Surviving Stutthof

Based on actual events, Surviving Stutthof is a tale of survival, hope, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit.

As the first Russian bombs drop on Oulu, Finland, in early 1940 during the Winter War, Aarne Kovala is a young boy with a great love of the sea. While the war rages, Aarne takes fate into his own hands and joins the Finnish merchant marines. He spends his days delivering war materials between Finland, Poland, and Germany.

But when Finland’s ties with Germany are severed after the signing of the Moscow Armistice in 1944, Aarne and his fellow sailors are arrested by the Nazis and sent by cattle car to the infamous Stutthof concentration camp deep in the Polish forest.

And thus begins Aarne’s horrific struggle to survive amid dreadful living conditions, scarce food, and grueling work details. In the only letter he is allowed to send home, he prays, “I hope the day soon dawns that we again may meet.” But after months of dark nights and even darker days, how long can his hope survive?

Surviving Stutthof was nominated for a Northern Lit Award in 2018.

PURCHASE

REVIEWS

Liisa Kovala has achieved something extraordinary in telling her father’s remarkable story: she has turned living history into living art. Surviving Stutthof reads like a novel, but there is never any question that it is delivering a universal truth.

—Wayne Grady, Award-winning author of Emancipation Day

Liisa Kovala’s Surviving Stutthof is a poignant, lyrical and atmospheric memoir … the book is not only filled with tension and vivid imagery, but also with the complexity and unique layers of humanity.

—Mark Leslie, author. editor, and book publisher

Kovala's writing is laconic yet evocative. She offers readers a sensorial exploration of the camp, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be. The suffering is palpable, yet readers will rejoice in each of the minor victories. In this personal labor of love, the care Kovala takes in recounting her father's experience is evident on every page. A valuable, unique addition to the canon of survivor stories.

—Kirkus Reviews

Read this. It will make you a better person.

—Marina Nemat, best selling author of Prisoner of Tehran and After Tehran: A Memoir.