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The Ticket Collector from Belarus
- An Extraordinary True Story of Britain's Only War Crimes Trial
- Narrated by: Luke Thompson
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
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The Ticket Collector from Belarus
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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.
Critic reviews
"Brilliantly gripping." (Sunday Times)
"Compelling." (Daily Mail)
"Heart-rending." (Sunday Telegraph)
"Excellent." (The Times)
"Engrossing." (Independent)
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What listeners say about The Ticket Collector from Belarus
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-05-22
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. G. Moynihan
- 05-11-22
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cristo
- 15-08-22
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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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- NutwoodWanderer
- 19-06-22
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sam M.
- 28-01-22
Astounding.
An utterly astounding book with captivating narration - I can’t recommend this title enough: read this book!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Alix Taylor
- 11-09-23
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dave
- 19-05-23
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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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richie P
- 11-04-23
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gerry Tollan
- 24-12-22
Must Read
This is a must read book, with a troubling story beautifully told and leaves the listener thoughtful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 24-12-22
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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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