Holocaust Studies by Cole Edmondson

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Early Life

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He was born on October 3, 1919, in Tczew, Poland. He was a Boy Scout before the war. When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, he tried to escape to France to join the Polish Army but was captured and eventually sent to Auschwitz in 1940.

After the Escape

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He joined the Polish Home Army, the main resistance movement in Nazi occupied Poland. After the war, he was imprisoned by the communist party in Poland for being part of the anti-communist resistance and spent years in prison. After leaving prison Piechowski lived into his late 90s and became a symbol of resistance and bravery. He gave talks and was the topic of documentaries. He later passed away on December 15, 2017, at the age of 98.

Escape: Background

coleedmondson — 2025-05-02 05:17:52 UTC

By 1942, Auschwitz was well known even among the prisoners. Escape seemed nearly impossible due to the high security electric fences, armed guards, and a brutal punishment system. If one inmate escaped, ten others could be executed too.

Piechowski had been at Auschwitz for two years. He realized his name was on a list called the “death block.” Knowing his life was in danger he decided to attempt an escape. He created a group of four prisoners: Kazimierz Piechowski, Stanisław Gustaw Jaster, Eugeniusz Bendera, and Józef Lempart. Each had different skills, all important for what they were about to attempt.

Escape: The Plan

coleedmondson — 2025-05-02 05:22:22 UTC

The key to the plan was disguise and deception. They planned to first, enter a storage building used by the guards while assigned to work nearby. Then they would steal guard uniforms and weapons to disguise themselves. Next, take the car of a guard and drive out the front gate. the whole time they would be impersonating SS officers on duty.

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Escape: In Action

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Eugeniusz Bendera had access to the motor pool and helped break into the storage building. They stole guard uniforms, weapons, and forged papers. Next, Bendera started the SS officer's car. Piechowski sat in the front in full SS officer gear. As they approached the main gate, the guard hesitated. Piechowski talked to him in fluent German, “Aufmachen das Tor!” which translates to "Open the Gate". After a second, the guard saluted them and opened the gate, they were free.Once out, they drove deep into the forest, abandoned the car, and split up. All four survived.

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Final Impact

coleedmondson — 2025-05-02 05:37:53 UTC

This escape was so embarassing for the Nazi party that they stopped allowing prisoners access to motor pools. Piechowski’s story became one of the few successful large escapes from Auschwitz, a place designed to be a final destination. His story inspired many other jews, some were not as lucky or well prepared.

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Video:

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Famous Quote:

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Kazimierz said, “I had to get out, because if I didn’t, I would die.”