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  • The Ticket Collector from Belarus

  • An Extraordinary True Story of Britain's Only War Crimes Trial
  • By: Mike Anderson, Neil Hanson
  • Narrated by: Luke Thompson
  • Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (233 ratings)

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The Ticket Collector from Belarus cover art

The Ticket Collector from Belarus

By: Mike Anderson,Neil Hanson
Narrated by: Luke Thompson
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Summary

The UK's only war crimes trial took place in 1999 and had its origins in the horrors of the Holocaust, but only now in The Ticket Collector from Belarus can the full story be told.

The Ticket Collector from Belarus tells the remarkable story of two interwoven journeys. Ben-Zion Blustein and Andrei Sawoniuk were childhood friends in 1930s Domachevo, a holiday and health resort in what is now Belarus. During the events that followed the Nazi invasion in 1941, they became the bitterest of enemies. After the war, Ben-Zion made his way to Israel, and ‘Andrusha the bastard’ to England, where he found work as a British Rail ticket collector in London.

They next confronted each other in the Old Bailey, more than half a century later, where one was the principal prosecution witness and the other charged with a fraction of the number of murders he was alleged to have committed. There was no physical evidence, just one man’s word against another, leaving the jury with a series of agonising dilemmas: could any witness statement be trusted so long after the event? Was Andrusha a brutal killer, a hapless pawn or a scapegoat? And were his furious protests a sign of guilt or the justified anger of an innocent old man? 

Mike Anderson was gripped by the story, and so began his quest to find the truth about this astonishing case and the people at its heart. As he discovered, it was even more remarkable than he could ever have imagined. 

©2022 Mike Anderson and Neil Hanson (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, UK

Critic reviews

"Brilliantly gripping." (Sunday Times)

"Compelling." (Daily Mail

"Heart-rending." (Sunday Telegraph

"Excellent." (The Times

"Engrossing." (Independent

What listeners say about The Ticket Collector from Belarus

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superb

Harrowing, compelling, outstanding. a fantastic account of events during the atrocities and the efforts of the war crimes unit

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So moving.

An incredible story, horrifically graphic and detailed but absolutely necessarily so in order to tell the story. There can be few more extreme instances of the depravity to which man frequently descends in his aggression towards his fellow man. The book could be subtitled ‘A graphic example of man’s inhumanity to man.’

Having said that, the book is also a shining story of one man’s courage & determination firstly to survive, then to help others similarly tortured & assaulted through to gritty determination to see the principal source of their suffering brought to justice, albeit 50yrs late.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

More than it seems

A brilliant piece of research and writing. Not only do you understand the hell that the witnesses lived through, but also you get a real insiders’ view of the UK’s archaic legal system and the toffs that preside over it. Throw in some fascinating political and journalistic observations and you have a truly exceptional book. However, if none of the above interests you, this is not for you.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Documentary style rather than dramatisation

I have been enjoying several other books based on real events and dramatised, so was surprised and a bit disappointed that this was not in that category.

Instead a very dry narrative of events was presented, with detailed accounts of the atrocities and then the trial. With a dramatisation you are sucked into the story and the characters, whereas this was a much more academic experience.

An important account to hear, of a truly horrific set of crimes, but this mode of telling was not for me.

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1 person found this helpful

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Astounding.

An utterly astounding book with captivating narration - I can’t recommend this title enough: read this book!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Didn’t know what to expect…. Took a few hours to get into it and then I was hooked!!! Will definitely re-listen……

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Amazing story.

I don't recall this case being covered nearly as much as it should have at the time pretty much everything in the book was news to me.
a fascinating story really well narrated. I don't need to go into much detail on the subject matter as the back cover is more than enough. How the story unfolds is incredible and how well written and put together this is is also top work the story flows very well. I came away with mixed feelings on the whole terrible saga and have so many questions ones which will never be answered. The passing of time does nothing to reduce the horrors of world war 2 and this book serves to reenforce that fact.
well worth a read/listen.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Chilling and enlightening

Horrific subject which was sensitively related and engaging. Well written and narrated.
I was concerned that having been a regular user of the station at the material time it was possible I dealt with this man. Evil.

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Must Read

This is a must read book, with a troubling story beautifully told and leaves the listener thoughtful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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War crimes on trial

A fascinating insight into Britain's initial search for ex Nazi war criminals and its reluctance to bring the sustects to trial.

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  • Sue N.
  • 21-04-22

a captivating sequel of events

This is not just a war crime trial - it also gives an in depth account of the complexities of bringing a war criminal to justice. Intriguing story line as well as a detailed description of life during the German occupation in Eastern Europe.

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