Polish Citizens in Kl Auschwitz Polish Citizens in Kl Auschwitz

Home , Halina Birenbaum, Israel Gutman, Radom Ghetto, Rutka Laskier, Zawiercie

POLISH CITIZENS IN POLISH CITIZENS IN KL AUSCHWITZ KL AUSCHWITZ

HALINA BIRENBAUM BATSZEWA DAGAN

Was born in 1929 in Warsaw, survived the Warsaw the war, she emigrated to Israel. She is a writer Born in 1925 in Łódź as Izabella Rubinstein. She gether with other female prisoners she was evac- ghetto. Her father was taken to Treblinka and and a poet. She is the author of the following fled from her hometown with her parents and uated to Ravensbrück and to Malchow. On 2 May, murdered there. She, together with her mother books: Hope is the Last to Die, Return to the fore- siblings to Radom when Germans entered Łódź. 1945, she was freed by the British Army. After lib- and sister-in-law, was transferred to the camp fathers’ land, Each regained day, Call for remem- She got involved in a secret youth organisation eration, she moved to Palestine, where together in Majdanek in Lublin, where her mother died. brance, Remote and close echoes – meeting the Hashomer Hacair whilst at the ghetto in Radom. with her husband Paul she changed her name to Then, Halina Birenbaum was taken to Auschwitz- youth and a collection of poems. Halina Biren- Part of her responsibility there was to travel to the Dagan. She is the author of publications for chil- -Birkenau, subsequently to Ravensbrück and baum meets the youth in Israel, Poland, Germany, Warsaw ghetto from where she smuggled the dren and youth used in teaching about the Holo- Neustadt-Glewe, were she was liberated. After Italy, as well as in other countries. “Pod Prąd” magazine to Radom. In 1942, she es- caust: What happened during the Holocaust: caped from Radom ghetto and used false docu- Rhymed tale for children who want to know, Czika, ments to travel to Germany. After several months, the Dog in the Ghetto, If stars could talk. A collec- she was arrested and sent to Auschwitz, where tion of poems Imagination: Blessed Be, Cursed be: she stayed until the beginning of 1945, when to- Reminiscences from There.

The evil of Auschwitz, unconscious and unexplored that smoulders undisturbed, returns Life is a one-time gift! Sorrows come uninvited, but you can create joys by yourself in increasing terrorism, anti-Semitism and racism that evolve into scenes of public, and try anew every day. In the era in which we live, interpersonal communication unpunished decapitation of humans in the eyes of the entire world, only because has weakened due to inventions of new media. these people are different. I am terrified when I look at the surrounding world. Just remember! Smartphones cannot replace friendship and love between people! I say to myself that if Auschwitz could have thrived legally and unpunished Enjoy what can be enjoyed, and do not give in to bad thoughts. for so many years, then everything, even the worst thing, is possible. The sun comes out after each thunderstorm. You cannot be astonished but you must recognise in time, counteract and prevent further tragedies, anarchy and crime. Batszewa Dagan Auschwitz Survivor Halina Birenbaum Auschwitz Survivor Recommended literature: Recommended literature: If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their memoirs: memoirs:

• Czesław Kempisty, Survive a day. Memoirs from the years 1941–1951, Wrocław 1989 • Czesław Kempisty, Survive a day. Memoirs from the years 1941–1951, Wrocław 1989 • Bogdan Bartnikowski, Childhood in a striped uniform, Oświęcim 2016 • Bogdan Bartnikowski, Childhood in a striped uniform, Oświęcim 2016 • Rutka Laskier, Journal, ed. Adam Szydłowski, Będzin 2008 • Rutka Laskier, Journal, ed. Adam Szydłowski, Będzin 2008 • Marian Turski, My happiest day, Oświęcim 2011 • Marian Turski, My happiest day, Oświęcim 2011

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The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz

Project producer: Project producer: State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau Fundacja Wiara i Prawda (Faith and Truth Foundation) Fundacja Wiara i Prawda (Faith and Truth Foundation)

Production financed by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System Production financed by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System as part of the program supporting activities related to national memory as part of the program supporting activities related to national memory POLISH CITIZENS IN POLISH CITIZENS IN KL AUSCHWITZ KL AUSCHWITZ

JÓZEF GARLIŃSKI WITOLD PILECKI

Was born on 14 October, 1913 in Kiev. In 1926, He was awarded a PhD at London School of Eco- Was born in 1901. As a scout he participated in committed by the Nazists in Auschwitz. After he became a student of the Corps of Cadets in nomics and Political Science. He published nearly the defence of Vilnius. He was also a volunteer escaping from the camp (at night 26/27 April, Rawicz. He passed his “Matura” exam in 1934 in twenty books. The most popular ones include: in the Polish-Bolshevik war. At the outbreak of 1943), he took part in the Warsaw Uprising, being Kalisz and went to law school at the University of Fighting Auschwitz: The Resistance Movement in the the Second World War, he fought for his Home- subsequently detained in POW camps. After the Warsaw. He participated in the defense of Poland Concentration Camp, Hitler's Last Weapons: The Un- land. He was the co-organiser of the Secret Polish war, he served in the Second Corps of General in September 1939. After coming back to Warsaw derground War Against the V1 and V2, The Enigma Army which later became a part of ZWZ/AK. In Władysław Anders. In the last months of 1945, the from German captivity, he joined the conspiracy. War: The Inside Story of the German Enigma Codes the summer of 1940, he took a voluntary deci- Rittmeister created an informative network in He dealt with prison intelligence, i.e. contacts and How the Allies Broke Them. He was invited to sion to penetrate Auschwitz in order to establish a non-sovereign country governed by commu- with people detained by Gestapo. He was ar- lecture in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Switzer- a conspiracy network there, collect credible data nists and sent the collected data to Italy. While ful- rested on 20 April, 1943, imprisoned in Pawiak, land and Scandinavia. In Poland, he could share on SS crimes, and then prepare the camp for filling his tasks, in spring 1947, he was arrested in and then transferred to Auschwitz. Subsequently, his knowledge only after 1989. He protected the fighting when an appropriate moment arrives. Warsaw and one year later, after a long-term in- he was imprisoned in Neuengamme and its sub- good reputation of Poland on every possible oc- The Military Organisation Union (ZOW), estab- vestigation and trial, he was sentenced to death. sidiaries, where finally on 4 May, 1945, in the sub- casion and everywhere he went; he corrected lished upon his initiative, entered into collabo- The death penalty was carried out on 25 May, camp Ludwigslust, he was liberated. After the distorted information, popularised truth and ac- ration with the camp resistance movement. By 1948 despite his family’s petition for amnesty. war he decided not to go back to his country oc- complishments. He died in London on 25 Novem- means of this organisation, reports were sent to Years later, on 1 October 1990, Witold Pilecki was cupied then by the Soviets. Together with his wife ber, 2005. the Headquarters of the Union of Armed Struggle posthumously acquitted and Stalin’s sentence he lived in London where he was a history writer. (ZWZ) in Warsaw, and were passed on to London was cancelled. so that the world stayed informed about crimes

We must never forget what happened in Auschwitz. However, if we are not ready What I have written so far on these dozens of pages is not important, especially for those to forgive, then hatred will forever dwell in our hearts and in the hearts of those who will read them as sensational information. I would like to write using such huge letters, whom we hate. And this will never end. Hatred is a negative and destructive feeling, which unfortunately do not exist in typewriters, so that all these heads bearing mush and if we fail to overcome it, then our reality will end with yet another insanity. under a beautiful hair partition, that can only thank their mothers that this mush does not leak from their heads as they have well sealed skulls – let them think a bit deeper Józef Garliński about their own lives, let them look at people around them and start a fight from Auschwitz Prisoner themselves, with their falsehood, hypocrisy, interest cunningly underlying ideas, truth and even a great cause.

Rittmeister Witold Pilecki Auschwitz Prisoner Recommended literature: Recommended literature: If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their memoirs: memoirs:

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The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz

ISRAEL GUTMAN JANINA IWAŃSKA

Was born in 1923 in Warsaw. As a member of the a popular Jewish historian cooperating with the Was born on 12 June, 1930 in Warsaw. She spent Together with others, Janina was led to the tran- Jewish Combat Organisation (ŻOB), on 19 April, Hebrew University in Jerusalem and with Yad her childhood in Wola where she started her edu- sit camp in Pruszków and then transferred to 1943, when the uprising broke out in the Warsaw Vashem – the World Holocaust Remembrance cation. Her father was arrested during the Second Auschwitz. She survived the death march and ghetto, he joined the fighting. He was a prisoner Centre. Israel Gutman is an author of numerous World War. On 1 August, 1944, when The Warsaw was liberated in Ravensbrück camp. After the war, in German concentration camps in Majdanek, in publications concerning Jewish history and exter- Uprising broke out, she was at home alone. For the she graduated from University and was awarded Auschwitz-Birkenau and in Mauthausen-Gusen. mination. In the years 2000–2012, he was a vice- first eight days of the fighting, she coped on her a PhD in Pharmacy. Currently, she lives in Warsaw, After the war, he emigrated to Israel where he was president of the International Auschwitz Council. own, with the help of older tenants in the build- she meets the youth whom she talks to about her a witness in the trial of Adolf Eichmann. He was He died on 1 October, 2013 in Jerusalem. ing where her entire family lived before the war. war experiences.

Our mission is not only to provide a warning, but to teach people that a cordial attitude I will not say much because I do not know how to speak gracefully. I think that youth towards another person, the understanding of a person suffering and helping him, must remember our history, what was bad in it and the reason why it happened. as well as striving for unity and peace, is our ultimate goal. Youth must understand that the future belongs to them and now it will be their turn to write history. Will they be remembered as those we recall negatively? Israel Gutman Will they do something positive what will be remembered well Auschwitz Survivor by future generations? Dr Janina Iwańska Auschwitz Prisoner Recommended literature: Recommended literature: If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their memoirs: memoirs:

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The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz

CZESŁAW KEMPISTY MARIAN TURSKI

Was born in 1925 in Ostrów Mazowiecka. As senhausen, where he was liberated. After the Was born in 1926 in Druskininkai (presently in Marian Turski is a historian and journalist, author, a 16-years-old boy he was arrested together with war he became a medical doctor, he conducted Lithuania). He lived in Łódź. In April 1940, he and co-author and editor of a few books. Since 1958 his father, Józef and elder brother, Zygmunt for research on the war pathology of children and his family were sent to the Łódź ghetto; later, in he has been involved with “Polityka” weekly. He belonging to a secret organisation. After being minor prisoners of Nazi concentration camps. He August 1944, he was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau is also the vice-president of the Jewish Historical interrogated in Pawiak prison in Warsaw, he was is the author of the memoirs Survive a day and camp. He worked in one of Auschwitz sub-camps Institute Association in Poland, a member of the sent to Auschwitz, and then after two years in The continuation of Nuremberg cases. in Czechowice. In January 1945, after the “death International Auschwitz Council and the president the camp he was sent to Ravensbrück and Sach- march”, he reached Buchenwald and then There- of the Council of the Museum of the History of sienstadt. After many weeks of convalescence, he Polish Jews. In 1997 he was awarded a Comman- came back to his country. He lived and studied der’s Cross with Star – Order of Polonia Restituta. in Wałbrzych and Wrocław, and then in Warsaw.

It is not easy to constantly bring back history from the past and cast it on a rebuilt world The worst was HUMILIATION! You were not treated as a human being – especially when you where young generations now live. All that needs to have been said, has been told: were a Jew and just because you were a Jew – you were not treated even as an animal crimes, exterminations, individual and collective murders. All that remains but like an insect, louse, nit, cockroach, bedbug. And what do you do with are the last wills of those who died and the obligation to remember them, a nit or a cockroach? You must crush it, smother and destroy it. their pain, their courage, and their fight. A remembrance which is hope for future generations that what happened on this soil will never repeat itself. Therefore, when today people, especially young ones, ask me: What do you remember from those experiences? What could you say to contemporary people? From all Czesław Kempisty the words and sciences, if I could use one word, I would say EMPATHY! Auschwitz Prisoner If the statement: NO MORE AUSCHWITZ is not to be a cliché, a triviality, we must learn to understand another person: DIFFERENT THAN ME, DIFFERENT THAN US! We must try to understand his way of thinking, his motives for action and point of view. If we want to live in a world with less hatred, we must try to demonstrate compassion, understanding and empathy.

Marian Turski Auschwitz Survivor Recommended literature: Recommended literature: If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their memoirs: memoirs:

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The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz

ROMAN KENT EDWARD PACZKOWSKI

Born in Łódź in 1925. His father was the owner of died during her convalescence period. In 1964, Is a Polish Roma. He was born in 1929. He lived to Buchenwald and then to Bergen-Belsen. He a textile factory. He had two elder sisters and one together with Leon, he was accepted as part of so with his parents and a large family in a wandering came back to Poland in 1947. Unfortunately, all younger brother. In 1940, his whole family went called “children’s quota” to the USA, where they group. In September 1942, together with friends the members of his family had been murdered. to the Łódź ghetto, and later in 1944 they were both lived in difficult conditions. It was difficult to and his brother, he was arrested for conspiracy Edward returned to a traditional wandering type transferred to Auschwitz. During the selection at explain who they were and where they came and detained in a prison in Radom, and then of life. In the 60’s he lived in Opole and then in the camp, Roman Kent was separated from his from. Roman Kent took up economic studies and transported to Auschwitz. He was registered as Zawiercie. He has a family and he is retired. family. One brother, Leon stayed with him and got married. He has two children and lives in New a political prisoner. In 1944 he was transferred went through other camps: Gross-Rosen, Flossen- York. He described his war experiences in memo- bürg and Dachau. Roman’s father died in the Łódź rials and a book My dog Lala. He is a member of ghetto and his mother was murdered in Ausch- the International Auschwitz Council and an ac- witz. Fortunately, with his brother they managed tivist for education about the Holocaust. to find their sisters in Sweden, but one of them

What is Auschwitz today? Auschwitz is no longer just a word. It is an expression of evil. Every time I come to Auschwitz, all my nightmares become alive again. I feel this acute fear The worst evil that humanity could experience then, and I hope that it will never and anxiety, I see all these faces, I feel the scent. Despite all this, I want to come back here happen again. I dread that Auschwitz in the near future may become only and I want to talk about my past because I feel this is my duty. When I tell the youth a minor footnote in history. And that would be a tragedy for humanity – about everything what happened here, I know that I will feel ill. For me, it is like digging if we forgot about Auschwitz. in an unhealed wound. But I want to talk. I want to warn them so that this nightmare never happens again, so that the past is a lesson for tomorrow. Our only fault was that Roman Kent we were Roma people, that was the reason we were killed. I always repeat not to throw Auschwitz Survivor everyone into the same bag because that is what caused the evil of Auschwitz to win. In that time a human was not important but his race and nationality. Keep your eyes wide open and do not allow race nor religion to become the basis for assessing a human. This always brings consequences. React to each sign of hatred, draw conclusions from the past, and do not let the past come back.

Edward Paczkowski Auschwitz Prisoner Recommended literature: Recommended literature: If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their If you want to learn more about the Heroes of the lesson, you can read their memoirs: memoirs:

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The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz The History of Polish citizens in KL Auschwitz