Memories of Auschwitz from those who survived
Dennis Urstein on working in Auschwitz II-Birkenau
Dennis Urstein was a Kanada Kommando in Auschwitz who collected inmates' belongings they were forced to leave behind. He reflects on witnessing the arrivals of new inmates to Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
Agnes Kun on working in Auschwitz
Language: English
Agnes Kun worked in the hospital at Auschwitz II-Birkenau as an assistant nurse. She recalls Josef Mengele, particularly his presence at the hospital.
Language: English
Anna Heilman remembers helping her sister, Ester Wajcblum, smuggle gunpowder to aid in the Sonderkommando uprising at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Ester Wajcblum was hanged publicly in the camp on January 1, 1945.
Dennis Urstein on working in Auschwitz II-Birkenau
Language: English
Dennis Urstein was a Kanada Kommando in Auschwitz who collected inmates' belongings they were forced to leave behind. He reflects on witnessing the arrivals of new inmates to Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
Dina Gottliebova-Babbitt on life in Auschwitz
Language: English
Dina Gottliebova-Babbitt remembers painting a mural based on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" on a wall in one of the children's barracks at Auschwitz II-Birkenau, Poland.
Ellis Lewin on arriving at Auschwitz
Language: English
Ellis Lewin describes the horror of arriving at Auschwitz; he remembers stepping out of the cattle car and witnessing barking dogs, chaos, separation of women from men, and beatings by Nazis.
Erna Anolik on arriving at Auschwitz
Language: English
Erna Anolik recalls the intake procedures at Auschwitz, including shaving off her hair, undressing in front of soldiers, and only being given a grey dress and wooden shoes.
Eugene Zinn on working at Auschwitz
Language: English
Eugene Zinn recounts how he was forced to dig up mass graves because of the stench and his attempt to burn the bodies with wood and kerosene.
Hellmuth Szprycer on arriving to Auschwitz
Language: English
Hellmuth Szprycer recalls the arrival to Auschwitz II-Birkenau from Theresienstadt. He reflects on the chaos at the camp once he stepped out of the cattle car.
Herschel Balter on music in Auschwitz
Language: English
Herschel Balter reflects on how important music was to him while imprisoned in Auschwitz II-Birkenau. He sings the same lullaby he used to sing while in the camp.
Itka Zygmuntowicz on music in Auschwitz
Language: English
Itka Zygmuntowicz reflects on the camp orchestra within Auschwitz that was forced to play music while inmates were sent to the crematoria.
Kitty Hart-Moxon on Auschwitz
Language: English
Kitty Hart-Moxon recalls being able to see Crematorium 4 from her barrack window at Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
Linda Breder on abuse in Auschwitz
Language: English
Linda Breder was a Kanada Kommando in Auschwitz who collected inmates' belongings they were forced to leave behind. Linda remembers how a Nazi soldier disciplined inmates complaining of thirst. Years later Breder testified at that soldier’s war crime trial.
Renée Firestone on arriving at Auschwitz
Language: English
Renée Firestone remembers arriving at Auschwitz II-Birkenau with her sister, whom she tried desperately to hang onto so they would not be separated.
Ruth Brand on arriving at Auschwitz
Language: English
Ruth Brand recalls the horrible intake procedures at Auschwitz including shaving her head, undressing in front of soldiers and only being given one dress.