German term widely used among concentration camp inmates to refer to prisoners who were near death due to exhaustion, starvation, or hopelessness. The word Muselmann literally means "Muslim." Some scholars believe that the term originated from the similarity between the near-death prone state of a concentration camp Muselmann and the image of a Muslim prostrating himself on the ground in prayer.Many victims, totally lacking the wherewithal to adapt, reached this stage soon after arrival in a camp. Other prisoners succumbed to sickness, physical abuse, hunger, and overwork. One could identify...
Testimony of Zeev Ram (formerly Tibor Herman), born in Mukacevo, Czechoslovakia in 1930, regarding his experiences in the Auschwitz, Fuerstenstein and Bergen Belsen camps, and the death march
Childhood and early adolescence, up to the German entry into Hungary in March 1944; deportation to Auschwitz in April 1944; transfer to Fuerstenstein in May 1944; death march in February 1945; arrival in Bergen-Belsen in March-April 1945; Muselmann; death of his father and brother; meeting with his mother and her disappearance in April 1945; liberation in April 1945; recuperation in Sweden and preparation...
Dreißigjährig, nach Jahren erfolgloser Arbeit an seinem ersten Romanprojekt «Ich, der Henker», den Bekenntnissen eines Naziverbrechers, entschließt Imre Kertész sich zu einer «nüchternen Selbstprüfung». Daraus erwächst zwischen 1958 und 1962 sein erstes Tagebuch – 44 eng beschriebene Blätter. Und während er noch mit Musik-Komödien für die Budapester Bühnen seinen Lebensunterhalt verdient, hält er hier minutiös sein Denken, Lesen und Schreiben fest: vom Entschluss, statt der Henker-Bekenntnisse nun die Geschichte seiner Deportation zu schreiben – also «meine eigene Mythologie» –, bis hin zur Fertigstellung der...
Testimony of Aleks Appel, regarding his experiences in Gleiwitz camp
Entry into Gleiwitz camp, where he meets Muselmann inmates; the will to live, during labor in conditions of starvation and exhaustion; arm-wrestling competition with another inmate, which will decide who will obtain life-saving work in the camp kitchen.
The Lexicon entries below explore significant Holocaust-related events. topics. places and personalities and are based on Yad Vashem's Encyclopedia of the Holocaust.Macedonia
As part of his work as one of the founders of the postwar Central Jewish Historical Commission in Poland. Holocaust survivor Nachman Blumental. authored Slowa Niewinne
Testimony of Dov Vardiger, born in Katowice, Poland, 1923, regarding his experiences in labor battalions, a forest and in hiding
Life before the war; witness learns in a heder and attends a Jewish school; activities in the Hashomer Hatzair movement.
Outbreak of the war; draft to labor battalions; escape to a forest; in hiding in a cave; help from Polish farmers; capture of the escapees; return of the escapees to a camp; malnutrition and Muselmann condition; liberation by the Red Army.
Receives medical treatment with help from the JDC organization and UNRRA; return to Katowice; activities in the...
Memoirs of Maks Perkal, born in Pruzany, Poland, 1925, regarding his experiences during 1943-1945
Arrival to Auschwitz with his parents, sister and younger brother; selection; transfer of his parents, sister and brother to the gas chambers; transfer to Birkenau; forced labor in the Sonderkommando, in the Canada Kommando and in the Union ammunitions factory; transfer to Auschwitz; Auschwitz camp life, until 18/01/1945; evacuation from the camp; death march via Bielitz and Grossrosen; stay in Grossrosen for approximately two weeks; death march to Buchenwald; arrival to Buchenwald in the condition of a...
Arie Eitani was born Armin Guttman in Milan. Italy in 1927. the only child of Hungarian immigrants Samuel and Etel. Arie has happy memories of his childhood and