Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris: five stars!

A compelling read based on a true story, Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is the second book in her acclaimed Tattooist of Auschwitz series. Alternating between her experiences at a Soviet gulag and Auschwitz-Birkenau, the book emphasizes Cilka’s time in Siberia. The hardships Cilka faces are unfathomable, but she demonstrates exceptional strength and resilience through it all. Although I often read World War II historical fiction, I haven’t read much about the Soviet prison camps. I learned so much. Strongly recommend!

We’ll look at a synopsis of the book, historical background information, and some things that struck me in Cilka’s story. I’ll focus on a historical summary of the Soviet gulags, since this information is new to me. If you’re interested in reading more about Auschwitz-Birkenau, I highlight some of its history in my post about Three Sisters by Heather Morris.

Book overview:

At just sixteen in 1942, Cilka is sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where her beauty catches the attention of the camp’s commandant. Forced into a separate existence from other female prisoners, she quickly realizes that even unwanted power can be the key to survival.

But when the war ends and the camp is liberated, Cilka is not granted freedom. Instead, she is accused of collaborating with the enemy and sentenced to a Siberian prison camp. Yet, was she ever truly given a choice? Cilka is now forced to navigate the complex moral lines of her past.

Life in Siberia brings both new struggles and cruel echoes of her previous imprisonment, including the unwanted interest of the guards. However, a compassionate female doctor takes Cilka under her wing. She begins working in the camp’s hospital, desperately trying to care for the sick under dire conditions. (Note: The photo at the top of this post was taken in Siberia.)

Surrounded by suffering and fear, Cilka discovers an inner strength she never knew she possessed. As she slowly forms bonds and connections in this harsh new world, she realizes that her heart still has room for love. Through her transformation from a young girl to a survivor and healer, Cilka’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unyielding will to endure.

Historical background:

A general overview

From the 1920s to the 1950s, millions of people were sent to Soviet gulags—isolated labor camps where political prisoners, criminals, and rebellious peasants were forced to work. Among these, the Vorkuta gulags were particularly notorious. Located over 1,000 miles from Moscow and north of the Arctic Circle, these camps housed millions of prisoners who endured grueling conditions. Spread across 130 camps, they faced harsh cold, exhausting labor, and scarce supplies. However, Soviet officials viewed the gulags as serving two key purposes: imprisoning those who opposed Soviet policies and providing a free labor force to drive industrialization.

Numbers relevant to Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris

The discovery of coal in the Komi Republic in 1930 led to the establishment of a new network of forced labor camps. In 1931, a small group of prisoners, geologists, and guards arrived to begin mining operations. One prisoner, geographer Kulevsky, later recalled the desolate landscape, describing the isolated watchtower, crude huts, and harsh wilderness. This remote coal mine quickly expanded, and by 1938, Vorkutlag housed 15,000 prisoners. By 1946, the population had grown to over 60,000. Over two decades, approximately two million people were sent to Vorkutlag, including criminals, intellectuals, and political prisoners caught up in Stalin’s Great Purge. Around 200,000 perished, while others revolted or remained in the area after the camps closed.

Work and living conditions

The idea of using this remote land for political prisoners dated back to the 1840s under Czar Nicholas I, though he deemed it unfit for human habitation. When the gulag system was implemented, prisoners arrived in overcrowded trains. Many died before even reaching Vorkuta. Initially, prisoners lived in tents, but once barracks were built, conditions remained dire. They slept in crowded bunks, had little protection from the extreme cold, and used makeshift toilets. Winters could last up to 10 months, with temperatures plummeting to -40°F and deadly snowstorms claiming lives. Prisoners worked 12-hour shifts with minimal clothing, and escape attempts were met with severe punishment.

After the time of Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris

By 1953, conditions in Vorkutlag had pushed prisoners to their limit. Following Stalin’s death, they launched a strike in July, refusing to work. On August 1, Soviet troops opened fire on the strikers, killing and injuring many. This event, known as the Vorkuta Uprising, marked the beginning of the gulag’s decline. By 1962, Vorkutlag closed, leaving behind a grim legacy of suffering and death. While many former prisoners left the region, some stayed due to lack of alternatives. The Soviet government, facing a labor shortage, encouraged new workers to move to Vorkuta by offering high wages and benefits.

As a result, Vorkuta transformed into a thriving mining city, with a peak population of 250,000 by the late 1980s. However, its fortunes declined over time. Today, only four of its original thirteen mines remain. Much of the city is abandoned, with a dwindling population of around 60,000. Historian Alan Barenberg describes its decline as inevitable, noting that the Soviet government once saw it as a symbol of industrial achievement, but now, many settlements and mines are abandoned.

Vorkuta’s future remains uncertain, but its past is marked by immense suffering. The brutal history of Vorkutlag ensures that, no matter what happens to the city, it will always be remembered as a place where hundreds of thousands endured unimaginable hardship.

What struck me most while reading Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris

The compounded impact of Cilka’s experiences in TWO prison camps

It’s just too much!! How much can one person bear? We only get glimpses into her experience at Auschwitz-Birkenau, but we do get a sense of how profoundly it changed her. During her years at Vorkuta Gulag, whenever she thinks back to Auschwitz, she always refers to it as the other place. She can’t bear to say it. Cilka wonders at the beginning of her time in Siberia whether it will make a difference that she knows the length of her sentence. Fifteen years. She also reflects that only survivors of the other place have any idea of what may happen to them all. Such terror. How she found the strength to face each day is incomprehensible.

The bond shared by the women in Cilka’s hut

Twenty women all arrived at the same time and were assigned a hut together. They learned the ways of the camp. The rhythms of daily life. Those arriving from other prison camp experiences had a better idea of what to expect. They helped the others get settled as best they could. The common hardships and cruelty really brought the women together. Cilka understood the women; even when they lashed out at each other, she understood. They ended up forming beautiful friendships. What a testament to the human need for love and connection.

Layers of good and bad

Cilka is very insightful. Even at her young age, she understands people and human nature. The book evokes a lot of thoughts about the hierarchies of good and evil. We all are capable of good things and bad things. We all judge ourselves and each other. Where do we each fit? What do our actions say about us? In what ways do our circumstances affect how we treat others? Cilka was able to move on. By the end of her time at Vorkuta Gulag, she was quite close to one of the women who had been very mean in the beginning. Many times, Cilka chose to be forgiving.

Abject cruelty and its toll

At times, Cilka struggles to reminisce about her happy childhood. Likewise, it’s hard for her to grapple with her Jewish faith. She was first imprisoned at just sixteen years of age, and everything changed so drastically for her at that time. It’s painful to remember the good times, partially because she didn’t know what had happened to most of her loved ones. How does she get past that?

From time to time, she witnesses family interactions of people beyond the camp. The love of a young mother for her child deeply moves her. Poignant. She would love to see her mother again, and she questions whether she’ll ever be able to be a mother herself. Whether she’ll even be able to open herself up to love. Her relationships with the women in her hut, and with the female doctor who befriends her, pull her through. Time and again, she’s able to put their needs ahead of her own. How she managed to be so giving and brave is amazing.

Do you have any historical fiction books you would recommend?

I’m always interested in book recommendations–please comment with your ideas. I find historical fiction to be so worthwhile. Sometimes it’s hard, but these stories need to be remembered. We can learn so much from them.

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Fondly,

Crysti