Franceska Mann (February 4, 1917 – October 23, 1943)
Franceska Mann was a talented dancer from Warsaw, Poland, celebrated for her beauty and skill in both classical and modern ballet. Before World War II, she studied under renowned dance teacher Irena Prusicka. She counted notable figures such as Wiera Gran and Stefania Grodzieńska among her friends. In 1939, she placed 4th in an international dance competition in Brussels out of 125 competitors, solidifying her reputation as one of Poland’s most promising young dancers.
At the onset of World War II, Mann performed at the Melody Palace nightclub in Warsaw. However, as the war progressed, she found herself imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto. After Nazi Germany occupied Poland, she managed to escape the ghetto. She went into hiding on the “Aryan” side of Warsaw.
In the spring of 1943, the German authorities announced that Polish Jews with visas to neutral South American countries would be allowed to emigrate. Mann either obtained or forged one of these visas and sought refuge at the “Hotel Polski,” which had been converted into a transit camp by the Nazis.
Despite this promise, the supposed neutrality of these South American countries was a tragic illusion. These nations, which later harbored many Nazi war criminals after 1945, did nothing to save the Jews at “Hotel Polski.” Instead, the Jews were first deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and, on October 23, 1943, to Auschwitz.
Upon arrival at Auschwitz, the Jews were falsely told that they needed to be “disinfected” before crossing the Swiss border. While some began complying with orders to undress and enter the gas chambers, others hesitated, reluctant to part with their clothing, which held their precious travel documents. The SS officers grew increasingly aggressive, brandishing weapons and beating the prisoners with sticks.
Franceska Mann, known for her striking beauty even in such dire circumstances, caught the eye of SS officer Josef Schillinger.
As she undressed, she suddenly threw a piece of clothing at him, striking him in the head. When Schillinger reached for his pistol, Mann seized the opportunity, grabbed his gun, and shot him twice, fatally wounding him. She also shot and wounded another SS officer, Wilhelm Emmerich, who survived but was permanently disabled.
Inspired by Mann’s courageous act, other prisoners joined in and attacked the guards, injuring two more SS men. Unfortunately, the resistance was short-lived, as the prisoners were overpowered by machine gun fire and either shot or forced into the gas chambers.
Sources
https://www.shalomadventure.com/jewish-life/shoah/the-three-bullets-of-francesca-mann
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