Józef Garliński

Who was Józef Garliński?

Józef Garliński was a Polish historian and prose writer. He wrote many notable books on the history of World War II, some of which were translated into English. In particular, his book Fighting Auschwitz, translated into English in 1975, became a best-seller.

He studied at the Jesuit school Zakład Naukowo-Wychowawczy Ojców Jezuitów w Chyrowie. Garliński participated in the Polish Defensive War of 1939 and was a member of the Armia Krajowa. He was arrested by the Germans and imprisoned in Pawiak, later in Auschwitz and Neuengamme German concentration camps. Garliński was prisoner number 121421 at the Auschwitz camp and had arrived on May 13, 1943 on the same transport as Jerzy Chmielewski, after which they were both sent to a Penal Company.

After the war Garliński settled in Great Britain.