Here's why:
Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum expressed a completely different opinion, claiming that "the book contains numerous errors and information inconsistent with the facts, as well as exaggerations, misinterpretations and understatements". Moreover, researchers and representatives of the museum are concerned that people may begin to interpret the fate of concentration camp prisoners through the lens of the book, considering it a valid, substantive source of knowledge.
", the Auschwitz Museum's magazine, pointed out numerous mistakes contained in the book, ranging from minor to significant ones. Below is a list of such mistakes, which were also indicated by Wanda Witek-Malicka, a "Memoria" author.
Routes presented in the book as ones used to transport prisoners to Auschwitz are incorrect and inconsistent with existing documents; the numbers assigned to prisoners do not match either, as the ones indicated in the book were too large considering the date on which the newcomers were sent to the camp.
Unlike in the book, tattooing new arrivals was not a task assigned to just one or two people, nor was it a permanent job that a prisoner could have.
The scene describing Dr Josef Mengele sterilizing a man is contrary to historical truth as well, as Mengele experimented on twins and people with dwarfism.
The rebellion of the Sonderkommando prisoners was also different since only one crematorium, not two, was destroyed by the prisoners, and even then, this destruction was only partial. This also applies to claims about female prisoners carrying gunpowder under their fingernails, which Wanda Witek-Malicka described as "[...]ridiculous".
These are just some of the many mistakes contained in the book. Their extent prompted the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum to issue the following opinion about it:
"The novel is an impression about Auschwitz inspired by authentic events, almost without any value as a document".