first-person accounts confirm their affair began when Helena was forced to sing at a party where she caught Wunsch's eye. Besotted, he transferred her to lighter duties, and even nursed her through typhoid. But when Helena's sister Rose arrived at the camp, a tragedy would inexorably fuse all three of their fates forever. Whether Helena was simply surviving, collaborating or truly in love would haunt both sisters, even 30 years after they fled to Israel. Meticulous historical investigation reveals that Wunch repeatedly tried to reunite with his love over the years, even requesting Helena testify at his war crimes trial in 1972. Damned first by her beauty, her will to survive and ultimately by her need to tell the truth, Helena is forced to make an impossible choice once again. Myrocia Watamaniuk

World Showcase program sponsored by