The story of Mala Zimetbaum is not just a tragic tale of the Holocaust; it is a story of courage, intelligence, and unyielding resilience in the face of the most brutal circumstances. From a talented young woman in Antwerp, fate led Mala to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where she became a legend—the only woman known to have successfully organized an escape from this camp.
1. Peaceful Days in Antwerp and the Looming Shadow
Before Nazism shattered the lives of millions, Mala was a young woman with a promising future. Her family moved to Antwerp, Belgium when she was 10. There, her talents shone: she was an excellent student, particularly strong in math and fluent in at least 6 languages: Flemish, French, German, English, Yiddish, and Polish.
Due to her family’s difficult circumstances (her father was blind), Mala had to leave school and work as a seamstress. She joined the Zionist youth organization Hanoar Hatzioni, which nurtured her national spirit and aspirations for a Jewish homeland.
2. The Fateful Turn: From Antwerp to Auschwitz
The rise of Hitler in Germany marked the end of the old world. On September 11, 1942, during a roundup of Jews in Belgium, Mala was arrested and deported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp on the 20th transport from Mechelen.
In this earthly hell, Mala’s linguistic talent became her weapon for survival. She was assigned to be a “Läuferin”—a runner, carrying out tasks between different camp sections. This position gave her a rare freedom of movement, which she used not for herself, but to help other prisoners. She became a “guardian angel,” risking her life to smuggle medicine, food, and crucial information.
3. The Historic Escape and Tragic End
In the summer of 1944, together with her lover, a Polish prisoner named Edward “Edek” Galiński, Mala planned an escape. On June 24th, disguised as an SS officer and a prisoner, they successfully escaped from Auschwitz.
However, on July 6th, they were recaptured while trying to buy bread. Edek was executed. As for Mala, while being led to her execution, she performed one final, defiant act of resistance. According to survivor accounts, she pulled out a razor blade and slashed her wrist, shouting at the SS guards: “I will die a hero, and you will die like dogs!”. She died that day, but her indomitable spirit became a flame of hope for those remaining in the camp.
Mala Zimetbaum never saw the promised land she once dreamed of, but her courage and determination have become an immortal legacy. She is a testament to the power of the human spirit to maintain dignity and compassion even in the darkest of times. Her story remains a timeless lesson in resistance and hope.