History of Sorts

On June 20, 1942, the SS guard at the Auschwitz exit was visibly shaken. In front of him idled the car of Rudolf Höss, commandant of the notorious concentration camp. Inside were four armed SS men. One of them—a second lieutenant, or Untersturmführer—was shouting and cursing furiously.

“Wake up, you buggers!” he bellowed in German. “Open up or I’ll open you up!”

Panicked, the guard hurried to lift the barrier. The powerful vehicle surged forward and disappeared down the road.

But had the guard looked more carefully, he might have noticed something unusual: the men inside were pale, drenched in sweat, and gripped by fear.

Kazimierz Piechowski’s Daring Escape from Auschwitz: A Tale of Courage, Deception, and Defiance

Kazimierz Piechowski’s escape from Auschwitz on June 20, 1942, stands as one of the most extraordinary acts of resistance during World War II. His escape, executed with military precision and daring ingenuity, not only defied the Nazi regime but also became a symbol of unyielding human spirit and the will to survive against impossible odds. This essay delves into the historical context of the escape, the planning and execution, its significance, and the legacy Piechowski left behind.

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Historical Context

Auschwitz, the most infamous of Nazi concentration and extermination camps, was established by the Third Reich in 1940 in German-occupied Poland. Initially designed to hold political prisoners, it quickly expanded into a death camp where over a million people—predominantly Jews—were murdered. Among the early prisoners were Polish resistance members, soldiers, and intellectuals deemed threats to Nazi control.

Kazimierz Piechowski, born on October 3, 1919, in Tczew, Poland, was a Boy Scout and patriot. Following the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, Piechowski joined the resistance but was captured by the Gestapo while trying to flee to France to join the Polish Army. He was sent to Auschwitz as prisoner number 918 in June 1940, just days after the camp had been opened. His life at the camp was filled with forced labor, brutal conditions, and constant threats of execution.

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Planning the Escape

By mid-1942, Piechowski and his fellow inmates realized that survival in Auschwitz was almost impossible. The idea of escape became not only a bid for freedom but also a form of resistance against the brutal oppression of the Nazis.

Piechowski’s escape was not a spontaneous act but a carefully calculated operation involving three other prisoners:

1. Stanisław Gustaw Jaster – A fellow Polish resistance member and friend.
2. Eugeniusz Bendera – A mechanic with experience in driving vehicles, particularly military ones.
3. Józef Lempart – A priest who had suffered greatly under the Nazis and brought spiritual fortitude to the group.

Bendera, who worked in the motor pool, became a key figure in the plan. His access to vehicles and knowledge of German procedures allowed the group to concoct a daring idea: they would steal a car and impersonate SS officers.

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Execution of the Escape

The escape took place on June 20, 1942, and was executed with astonishing audacity. The plan was to exploit internal weaknesses in camp procedures and use disguises and deception to walk out of Auschwitz’s front gate.

1. Uniforms and Disguises: The first step was to acquire SS uniforms. Piechowski and his group broke into a storage room where uniforms and weapons were kept. They dressed as high-ranking SS officers and armed themselves with rifles and pistols, completing the illusion.
2. Stealing the Car: Bendera managed to access the garage and start up the Steyr 220, a staff car used by the SS. The sight of SS officers in a staff car added legitimacy to their ruse.
3. Bluffing Through the Gate: Perhaps the most dangerous part of the escape was passing through the main gate of Auschwitz, guarded by armed SS men. Piechowski, fluent in German, barked orders at the guards with authority, demanding that the gate be opened. He shouted, “Open the gate, you dogs! Don’t you see we are SS men?” The bluff worked. The guards, intimidated by the display of authority, opened the gate.
4. Freedom: Once outside the camp, the group drove for miles before abandoning the car in the forest and dispersing. They had pulled off one of the most improbable escapes in the history of Auschwitz.

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After the Escape

Each of the four men went their separate ways, facing continued danger from German forces. Kazimierz Piechowski managed to avoid recapture and eventually joined the Armia Krajowa (Home Army), continuing to resist the Nazis. After the war, however, his story did not end in peace. Under the new communist regime in Poland, Piechowski was again imprisoned in 1951 for his involvement with anti-communist resistance, serving seven years.

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Significance and Legacy

Piechowski’s escape was more than an act of personal salvation; it was a psychological victory over the Nazi machinery of death. At a time when Auschwitz was believed to be inescapable, his feat proved otherwise. It also embarrassed the SS, who subsequently executed prisoners in retaliation and tightened security across all camps.

The escape has been the subject of numerous documentaries, books, and films. In the 2006 documentary “Kazik and the Kommander’s Car”, Piechowski himself recounted the story, offering first-hand insight into his motivations and the sheer risk involved. His life became a testament to resilience, courage, and moral clarity in the face of overwhelming evil.

In 2017, at the age of 98, Kazimierz Piechowski died in Gdańsk, Poland. His funeral was attended by dignitaries and survivors alike, honoring a man who had defied one of history’s most brutal regimes.

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Kazimierz Piechowski’s escape from Auschwitz is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. In a place designed to strip individuals of hope and identity, he and his companions reclaimed both through sheer will, intellect, and bravery. His story is not only a chronicle of escape but also an enduring legacy of resistance against tyranny. It encourages future generations to uphold justice, question authority, and never surrender to oppression—even when the odds seem insurmountable.

“We did it for all those who could not.”

“We knew one thing: we had to escape. And we were ready to die trying.”
— Kazimierz Piechowski

Kazimierz Piechowski died in December 2017, aged 98

sources

https://www.timesofisrael.com/kazimierz-piechowski-leader-of-daring-auschwitz-escape-dies-at-98/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/kazimierz-piechowski-early-auschwitz-prisoner-who-led-a-risky-escape-by-car-dies-at-98/2017/12/17/e77ded92-e33e-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html

Kazimierz Piechowski escaped from Auschwitz camp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazimierz_Piechowski

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/11/i-escaped-from-auschwitz

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