I will let You into a secret. As we journeyed from Cracow (Krakow) toward Auschwitz and then onto Birkenau, I could see signposts that directed us toward where We must venture thoughts, concerns and a desire to add toward the Remembrance of those Jews whose lives ended so abruptly in Auschwitz and Birkenau. Also, we would be travelling along that same route were destinations that have been as much a part of The Holocaust landscape as Auschwitz and Birkenau were to become, Towns signposted and blended into the scenery. For me, these were names which rang alarm bells, and as we sped along they would remind me that there must have been scenes of utter devastation for the Jews of these Towns, some 70 years ago!
It is small consolation that the names mentioned here will barely impact upon the memory of those who read them! They are listed at Yad Vashem! They belong to an era now lost to all Humanity. My attempt to place a step in sync with those 1,100,000 Jews who were delivered to oblivion having lived close by, having been transported from the four corners of Europe and finding nothing but devastation, destruction and oblivion before them at Auschwitz and Birkenau.
Some of the Murdered Jews of Cracow (Krakow)
Bachner, Chana
Bachner, Shmue
Banet, Chaim
Braun, Benek
Bergman, Chaia
Berger, Chaja
Berger, Leja
Berger, Baruch
Berger, Rosa
Berger, Zeev
Berhang, Stanislaw
Blumenkrantz, Rachel
Blumner, Salo Shlomo
Blonder, Michael
Blonder, Lusia
Blonder, Hilda
Blonder, Miriam
Blonski, Mania Miriam
Blonski, Mosze
Beck, Abraham
Beckmann, Yitzkhak
Berkowicz, Sara Stefania
Bernstein, Ita
Biegeleisen, Moshe Leib
Birenbaum, Regina
Blaicher, Frida
Blasenstein, Marila Miriam
Blatt, Rywka
Blatt, Fela
Blat, Kaila
Blat, Perl
Blinder, Marjem
Blitz, Yakob
Blitz, Haja
Bru, Simon
Gusta, Guta
Horowitz, Rachel
Huelfstein, Lejb
Huppert, Joachim Khaim
Huppert, Bernard
Huttman, Chaja
Jakobowicz, Matyl
Jakobowicz, Szloma
Jakubowicz, Leopold
Jekler, Bernard
Jonas, Rivca
Kac, Mojsze
Katz, Moiche
Karmel, Dora
Launer, Zygmund Zisha
Lam, Fela
Landau, Hinda
Landau, Haia
Leibel, Debora
Leidner, Chaia
Liblich, Chaja
Lowenbraun, Sara
Markowicz, Dawid
Melzer, Lifcia
Taube, Regina Rakhel
Taubman, Regina
Tobias, Berta
Tupel, Josef
Teiger, Golda
Teitel, Helena
Tindel, Berta
Tiras, Rivka
Zandgarten, Solomon Shlomo
Zandhauz, Paul
Some of the Murdered Jews of Babice
Feif, Smuel
Gutter, Blime
Gutter, Rutzia
Gutter, Feliks
Jungmann, Hugo
Litmanowicz, Iheskel
Litmanowicz, Yitzkhak
Pack, Chaim
Rozenfeld, Avraham
Szwecer, Zisser
Szwecer, Moszko
Szwecer, Icek
Szymonowicz, Emilia
Tintenfish, Yosef
Volf, Moshe
Volf, Etel
Volf, Shlomo
Vulf, Feiga
Weiss, Otto
Weitzenblum, Helena
Some of the Murdered Jews of Baczyn
Beck, Salomea
Klapholz, Aron
Klapholz, Salomon
Some of the Murdered Jews of Bedzin
Abramczyk, Rachel
Abramowicz, Perl
Balicka, Krajndla
Belicka, Perl Sara
Berlach, Berish
Binsztok, Szajndla
Binsztok, Yaakov
Blacharz, Dobra
Blachas, Avraham
Blumenfrucht, Fela
Buchweitz, Ita
Chumec, Rachel
Cukierman, Abraham
Cygler, Sara
Cymborknopf, Hela
Cymerman, Dorka
Cymerman, Bajle
Dancyger, Mania
Dressler, Gitel
Dressler, Moshe
Ehrlich, Emilia
Ehrlich, Lea
Eksztajn, Chana
Erlich, Rachel
Erlich, Rosa
Erlich, Elijasz
Erlich, Estera
Erlich, Motel
Some of the Murdered Jews of Biala
Allerhand, Samuel
Berensztein, Chaskiel
Bergmann, Moritz.
Borgher, Hugo
Brahm, Frajda
Brahm, Herman
Brahm, Hela..
Brahm, Guta
Brannstatter, Izydor
Czajewicz, Raja
Gleser, Gitla
Some of the Murdered Jews of Bochnia
Ackerman, Haim
Ackerman, Jacob
Ackerman, Meir
Ackerman, Faivl
Ackerman, Simon
Ackerman, Miriam
Ackerman, Eva
Ackerman, Smuel
Austerweil, Zisman
Austerweil, Zwettel
Beldengruen, Eljasz
Bernstein, Mirjam
Some of the Murdered Jews of Chrzanow
Appelstein, Avraham
Bachna, Mindl Fruma
Bachne, Slomo Elejzer
Bachner, Mindl
Bachner, Rachel
Bachner, Etl
Bachner, Chana
Bachner, Keila
Bachner, Chaim
Bachner, Mejer
Bachner, Teme
Bachner, Slomo
Bachner, Malka
Bachner, Ester
Bachner, Keila
Berl, Sara
Berl, Josef
Birenbojm, Chane
Blachmacher, Szloma
Blachmacher, Fejga
Blumenstock, Rosa
Bochenek, Iudl
Bochenek, Rywka
Bochner, Surele
Bochner, Avrum
Bochner, Breintsche
Borenstein, David
Bornschtein, Feigla
Bornschtein, Faiwel
Some of the Murdered Jews of Debniki
Helfer, Josef
Horowitz, Blima
Traub, Rozia
Some of the Murdered Jews of Katowice
Altmann, Berthold
Altmann, Hertha
Altmann, Marta
Balser, Masha
Belicka, Chana
Belicki, Josef Hersz
Bernstein, Roman
Betar, Heinrik
Better, Irena
Better, Fritz Peretz
Bienenfeld, Leib
Birenbaum, Balbina
Blaustein, Szaja Yehoshua
Blaustein, Dwora
Blumenfrucht, Rywka Sara
Blumenfrucht, Pesach
Borensztein, Sara
Bornstein, Emanuel
Reizl, Shoshana
Some of the Murdered Jews of Kazimierz
Aufman, Eva
Awnstern, Abraham
Banach, Joseph
Barsch, Moische
Bienstock, Feiga Lea
Borensztain, Zlata
Borensztejn, Mosze
Bornstein, David
Buchbinder, Henzel
Buchbinder, Chana
Buchbinder, Sender
Buchbinder, Malka
Buchbinder, Sula
Some of the Murdered Jews of Lipowa
Jakubiec, Marie
Silberstein, Herman
Silberstein, Shmuel
Tarlowski, Klara
Walter, Henryk
Zajbert, Lajzer Eliezer
Some of the Murdered Jews of Olkusz
Besser, Mania
Besser, Chil Yekhiel
Chanczinski, Netl
Some of the Murdered Jews of Plaszow
Atteslander, Zygmunt
Atteslander, Izrael
Atteslander, Moniek
Atteslander, Temka
Bendet, Fanny
Bendet, Herszlit
Bendet, Odette
Bernstein, Rachel
Bernstein, Wilhelm
Dicker, Joseph
Fajer, Ruchel
Fogl, Benjamin
Gnut, Mihail
Grosman, Freida
Gruen, Faiga
Gruen, Julek
Grunspan, Lusia
Grunspan, Samuel
Habensztoch, Jehuda Lajb
Kirszblum, Eugenie
Leser, Hesie Yitzkhak
Lipperman, Benjamin Bishko
Nepomniatzki, Leija
Raubvogel, Zelig
Riegelhaupt, Armin
Rosner, Gerszon
Rottenberg, Solomon
Sternberg, Menachem Maness
Stimez, Miriam
Stimez, Moshe
Szpindler, Eliezer
Ulreich, Sara Hadasa
Weisberg, Richard
Weisberg, Max
Wrobel, Mozes
Zeidel, Paula
Zeidel, Stefan
Zeidel, Roza
Zeidl, Sigi
The River Vistula.
The River flows through Cracow and has had it’s share of tragedy and as a City can be so easily defined by a River as it flows through its environs, Cracow has been shaped by the ebb and flow of these Waters since creation. On my walk from the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter toward the Schindler Factory on Lipowa Street I crossed the River Vistula and watched as it stretched past Architecture that had been a witness to the departure of its Jews toward Destruction in The Holocaust. The buildings stood rigid against the tide of Jewish People being forced from all that they had known, and just as many of Cracow’s citizens did, remained passive and indifferent to their torment.
Millions of litres of water flowed underneath Me and I couldn’t help wondering, how many Jews perished, Shot and were thrown into the River. Or were drowned while attempting to escape across the River. Or were simply thrown into the fast flowing current to see them disappear beneath its drenching power. Much sport was to be had by Nazi’s who could witness Jews drowning, just to mark the time of day.
Some of the Murdered Jews of Sosnowiec
Anisman, Lea
Anisman, Moshe
Anisman, Rivka
Eidelman, Meir
Eidelman, Chana
Eidelman, Aizik
Englard, Dora
Englard, Shmuel
Goldsztajn, Regina
Goldsztajn, Hernyk
Hajda, Nosson Yitzchak
Hajda, Yerachmiel Dovid
Hajda, Sinai Mordechai
Izraelevich, Regina
Oks, Shlomo
Oks, Chana
Olmer, Eliahu Hershel
Olmer, Shlomo Michael
Olmer, Yitzkhak
Olmer, Pola
Ostri, Yaakov
Ostri, Regina
Rabinowicz, Yisroel
Tennenberg, Yosef
Uiazd, Zysl
Uiazd, Yaakov
Some of the Murdered Jews of Tychy
Richter, Wilhelm
Rikhter, Klara
Rikhter, Willy
Rikhter, Eduard
Rikhter, Oskar
Weissenberg, Artur
Weissenberg, Felicitas
The Town of Wadowice is well known to those who have studied The Holocaust. Pope John Paul II went to School there and knew the Jewish Community that had been ravaged by Hitler’s legion of hater’s. For that reason, I have placed the names of some of the Murdered Jews of Wadowice in that submission which asks exactly that of the late Pope, what did he know of their fate?
Then there are the Names which, in the Polish language, do not mean much to the ordinary Visitor. Though they remain infamous in more than 1,100,000 ways, time has recalled them as Birkenau and Auschwitz:
Some of the Murdered Jews of Oswiecim
Bachner, Wolf
Bachner, Roza
Bainerman, Anca
Barbar, Berisch
Basser, Wolf
Baurenfreind, Leibis
Beer, Julja
Beer, Rosa
Berenshtein, Doba
Bernstein, Marcus Mordekhai
Bernstein, Regina Ryvka
Better, Max Mordechai
Birnfrajnd, Jakob Dawid
Blacharowich, Yekhiel
Blumenfrucht, Yehuda Arie
Blumenstock, Henryk
Bochner, Mailech Elimelekh
Bombak, Eljahu
Bornstein, Basze
Bornstein, Ruzia
Bornstein, Zisman
Bornstein, Chaja
Bornstein, Ruzia
Bornstein, Kalman
Bornstein, Berisz
Brandstatter, Chaim
Braw, Shlomo
Brawer, Henoch
Bronner, Jakob
Bronner, Mina
Bronner, Sala Shulamit
Bronner, Miriam
Bronner, Manja Mania
Bronner, Pinchas Josef
Bronner, Frieda
Cejzel, Pinchas
Celler, Sara Beila
Cwerling, Szmuel
Cwerling, Antszel
Cwerling, Jakob
Cwerling, Leja
Edelstein, Natan Nute
Eichner, Reisl
Engelhardt, Naftali
Englaender, Dawid Shaul
Englaender, Mina
Enoch, Wolf Wilhelm
Enoch, Frimcia Frumet
Enoch, Wolf Zeev
Enoh, Rosalia
Fejgenbojm, Bernard
Feltscher, Amalia
Fenigher, Berta
Fenigher, Sali
Finkelsztein, Lejzer
Finkelsztein, Simcha
Fischer, Brandil
Fiszgrund, Chana
Fiszgrund, Rachel
Fuchs, Regina
Galizer, Shalom
Galizer, Szalom
Garfunkl, Yochewed
Garstner, Jechezkel
Garstner, Fajge
Gassner, Adela
Gassner, Frida
Gassner, Chaja
Gatter, Moshe
Gezank, Ihezkel
Glicensztajn, Arie
Goldsztajn, Nacha
Goldwaser, Sali
Gottlieb, Aron
Gottlieb, Abram Psachja
Grobner, Dwora
Grobner, Slomo
Grobner, Jechezkiel
Gross, Yosef
Gross, Abraham Hirsch
Gross, Racl
Gross, Yakow
Gruen, Bezalel
Gruenbaum, Icus
Gruenn, Faiwl
Gryn, Becalel
Gutcherz, Lola Lea
Gutter, Amalia
Gvertman, Pesia
Gvertzman, Shalom
Gvertzman, Beila
Mair, Chaim
Malc, Eliezer
Manesfeld, Necha
Manesfeld, Natan
Manhajmer, Gitel
Mechner, Haim
Mondschtein, Debora
Najburg, Awrum
Nebencal, Hirsh
Nebenzahl, Lola Lea
Neufeld, Reuven
Neuhof, Henia
Neustadt, Hersh Herman
Neustadt, Reisil Rakhel
Nojfeld, Rachel
Nussbaum, Ester
Nussbaum, Gisela Gitel
Ohringer, Gerschon
Piller, Gitel
Piller, Bronka
Priever, Ewa
Rajchenberg, Jakab
Reicher, Chaim
Reicher, Ester
Rosbach, Shaindel
Rosenberg, Pinha
Weber, Chaim
Weg, Yosef
Weinfeld, Rivka
Weinheber, Mojzesz
Weinheber, Herman Tzvi
Weinstock, Sara
Weinstock, Gerschon
Weintraub, Hinda
Weiss, Mordchi Josef
Weitz, David
Weitz, Gitel
Wenger, Sender Aleksander
Wenger, Josef Yosef
Wenger, Helena Khaia
Werner, Arie Leib
Werner, Leibisz
Wetstein, Motl
Wildman, Mordechaj
Wildman, Israel
Wilk, Moshe
Wilk, Hela Khaia
Wilk, Abraham
Wilk, Moshe
Wisen, Golda
Wishnicer, Baruch
Wohlmann, Irena
Wohlmann, Alfred
Wolf, Frida
Wolf, Moshe
Wolf, Mosze
Wolf, Isroel Alter
Wolnerman, Moshe
One of those I met on the Tour here was Carl, who wondered why he landed at Auschwitz and did not recognise the façade. I immediately knew what had so confused him. He had remembered that other image which impacts upon the senses and it is just as potent as the sign
“Arbeit Macht Frei”
and that is that imposing entrance to Birkenau. Immediately he saw it, he realised what he had always considered had been Auschwitz! That must avail itself of so many who can become confused by images, if there isn’t the clear indication as to what they are looking at!
Perhaps to some it is appropriate to deal in terms which appear relevant to what we are involved in here. The Holocaust belongs to a singular term which has encapsulated the Memory for 6,000,000 Murdered Jews. Immediately upon sight of this Sign for Brzezinka, I was struck that a time had existed before The Holocaust when this rather benign name meant little to those Jews residing there, other than as a residence they could occupy? Now History has stolen this Towns name and constructed a Name more filled with Horror and terror than mere comprehension could compose. For over 1,300,000 innocent People, 1,100,000 of them Jews, Birkenau has become synonymous with the Industrialised Capacity for Mass Murder.
Some of the Murdered Jews of Brzezinka
Bachner, Rozalia
Baer, Heinz
Baer, Kurt
Baer, Tirza
Cechstein, Chana
Enokh, Rakhel
Enokh, Rutka
Enokh, Yaakov
Badrin, Wilhelm
Badrin, Berta
Badrin, Josef
Badrin, Ernestina
Badrin, Kurt
Goldberg, Hela
Goldberg, Renia
Goldberg, Shlomo
Goldberg, Pesakh
Goldberg, Roza
Goldberg, Nakhman
Goldberg, Izo Izidor
Hecht, Ida
Kenigsberger, Alek
Kenigsberger, Icie
Loeb, Aron
Loeb, Benjamin
Loeb, Berta
Loeb, Emanuel
Loeb, Lina
Loeb, Melitta
Loeb, Sara
Meyer, Juliua
Mirberg, Leizer
Mirberg, Rakhel
Mirberg, Leib
Mirberg, Meir
Mirberg, Yeta
Rosner, Berta
Shindel, Baruch
Schindel, Beria Pesel
Stapler, Berl
Stapler, Sara
Stapler, Blima
Stapler, Helena
Strauss, Hans
Wachsner, Rosa
Wasserberger, Henryk
