The Autobiography, The End of Days, by Helen Sendyk, formally known as Helcia Stapler, is a portrayal of her life as a child growing up during the Holocaust. The book begins by telling about young Helcia’s life before the war and then progresses through her life in concentration camps. It then goes on to tell about her return home.
Helcia Stapler grows up in Poland along with four brothers and three sisters. Her father makes money for the family through a store he owns in town and her mother spends most of her time taking care of Goldzia, Helcia’s sister who contracted Polio as a child, causing her to become an invalid. Helcia spends her time going to school and running errands for her family when she gets home.
The Germans then take over Poland causing all the Jews living there to be sent to concentration camps if they are caught. Helcia’s family is split up and taken to different camps. They do not know if any other family member is alive. At the camps, Helcia has to work long hours to earn her daily ration of food. Many people die from lack of proper nourishment and from sickness. The Russians then attack Germany and liberate Poland causing the prisoners to be released.
Helcia returns home after being in the German camp to find out that she does not know anyone living there. Years later, after moving away from Poland, Helcia learns what happened to her family during the war. She learns that one sister and one brother are the only ones from her family besides herself to survive World War II’s Holocaust. This book is a true account of Helcia’s life and her struggle to live through the anti-semitism that faces all Jews during this time
