Remembering Dita Kraus: A Librarian’s Resilience at Auschwitz

Dita Kraus, a Holocaust survivor and former librarian at Auschwitz, passed away on October 18, 2023, at the age of 96. Her remarkable life story is a testament to resilience and hope amid unimaginable despair, particularly during her time as a young prisoner in one of the most infamous concentration camps during World War II.

Born Edith Polachova in Prague in 1929, Kraus’s early life was marked by the abrupt changes brought on by the Nazi regime. She first learned of her Jewish heritage at the age of eight, just before the German annexation of Bohemia-Moravia in 1939. Following her father’s dismissal from his position as a lawyer, Kraus and her family sought refuge in the countryside, hoping to wait out the storm. However, their situation worsened significantly, leading to their deportation to the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1942.

At Theresienstadt, Kraus encountered Fredy Hirsch, a charismatic leader who organized cultural activities for children and young adults. Kraus developed a close relationship with Hirsch, who created a daycare centre in the camp. This initiative enabled Kraus to assist Hirsch while managing a small library that included a handful of books salvaged from the luggage of new arrivals. Among these was H.G. Wells’s A Short History of the World, which became a vital source of knowledge and comfort for the children.

Kraus described her responsibility for safeguarding these books: “At the end of each day, I carefully collected the books and stowed them in a hidden location. If the Germans had found me with those books, they might have killed me.” Her role provided her with a brief respite from the harsh realities of camp life, allowing her to conserve her strength.

The library, though small, represented a beacon of hope amidst pervasive despair. Kraus and Hirsch would share stories orally, captivating the children with tales such as Robinson Crusoe and The Count of Monte Cristo. Kraus regarded those who endeavored to uplift the children’s spirits as “the greatest heroes of all,” acknowledging their sacrifice despite the knowledge of their likely fate.

By March 1944, the situation at Auschwitz deteriorated rapidly. Many prisoners, including those who had arrived the previous September, were sent to the gas chambers. Hirsch, who had been warned of the impending massacre, died under tragic circumstances. His death raised questions about whether it was a suicide or another murder in a place where hope was systematically extinguished.

After enduring six months at Auschwitz, Kraus and her mother were transferred to a work camp in Hamburg and subsequently to Bergen-Belsen. In her own words, she described Bergen-Belsen as “a horrific killing machine,” where survival became a daily struggle devoid of humanity. Both contracted typhus but survived until the camp’s liberation, though her mother succumbed shortly after, leaving Kraus orphaned at the age of 15.

Following the war, Kraus returned to Prague, where she met Otto Kraus, a fellow survivor from block 31. They married in 1947 and moved to Israel two years later. Initially working in a shoe repair shop on a kibbutz, Kraus later became an English teacher. Otto pursued writing, with his work The Painted Wall chronicling his own experiences in Auschwitz. They raised three children together, though tragedy struck with the loss of their daughter at 20 and their eldest son at 60 due to health issues.

Throughout her life, Kraus emphasized the importance of not harboring hatred. In interviews, she expressed a desire to dedicate her life to mending broken things, stating, “I love to put things together.” Her reflections on the past served as a powerful reminder of resilience and the human spirit’s capacity to endure against overwhelming odds.

Kraus’s life story was documented in The Librarian of Auschwitz, a novel by Spanish journalist Antonio Iturbe, which was based on their conversations. In 2020, Kraus published her own account titled A Delayed Life, providing her perspective on the Holocaust and her journey of survival.

Dita Kraus’s legacy is one of strength and compassion, a small piece of joy amid immense despair that continues to resonate with future generations. Her remarkable journey will be remembered not only for its historical significance but also for the enduring message of hope and the importance of preserving humanity in the face of adversity.