Mala and Edek Galinski by Maci Reffett

How did Malas Story start?

macireffett — 2025-03-06 18:50:56 UTC

Two years after the Germans occupation of Belgium Mala was arrested on the 22nd of July in 1942, at Antwerp Central Station, on her way back from Brussels, where she had been looking for a hiding place for her and her family members. Shortly after her arrival she was employed as a Lauferin, whose duties were to be a messenger and interpreter.

macireffett — 2025-03-06 18:51:22 UTC

macireffett — 2025-03-06 18:53:01 UTC

The Act of Resistance:

macireffett — 2025-03-06 19:00:37 UTC

Edek, Wiesler planned to escape, and Edek wanted the escape to include his partner; Mala. Though at first Wiesler agreed, he had serious reservations that Mala, who had not recently been well, and was Jewish could majorly jeopardise their chances of a successful escape. Edek managed to obtain from his former Kommando Fuhrer Lubusch an SS uniform, which he had left in a hut and had even had the luck to find an SS guards identity card on the ramp.

macireffett — 2025-03-06 19:01:02 UTC

The Impact of their bravery:

macireffett — 2025-03-06 19:06:58 UTC

Mala Zimetbaum ´ s (Galinski) story was made available to the public in the official testimony of Mr.s Raya Kagan, Which was delivered on June 8, 1961, during session 70 in the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem.

Informational websites and Stories about Mala:

macireffett — 2025-03-06 19:11:40 UTC

Anus, Mundi-Five years in Auschwitz by Wieslaw Kielar published by 1982
Kulka, Erich- ¨Five years in Auschwitz¨ in they fought back, op
The Auschwitz Chronicle- Danuta Czech publish by Henry Holt New York 1990
Mala- A Fragment of a Life by Lorenz Sichelschmidt
Adolf Eichmann Trial Transcripts- Nizkor

A Heartfelt yet sad song to describe the love that was lost to the power of Auschwitz:

macireffett — 2025-03-06 19:12:34 UTC

macireffett — 2025-03-07 18:55:12 UTC

Resistance in Birkenau was to help each other survive and mala was eager to help others She even fed other starving prisoners. With her stealth and the power of her role in the camp she was able to send cryptic messages (warnings) to her family members back in Belgium. After time mala formed a relationship with a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz. Edek Galinski was a polish prisoner, who was imprisoned on June 14, 1940 he was one of the 725 male prisoners who made up the first deportation to Auschwitz. He was also the romantic partner of prisoner 197880, or better known as Mala Zimetbaum.

macireffett — 2025-03-07 18:56:02 UTC

The date for escape was fixed. The escape took place on saturday the 24th of June 1944 around noon. Edek was dressed as an SS guard and Mala was dressed as a male prisoner. Freedom however, did not last. Both were captured on July 6th, 1944 by Bielitz Gestapo.

macireffett — 2025-03-07 18:56:40 UTC

Mala is still remembered even to this day, and many Auschwitz survivors regularly gather to pay their respects to this brave, and extraordinary woman. A plague has been placed in the house where her family lived in Antwerp. Scholarships and even a B'nai B'rith lodge have been named in the honor of her bravery and respect for her actions.

macireffett — 2025-03-07 18:57:41 UTC

macireffett — 2025-03-07 18:58:14 UTC

macireffett — 2025-03-07 18:59:24 UTC

macireffett — 2025-03-07 19:00:06 UTC