We all know that life can change in an instant. One moment, you’re living your normal routine, and the next, everything is turned upside down. “Extension of Life: Based on Actual Events” by Robert J. Bauman is one of those stories that reminds you how fragile safety can be and how far people will go to survive. This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a gripping, deeply personal account of how a small group of people risked everything to help Jewish men escape Austria during World War II. Bauman doesn’t just tell the story; he pulls you into it, making you feel the fear, the desperation, and the hope that fueled their fight against the Nazi regime.
“The three remaining members of our card game (Wilhelm, Klaus, and I) met for the last time on June 18, 1945 in Wilhelm’s house. Wilhelm’s wife, daughter and son were there. I brought Carol. We invited all the remaining group members and Mischa. We were there for our last supper so to speak. We bowed our heads and had a minute of silent prayer to remember Kurt and Friedrich who had been killed in the bombing of Vienna. We prayed for the other members of our group that were killed in their mission to help others escape. We prayed for all of the people, Jews, Christians, Gypsies alike, who were mercilessly exterminated by the Nazis. We gave thanks for those that survived and for those that we were able to save. Overall, we estimated that we fitted about 110 Jewish men and boys with extensions that escaped in addition to supplying the males that stayed in Vienna. We also transported even more Jewish men to safety without the extensions. We were lucky, not one of the escaping people with the extensions was caught. There were a couple of close calls but to this day since everyone was sworn to secrecy, this episode in Extension of Life Holocaust history remains an unknown, untold story – though there were some amongst us that wanted to go public with the story of our activities, which we now referred to as the “Extension of Life” for obvious reasons. “
— an excerpt from the book
Bauman takes you into a world where every decision could mean life or death. The book follows a secret network of ordinary people who did extraordinary things—smuggling Jewish men out of Austria, forging documents, and creating false identities so they could survive under Nazi rule. It wasn’t just about getting people across borders; it was about creating a believable new life for them, one that wouldn’t raise suspicion. The tension is real, and as you read, you can’t help but wonder if you would have had the courage to do the same.
One of the most powerful themes in “Extension of Life” is the cost of survival. The people who helped orchestrate these escapes weren’t professional spies or soldiers; they were friends, neighbors, and even strangers who knew that staying silent wasn’t an option. Every forged document, every train ride, and every carefully planned meeting came with the risk of being caught. Some of them paid the ultimate price. Bauman’s storytelling makes it clear that survival wasn’t just about luck—it was about sacrifice, trust, and the willingness to put others before yourself.
Another striking part of the book is how Bauman highlights the impact of identity. The “extensions” referred to in the title weren’t just fake documents; they were new lives. A name change meant a second chance, but it also meant leaving behind everything a person had ever known. Some of the men who escaped had to cut ties with their families for fear of exposing them. Others had to suppress their faith and traditions just to blend in. The book makes you think—what would you be willing to give up if it meant staying alive?
And then there’s the human side of it all. The war wasn’t just numbers and dates; it was real people with real fears, real hope, and real loss. The group’s final meeting in 1945, where they reflected on everything they had done, is one of the most emotional moments in the book. They weren’t celebrating victory, they were mourning the ones they had lost and giving thanks for those they had saved. It’s the kind of moment that stays with you long after you turn the last page.
Robert J. Bauman writes with the urgency of someone who knows that history needs to be preserved. His meticulous research and personal connections to these events make “Extension of Life” not just a book, but a piece of living history. He doesn’t just document what happened, he honors the bravery of those who risked everything. His writing is direct, immersive, and deeply personal, making this an unforgettable read.
If you’re looking for a book that pulls you in, makes you think, and leaves you changed, “Extension of Life” is it. It’s a story about the risks people took, the lives they saved, and the history that almost went untold.
“Extension of Life: Based on Actual Events” by Robert J. Bauman is now available for purchase via the Kravitz and Sons LLC Bookstore.
Extension of Life: Based on Actual Events
As a mortician, Michael Baumann, a Jew pretending to be Aryan, devised a highly unorthodox surgical procedure that converted Jews to Aryans. This helped more than 400 Jews escape from Vienna to Switzerland. With five other Jews pretending to be Aryan, an elaborate escape and spy network was created. While most of the operations were successful there were some failures. Some died so that others could live. Carefully researched, the story blends fiction with factual history incorporating actual events and people. The novel creates a realistic portrayal of Jewish life and death before and during the Nazi takeover of Austria.