© 2026 Avi Friedman
University of Calgary Press
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 1N4
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All rights reserved.
The illustrations in this book are in the public domain or have been created, drawn, or photographed by the author. In case of omissions, the author and the publisher will include appropriate acknowledgement or correction in any subsequent editions.
This book is available in an Open Access digital format published under a CC-BY-NCND 4.0 Creative Commons license. The publisher should be contacted for any commercial use which falls outside the terms of that license.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Sole survivor : a family story of genesis, annihilation and survival / Avi Friedman.
Names: Friedman, Avi, 1952- author
Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20260121169 | Canadiana (ebook) 20260121177 | ISBN 9781773856902 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781773856919 (softcover) | ISBN 9781773856940 (Open Access PDF) | ISBN 9781773856933 (PDF) | ISBN 9781773856926 (EPUB)
Subjects: LCSH: Friedman, Avi, 1952-—Family. | LCSH: Friedman, Avi, 1952-—Travel—Poland. | LCSH: Friedman family. | LCSH: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)—Poland—Personal narratives. | LCSH: Jewish families—Poland—Biography. | LCSH: Jews—Poland—Biography. | LCSH: Holocaust survivors—Poland—Biography. | LCSH: Holocaust victims—Poland—Biography. | LCGFT: Biographies. | LCGFT: Family histories.
Classification: LCC DS134.55 .F75 2026 | DDC 940.53/180922438—dc23
The University of Calgary Press acknowledges the support of the Government of Alberta through the Alberta Media Fund for our publications. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. We acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program.
The manufacturer’s authorized representative in the EU for product safety is Mare Nostrum Group, B.V., Doelen 72, 4831 GR Breda, The Netherlands. Email: gpsr@mare-nostrum.co.uk
Copy editing by Brian Scrivener
Cover images: Map of Litzmannstadt Ghetto and photograph of the Radegast train station. Map and photograph by the author.
Cover design, page design, and typesetting by Melina Cusano