To See Children in Auschwitz: A Testimony by Dita Kraus

Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem
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Published 2023-04-10
Dita (Edith) Kraus (née Polach) was born in 1929 in Prague, a single child of law professor Dr. Hans Polach and his wife Elisabeth. Following the outbreak of the war in September 1939, Dita's parents sent her to the countryside, but in 1940 brought her back to Prague and set up private tutors for her. In November 1942, the family was deported to Theresienstadt. Dita was placed in a separate block for young girls and was assigned to agricultural labor. Despite extremely crowded living conditions, sparse food, and heavy workloads, the ghetto maintained a broad variety of educational and cultural activities, including lessons and lectures. Fredy Hirsch, an athlete, Zionist leader, and Jewish-German educator, was among the teachers who organized sporting events and educational activities. In December 1943, Dita and her parents were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau as part of the second transport sent to the so-called "Family Camp."  Six weeks later, her father died. Dita served as librarian in the block set up for children in the "Family Camp, with only a handful of books. Fredy Hirsch also ran the children's block, creating a network of Zionist instructors who filled their young charges' time with educational and cultural activities. In May 1944, Dita and her mother were sent to Hamburg, Germany, where they were put to hard labor. From there they were transported to different labor camps, arriving in March 1945 at Bergen-Belsen, which was liberated several weeks later by the British Army. Dita's mother died about two months later. Following her death, Dita returned to Prague, where she was reunited with her aunt, her grandmother, and Otto Kraus, a former educator in the children's block. The two married and in 1949 immigrated to Israel. For some 30 years, both Otto and Dita taught at the Hadassim Youth Village. They raised three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Dita resides in Netanya and shares her story in Israel and abroad. In 2012 the book "The Librarian of Auschwitz" by Antonio Iturbe was published based on her life story, becoming an international bestseller.
All Comments (21)
  • @ingridwatsup9671
    Unimaginable cruelty. So sad that Dita lost her only remaining parent shortly after their freedom.
  • @danielem0007
    Amazing story ..... Dita's Mom passed away FREE. That is a testimony in itself, the courage, resilience in all of the tragedies they were exposed too... God Bless you and keep you Dita and your family. Thanks for sharing!
  • @Animalsarebetterthanyou
    Just finished "The Librarian of Auschwitz." Wow. I'm speechless! What a beautiful book ❤
  • @stevenfranks3131
    Thank you for sharing Dita's story. It also tells the story of an unknown multitude. April 15 will mark 78 years since her liberation in 1945....
  • @teresaquintinha7361
    Terrible times. I felt what was said, about walking over the ashes in the camp, that bridges should be made so people don't disturb the ashes and honor the deaths.
  • @louiselloyd1523
    how dreadful to think of little children being locked into the gas chambers - the terror they must have felt. Any of the people who had anything to do with sending these children to such a horrible death must surely have gone to hell after they died.
  • @stevealexander6515
    I have spent many, many hours viewing Yad Vashem videos. Strong, industrious, caring and loving people gone. Still, so much hate in the world. I could go on...
  • @weatherboi
    Greatful to Dita for sharing these stories so the memory of those who's lives were lost won't be forgotten.
  • @filiperiksson9208
    Dita is an amazing teller. She makes You listen. I am very impressed that she can be so calm. I got tears in my eyes several times. So sad to hear that she lost her mother when they had been liberated.
  • @sarahfarrell8214
    So tragic and sad, thank you Dita for sharing your story. We should always remember these wonderful beautiful people who witnessed so much tragedy. I'm so happy she found love and has a loving family. Always remember, never forget.
  • @stephaniesnape6787
    Dita thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry that you endured such loss and suffering and I’m so glad you survived. With kindest wishes, Stephanie
  • @vincespartacus372
    God bless you Dita... Tous les Juifs de France chantent "Alouette" pour toi Dina כל יהודי צרפת שרים בשבילך "אלואט" דינה
  • @jegsthewegs
    It's a shame that the subtitles cannot be clearly seen and read. " The ashes are everywhere. They should build bridges so no-one treads on the ashes of the dead"
  • @helenh493
    I so much enjoyed Dita's testimony.. the horror and death she had seen and the hardships she had to endure.. and then after surviving all that she did, to lose her mother to sickness a few weeks later... Its so tragic and sad. But that she survived through selections, starvation, the elements, and disease, its a Miracle! Her deceased loved ones in heaven and Gods good graces, seen her through to live on, and so to tell her story to the world. God Bless Dita and her family and all their generations to come.
  • @Hope-qi4bf
    God Blesses Children. The Jewish People Are God's Chosen People. Never Forget What Happened.