Poland
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Rutka Laskier’s Teenage Account of the Holocaust Rutka Laskier was just 14 years old when she was murdered in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. In the months leading up to her death, much like Anne Frank in Amsterdam, Rutka kept a diary documenting her deepest thoughts, fears, and the horrors she witnessed. When the Nazis…
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Amid the horrors of the Nazi death camps, some managed to survive. Among them were David Szumiraj and his wife, Perla, who met in Auschwitz. David Szumiraj arrived at Auschwitz in late 1942. His left forearm was branded with the number 1 4 5 0 8 6.While working in the potato fields, he often found…
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Officially known as the Jewish Organization for the Maintenance of Public Order (German: Jüdischer Ordnungsdienst; Polish: Żydowska Służba Porządkowa), Jewish police units were established under Nazi occupation in most East European ghettos. Their creation was closely tied to the establishment of ghettos, which removed Jewish populations from general police jurisdiction and necessitated an alternative system…
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I am certain this piece will stir emotions and likely spark controversy. Some may question, “Why choose this subject?” However, to truly understand the Holocaust—both for future generations and ourselves—it is essential to explore all aspects, no matter how difficult. Recently, I came to understand how deeply important it was for many Holocaust survivors to…
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On March 26, 1942, nearly 1,000 women were transported from the Ravensbrück concentration camp to Auschwitz. Most were labeled as “criminals” or “asocials.” Just a few hours later, another transport arrived—this time, almost 1,000 Jewish women from Slovakia. This marked the first official transport of women to Auschwitz. Rather than detailing the event itself, I…
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Most photographs from the Holocaust era capture the harrowing moments when death camps were liberated—such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, where over a million prisoners perished. However, few images exist depicting the camps in operation. One exception is an album of photographs discovered by a U.S. Army officer after the war. This album provides a rare glimpse into…
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Introduction The Katyn Massacre remains one of the most tragic and controversial events of World War II. It was a mass execution carried out by the Soviet secret police (NKVD) in the spring of 1940, targeting thousands of Polish military officers, intellectuals, and other prominent figures. The event not only deepened Polish-Soviet hostilities but also…
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The following are firsthand testimonies from individuals who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust—victims, perpetrators, and liberators. Their words speak for themselves, reflecting the unimaginable suffering, moral depravity, and moments of salvation experienced during this dark chapter in history. While I do not specify who is who, the context and language of each testimony…
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Betje Bierman was the second child of Levie Bierman and Sara Italiaander. She was born in Amsterdam on September 8, 1897, and married there on April 10, 1918, to diamond cutter Abraham Katwijk, the son of Jacob Katwijk and Sara Gobes, who was also born in Amsterdam on May 1, 1894. After Betje and Abraham…
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Initially, I set out to write a blog about Mengele’s experiments on children, especially twins, but I found myself unable to continue. The haunting images of those innocent eyes made it impossible for me to proceed with my research. What makes this all the more disturbing is a point I’ve raised before: Josef Mengele didn’t…
History of Sorts 