Rescue Inside Buchenwald
By Kenneth Waltzer
When President Obama visited Buchenwald, he connected the camp with the larger story of the Nazi destruction of the Jews. Accompanied by Buchenwald survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Obama laid a wreath at the camp memorial, honoring the memories of the 56,000 prisoners who died there.
But there is an additional dimension to the story of Buchenwald. This was highlighted in Obama’s presence by Volkhard Knigge, director of the Buchenwald museum. He noted the fact that veteran prisoners in the camp, amidst all the horror, sustained their humanity by protecting and saving hundreds of children in an organized effort. In a place of death, they chose to defend life — and to risk their own lives to protect the most vulnerable among them.
When elements of General George Patton’s U.S. Third Army liberated Buchenwald on April 11, 1945, American soldiers discovered 904 boys among the 21,000 male survivors. Today, these Buchenwald boys are in their 70s and early 80s, and they live around the world, with large concentrations in the United States, Israel, Canada, Australia, France and England. But for many years, despite the spectacle of their discovery at liberation, few people asked who they were or how they were still alive to be liberated.
Until recently, their story had been little known. But that is changing.
We now know that they were mostly Jewish children and youths from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Lithuania, who were brought in 1944 and 1945 to Buchenwald, some with fathers or brothers, but the majority as orphans. Most were teenagers, but a sixth of them were 12 and under. The two youngest boys were each 4 years old. Some had been in German factory labor camps in Poland until mid or late 1944. Some had been in Auschwitz and its satellite camps and were taken to Buchenwald to toil in its sub-camps in 1944. Some had been evacuated from Auschwitz and its satellites in early 1945, arriving in bad shape in open coal cars in the frigid air.
How did they manage to survive? Documentary evidence in the Red Cross International Tracing Service archives as well as scores of memoirs and testimonies by and interviews with these men indicate that their lives were saved by elements of the German communist-led international underground in the camp, together with Polish Jewish prisoners who worked closely with the underground. Key activists in the Czech and Hungarian underground national committees at Buchenwald also played important roles.
Veteran prisoners committed to protecting the youths, drawing on the influence of the German communists and their allies in the internal camp self-administration. They did what they could to keep the boys from being sent to the outer sub-camps, where slave labor was a death sentence. They clustered them in children’s barracks under tight discipline and control to minimize their contact with SS guards. They used their influence to provide access to occasional additional food and to warm clothing. They used tough discipline to keep starving youths from scavenging freely in the camp or stealing food from one another. They distributed Red Cross packages sent to other prisoners to the children.
The veteran activists even created makeshift, clandestine schools in the barracks to control the boys and to lift their minds beyond the realities of everyday camp existence. (Mordechai Strigler, who went on to be the editor of the Yiddish Forverts, was a key teacher in this effort.) Finally, in the last days, when Nazi leaders sought to march first the Jewish prisoners and then all the remaining prisoners onto the roads, the prisoner activists changed the markings on the boys’ uniforms and interceded personally on their behalf. Many activists were with the boys until liberation and after. In several images taken on April 17, six days after the camp’s liberation, these men can be seen shepherding the boys through the camp gate to the recently abandoned SS barracks.
Among the boys was little “Lulek,” Israel Meir Lau, an 8-year-old from Piotrkow, Poland, who was protected in block 8 along with several hundred other youths. He later became chief rabbi of Israel and today chairs Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. And, of course, among the older boys was Eliezer Wiesel, a 16-year-old from Sighet, Romania, who was in block 66 with hundreds of boys being looked after by the adults.
As the Allied armies advanced from the west and the east, those in the camp who acted to protect the boys clung to hope and were determined to do what they could to ensure that the youths would survive. The boys represented hope — symbols of resilience and resistance to Nazi oppression. They represented the future.
Not all the youths made it — some boys who could not be protected perished in the outer camps, and a few hundred were led out by the Nazis in the last days. But, thanks to the determination and bravery of some veteran prisoners, one of the great rescue efforts of the Holocaust occurred inside a concentration camp.
Kenneth Waltzer is a professor of history and director of the Jewish studies program at Michigan State University. He is currently completing a book about the rescue of children at Buchenwald.
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you have to be a monster to put children in a camp.i hope the ones who did so were punished.those prisoners who risked their lives to protect children were heroic.
Can't wait for your book, professor.
One of the boys in the picture is Sam Smilovic. He miraculously survived, is now 81 and lives in Canada. He published his account in a Canadian Holocaust Survivor memoir series published by Concordia University. To read it online: http://migs.concordia.ca/memoirs/smilovic/smilovic.html
Best regards to Sam, Fern. Sam Smiley's memoir is an important one. Sam was in block 8 which was overseen by Austrian Communist Franz Leitner in 1944 and by German Communist Wilhelm Hammann in 1945, both of whom have been recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. He was brought there by the deputy block elder, Frantiszek Palkowsky, a Czech Communist from Prague, "Franta." In the end, block 8 contained over 320 boys 17 and under, and about 45 boys under 12.
In 1967 I came across a newspaper clipping in the Bund Archives, taken from a Mexico City Yiddish newspaper published in June 1945. It was a letter, written on April 15, 1945 by "Jewish boys in Buchenwald". The letter referred to the dove sent out by Noah at the end of the flood to seek any remnants or signs of life. In the same way, these boys were writing to the world beyond Buchenwald to ask who and what had survived of the world they had known. Does anyone know of that letter, of its contents and of its writers?
I am one of the boys liberated in Buchenwald barrack 66 and am grateful to Prof Ken Waltzer for the research into the subject of our fortunate survival. Orriginally from Slovakia I now live in Montreal, Canada and am lucky to be happily married with 2 children 10 grandchildren and 6 great grand children. It took 60 years for me, thanks to Prof Waltzer to unravel the mistery of our lucky survival. When interviewed , one episode came to my mind to prove how valuable the underground prisoners were was when asked if I remember any of the capos etc., my answer was that all my life I hated the person who grabbed me by the neck and kicked me out from my space and pushed me into the lower camp where teen agers were kept under very strickt discipline . I was convinced that he needed my place for someone more important than I. I am now certain that he actually saved my life
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The name above is my present name. My KLB number in Buchewald was 23730 which belonged to a Russian soldier previously. I unlike Mayer Schondorf was amongst a group selected from block 66 for the march out from Buchenwald. I was in the back of this column and for some reason close to the "appeal platz" dropped into the mud outside the French Block. When the column passed me I was dragged into one of the block in the "Big Camp" and the inmates saved me from the death march. I would not be here now if not for the inmates who saved my life.
Hello Mayer in Canada and Frank in Australia. Yes, the population of block 66 grew to 900-1000 boys by March and early April 1945. During the final week, when the Nazis sought, first, to round up Jews and send them out, and then second, to march out all hte prisoners onto the roads and evacuate nearly all from the camp, the population of block 66 held to the bunks and barrack and were cautioned to resist being led out should the Nazis come by the block leaders, Antonin Kalina (blockalteste) and his deputy Gustav Schiller. But on April 10, what we know as the day before liberation, the Nazis descended on the barrack with guns and dogs and knocked youths out of the ceiling of the barrack and led out many. Some were taken out to Weimar and placed on trains -- one train was bombed near Jena and its population escaped (the Israeli historian Yehoshua Robert Buchler was in this group); another group was on "a train to nowhere" and wasn't liberated until early May at Theresienstadt (some of these became part of "the boys" who went to England and are written about by Sir Martin Gilbert).
The bulk of the boys in block 66 were also led in the mid- or late afternoon to the appelplatz and were gathered there in front of the gate waiting also to be led out. But American plans flew overhead, the air raid sirens sounded, the guards headed for the shelters, and the group of hundreds of boys was left standing. Antonin Kalina urged them to return to the barrack. They were there the next day keeping their heads down and away from the windows (at Kalina's command) when the camp was liberated. Several hundred had been led out, perhaps 200- 300. But most of the youths were still there (600-700).
The facts are still ignored by so many and denied by many more . This hidtory must be recorded and put in mandatory education in schools throughout the world . My friend and partners father is one of these boys .
Can someone help me with some information? My grandfather was in the Army (tank battalions-under General Patton) and mentioned entering the concentration camps. Presently, I am gathering all his military experiences and seeking pictures, specific Army groups involved, or other information to help complete my family project. If anyone has website links and/or resources to gather my grandfather time during his time (3rd Army) would be appreciated! I remember the many stories he shared (with watery eyes) about the people in these concentration camps. Specifically, the children he saw...He told us helping whole heartedly with their needs, along with other fellow American soldiers. I am eagerly trying to obtain as much information in what they experienced.. Thank you very much!
You can email me at whittiercollege2000@hotmail.com
thanks..
As you may have read in articles about the "camp," I was a radio operator with the 87th Infantry Division -- 3rd Army -- who watched the liberation of Buchenwald from our vehicle (an "M-8" monster "command - car!)" It is indeed ironic that the "freeing" of the camp was done by the 761st Combat Battalion -- an all "black" armored unit of 3rd Army. Yes, during WWII we were segregated! I was into the camp the following morning! Pictures I took are all now with the "Holocaust Museum!" I hid that cartridge of film in the cuff of my pants leg -- as all mail was thoroughly screened by our officer-staff! That cartridge rode out the rest of the war there all the way back to the U.S.A. Never told anyone about it -- and fortunately was never searched! Note: those pictures there and others concerning the holocaust which I took during that "drive" across central Germany are all now with the Holocaust Museum!
Would appreciate your acknowledging the receipt of this E-mail!
Thank you -- Robert M. Frank, M.D. (the G-I Bill helped pay for a medical education) -- now retired from the O.R.)
As you may have read in articles about the "camp," I was a radio operator with the 87th Infantry Division -- 3rd Army -- who watched the liberation of Buchenwald from our vehicle (an "M-8" monster "command - car!)" It is indeed ironic that the "freeing" of the camp was done by the 761st Combat Battalion -- an all "black" armored unit of 3rd Army. Yes, during WWII we were segregated! I was into the camp the following morning! Pictures I took are all now with the "Holocaust Museum!" I hid that cartridge of film in the cuff of my pants leg -- as all mail was thoroughly screened by our officer-staff! That cartridge rode out the rest of the war there all the way back to the U.S.A. Never told anyone about it -- and fortunately was never searched! Note: those pictures there and others concerning the holocaust which I took during that "drive" across central Germany are all now with the Holocaust Museum!
Would appreciate your acknowledging the receipt of this E-mail!
Thank you -- Robert M. Frank, M.D. (the G-I Bill helped pay for a medical education) -- now retired from the O.R.)
Robert Frank: How may I contact you? Ken Waltzer
Ken, Hope the E-mail address will function?? This now 84 year old finds it amazing that we can do what we do via the "web." Unfortunately, with such a great time-lapse, memory does raise serious questions. I now live on the west-coast -- originally born and raised on Long Island , New York. And yes, I was a 19 year old liberator of the first "Camp" (Buchenwald) during 3rd Army's push across Germany that April day of 1945. I was not alone -- our infantry division -- the 87th (3rd Army) -- was some 12 to 13 thousand strong! No, we all did not go into Buchenwald together -- there would not have been room! But, as mentioned above, the visual images remain. The brain will not, indeed must not erase that! I am a retired surgeon - just maybe gave back a little of what I destroyed as a radio - op in the 87th Infantry Division, 8th Corp. -- 3rd army -- those days in April of 1945! Incidentally: one of those mornings, I actually met and was introduced to none other than the master-mind himself. General Patton! He was a strategic master! Will appreciate acknowledging e receipt of this E-mail! -- Rob Frank
Dear Robert Frank: Please send me your email at waltzer@msu.edu. It was not printed here.
This may all be repetitive -- if so, I do say "I am sorry!" My E-mail is: rmxfrank@cox.net! Please let me know if this does get to its intended recipient! Thank you! Rob Frank
This 84 year old "recent" memory now for recent events is highly questionable! So please excuse the repetition that this may be!
Yes -- I was a liberator of Buchenwald - one of many! I was a radio - operator with the 87th Infantry Division, 8th Corps, 3rd Army, all under the command of General Patton! We freed the "camp" on April 10, 11, or 12! Why the confusion? At first we were not allowed to write about same, and all our mail was carefully censored! I have stories that I find hard to believe we actually lived through it!
Re Buchenwald itself: my pictures of re: this branch of the holocaust are all with the appropriate museum in Washington! They have been very thankful to me for what I have left to them!
World War II remains with me as if it all happened a mere couple of months ago! It was something in which no one should have had the obligation in which to participate! But, participate we did! And, yes, I am still here to remember same! I will try to answer any questions you may have -- and hope the accuracy is just what it should be! So, fire away! And I will try my best to answer your questions! Robert Frank, M.D., J.D. (Yes,thanks to the G.I. Bill -- I have all that fruit salad after my name)
After I left the operating room -- "urological surgeon" -- went to Law school and then worked in the courts as a "medical expert" in my specialty! Yes, there was a physician who would testify for or against another M.D,, as the facts would present themselves! Didn't need the extra money -- so my wife convinced me to stay home -- (here on the west coast -- looking out across the Pacific at Santa Catalina out there! Yes, it is quite a sight!)
I await your answer !!!
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