The True Story of the Librarian of Auschwitz: A Holocaust Survivor's Journey

In the depths of darkness, even in the most unimaginable horrors, the indomitable spirit of humanity can prevail.

A Delayed Life: The True Story of the Librarian of Auschwitz

by Dita Kraus

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	21118 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	342 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

The true story of Dita Kraus, the Librarian of Auschwitz, is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and the transformative power of literature.

Dita's Childhood and Deportation

Dita Kraus was born Dita Polachova in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1929. As a young girl, she had a passion for books and dreamed of becoming a librarian.

However, her world was shattered when Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. In 1944, Dita and her family were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps.

Life in Auschwitz

At Auschwitz, Dita was separated from her parents and forced into labor. Despite the unimaginable conditions, she never lost her love of books and longed to share it with others.

In 1944, a group of Czech prisoners secretly established a small library in Block 31, the children's barracks. They collected discarded books, magazines, and newspapers, which they hid and shared with the children.

One day, Dita was noticed by the head of Block 31, a kind-hearted woman named Milena Papova. Milena recognized Dita's passion for books and appointed her as the librarian.

The Librarian of Auschwitz

As the librarian, Dita became a guardian of hope in the heart of the darkest abyss.

She organized the books, kept them hidden from the SS guards, and shared them with the children, reading stories and poems that brought a moment of escape from their unimaginable reality.

The library became a sanctuary for the children of Auschwitz, a place where they could dream, imagine, and find solace in the written word.

Liberation and After

In January 1945, the Soviet army liberated Auschwitz. Dita, now 15 years old, was one of the few children who survived the horrors of the camp.

After the war, Dita returned to Prague and fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a librarian. She used her experience to inspire others and to educate the world about the horrors of the Holocaust.

In 1963, Dita met Fredy Kraus, a Holocaust survivor from Slovakia. They married and had two children. Together, they established the Dita Kraus Foundation, which promotes tolerance, understanding, and education about the Holocaust.

Legacy of Resilience

Dita Kraus, the Librarian of Auschwitz, passed away in 2009 at the age of 80. Her legacy lives on through her foundation and the countless lives she touched with her unwavering spirit.

Her story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope can prevail and that the power of human resilience and compassion knows no bounds.

A Delayed Life: The True Story of the Librarian of Auschwitz

by Dita Kraus

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	21118 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	342 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE