The Screaming Silence

The stories of Sobibor have had a profound impact on me. They have inspired me deeply, not only through their courage and tragedy, but through the way they seem to speak visually as much as through words. I have come to believe that storytelling, especially when grounded in the physical places where history unfolded, is essential. Over many years of researching Sobibor’s history and listening to the testimonies of those who were there, and of those who managed to escape, I gradually developed a visual language of my own. It became a way to translate what I was learning and feeling into imagery, and to honour the voices that guided me throughout this journey.

The beginning of what has now become a series of visual documentaries and books was sparked unexpectedly by the Netflix documentary The Devil Next Door. The story of John Demjanjuk reminded me of my childhood, watching news reports of his trial without fully understanding their significance. I could never have imagined that, forty years later, this story would lead my life in a direction so deeply connected to Holocaust history.

Equally influential was the book Escape from Sobibor by Richard Rashke. Through a descendant of one of the escapees, I was fortunate enough to make a personal connection to this legacy. Rashke’s journalism, I believe, transformed the way many survivors were able to share their stories from this period of history.

After countless hours of research and guidance from historians, most notably Chris Webb, whom I now consider both a friend and colleague, and the author of many key works on Operation Reinhardt, including The Sobibor Death Camp. I travelled through eastern Poland to document the landscapes connected to these histories. Walking for hours through forests in every season, I encountered a place that is now wild and peaceful, yet once defined by chaos and terror. This landscape revealed its stories to me quietly, through time, movement, and reflection.

I visited towns and villages where atrocities occurred, where people were actioned, and where refuge was sought. This body of work made me realise the true significance of a recent chapter of history that remains, in many ways, untold, a history that continues to shape the world we live in today. It is a vast continental landscape, layered with countless stories that demand revisiting.

Sobibor has had a life-changing effect on me. It is a place that is deeply dear to my soul, a landscape of immense historical, cultural, and environmental importance. I owe a great deal to the many people who opened doors for me in this journey of understanding. I hope that The Screaming Silence: Stories of Sobibor does justice not only to those who survived, but also to those who did not.