The Last Musician of Auschwitz: Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s Harrowing Tale of Survival
On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, marking the end of one of history’s darkest chapters. Among the survivors was Anita Lasker, a Jewish teenager whose life was spared for one reason: the camp orchestra needed a cello player. Now 99 years old, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch is the last surviving member of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, a haunting reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the resilience of the human spirit.
A Life Saved by Music
Table of Contents
- The Violinist Who Survived Auschwitz: A Story of Music, Perseverance, and Hope
- Surviving Hell: Anita Lasker’s Journey from Breslau to Auschwitz
- From Auschwitz to Belsen: The Story of Alma Rosé and the Women’s Orchestra
- A Journey of Resilience: The Lasker Sisters’ Post-War Lives
- A Journey of Resilience: Teh Lasker Sisters’ Post-War Lives
Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s story is one of survival against unimaginable odds.At just 19 years old, she was thrust into the horrors of Auschwitz, where her musical talent became her lifeline.”The Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945. Anita Lasker, a Jewish teenager, managed to survive there simply because the camp orchestra needed a cello player,” as recounted in a BBC documentary.
The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, a group of prisoners forced to play for their captors, became Anita’s refuge. Her cello skills not only kept her alive but also provided a semblance of humanity in a place defined by brutality.
A Voice for the Voiceless
Six months before liberation, Anita was transferred to Bergen-Belsen, another notorious death camp. On April 15, 1945, the day of its liberation, she was interviewed by the BBC. Speaking in German, her native language, she shared her harrowing experiences: “First, I would like to say a few words about Auschwitz. The few who have survived are afraid that the world will not believe what happened there.”
Her words, preserved in history, serve as a stark reminder of the horrors endured by millions.Today, Anita continues to raise her voice against hate, ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.
A Legacy of Resilience
Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s story is not just one of survival but also of courage and advocacy. As the last remaining member of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, she has become a symbol of resilience.Her life is a testament to the power of art and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable evil.
| Key facts About Anita Lasker-Wallfisch |
|——————————————–|
| Age: 99 |
| Role: Cellist in the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz |
| Survived: Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen |
| notable Quote: “The few who have survived are afraid that the world will not believe what happened there.” |
As we reflect on the Holocaust and its survivors, Anita’s story reminds us of the importance of remembrance and the fight against hatred. Her life is a call to action, urging us to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.
For more on Anita Lasker-Wallfisch’s remarkable journey, watch the BBC documentary or read her powerful account in France 24.Let her story inspire you to stand against hate and champion the values of humanity and compassion.
The Violinist Who Survived Auschwitz: A Story of Music, Perseverance, and Hope
Anita Lasker, a talented cellist, grew up in a loving, culturally rich Jewish family in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland). Her mother, Edith, was a gifted violinist, and her father, Alfons, a accomplished lawyer. As the youngest of three daughters, Anita’s childhood was filled with music and intellectual pursuits. Yet, outside the sanctuary of her home, the rise of nazi Germany cast a dark shadow over her life.
In a 1996 BBC television documentary, Anita recalled, “We were the typical assimilated German-Jewish family. We went to a little private school,and I suddenly heard,’Don’t give the Jew the sponge,’ and I thought,’What is all this?'” This moment marked the beginning of her awareness of the antisemitism that would soon engulf her world.
By 1938,as antisemitism intensified,Anita’s parents struggled to find a cello tutor in Breslau willing to teach a Jewish child. She was sent to berlin to continue her studies, but her education was abruptly interrupted by the horrors of Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” on November 9, 1938. During this violent pogrom, Nazis destroyed Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues, forcing Anita to return to her family.
The Lasker family’s ordeal worsened as the Nazis tightened their grip on Europe. Anita and her sisters were eventually deported to Auschwitz, where she faced the unimaginable.Upon arrival at the infamous Auschwitz unloading ramp, Anita’s life took a dramatic turn. “A doctor and a commander stood on the ramp when the transports arrived, and sorting was done right before our eyes,” she recounted. “they asked for the age and health condition of the new arrivals. The unsuspecting newcomers tended to report any ailments, thereby signing their death sentences. They notably targeted children and the elderly. Right, left, right, left. To the right was life; to the left, the chimney.”
Anita’s casual mention of her cello playing saved her from the gas chambers. She was assigned to the camp orchestra, where music was used to mask the atrocities. “Music was played to accompany the most terrible things,” she said. This surreal experience became a lifeline, allowing her to survive the horrors of the Holocaust.
After the war, Anita rarely spoke German in public for 50 years, a testament to the trauma she endured. Her hometown of breslau, now Wrocław, became part of Poland, and her family’s once-happy life was irrevocably changed.
anita Lasker’s story is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Her love for music not only defined her identity but also became her salvation in the darkest of times.
Key Moments in Anita Lasker’s Life
| Event | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Early Life | Grew up in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, poland), in a musically inclined family.|
| Kristallnacht | Forced to return home after the violent pogrom on November 9, 1938. |
| Deportation | Sent to auschwitz, where her cello skills saved her from the gas chambers. |
| Survival | Assigned to the camp orchestra, using music as a means of survival. |
| Post-War Life | Rarely spoke German in public for 50 years, a reflection of her trauma. |
Anita Lasker’s journey is a testament to the power of art and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.Her story continues to inspire, reminding us of the importance of preserving history and honoring those who endured the unthinkable.
What lessons can we draw from Anita’s story? share your thoughts in the comments below.
Surviving Hell: Anita Lasker’s Journey from Breslau to Auschwitz
In the shadow of World War II, Anita Lasker’s story is one of resilience, survival, and the enduring power of culture even in the darkest of times. Born into a Jewish family in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), Anita and her sister Renate faced unimaginable horrors under the Nazi regime. Their journey—from a failed escape attempt to the horrors of Auschwitz—reveals the strength of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable adversity.
A family’s Love for Culture Amidst Chaos
Anita’s parents instilled a deep appreciation for culture in their children, a gift they believed no one could take away. Her eldest sister, Marianne, escaped in 1939 through the Kindertransport, a mission that saved thousands of Jewish children by transporting them to safety in Britain. Despite the growing threat, Anita’s father continued to nurture her intellectual curiosity, engaging her and Renate in discussions about Friedrich Schiller’s tragic play Don Carlos.
But by 1942, the world was unraveling. In April of that year, Anita’s parents were ordered to report to a specific location within 24 hours. “We walked through Breslau, not just my parents but a whole column of people, to this particular point and said goodbye. That was the end,” Anita recalled.
A Failed Escape and Imprisonment
Anita and Renate were sent to a jewish orphanage, but they refused to accept their fate. With forged papers, they posed as women returning to unoccupied France and attempted to flee with two friends. Their plan unraveled at Breslau railway station, where they were arrested by the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police.
Anita spent 18 months in prison on charges of forgery, aiding the enemy, and attempted escape. While prison was far from pleasant,it offered a grim respite from the horrors outside. “Prison is not a pleasant place to be in, but it’s not a concentration camp,” Anita said. “Nobody kills you in a prison.”
The Descent into Auschwitz
In 1943, overcrowding in Breslau prison led to the relocation of jewish inmates to concentration camps. Anita was transported to Auschwitz, with Renate following two weeks later. Anita’s arrival at the camp was a descent into hell. “I remember it was vrey noisy and totally bewildering. You had no idea where you were. Noisy with the dogs, people screaming, a horrible smell… you’d arrived in hell, really.”
Upon arrival, Anita was tattooed and shaved by fellow prisoners desperate for news about the war. In a surreal moment, she casually mentioned her ability to play the cello. “Oh,that is very good.You might be saved,” a fellow prisoner told her. This chance encounter led Anita to Alma Rosé, the conductor of the Women’s Orchestra at Auschwitz, and ultimately saved her life.
The Women’s Orchestra: A Lifeline in Hell
The women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, led by Alma Rosé, was a rare beacon of hope in the camp. For Anita,joining the orchestra was both a lifeline and a surreal twist of fate. “I was naked,I had no hair,I had a number on my arm,and I had this ridiculous conversation,” she recalled.
The orchestra’s performances, often for Nazi officers, were a stark contrast to the brutality of the camp. For Anita, music became a means of survival, a testament to the enduring power of culture even in the face of unimaginable suffering.
| Key Events in Anita Lasker’s Journey |
|——————————————|
| 1939: Marianne escapes via Kindertransport |
| 1942: Parents deported; Anita and Renate sent to orphanage |
| 1943: Failed escape attempt; imprisoned in Breslau |
| 1943: Transported to Auschwitz; joins Women’s Orchestra |
A Legacy of Resilience
Anita lasker’s story is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Her journey from Breslau to Auschwitz, marked by loss, courage, and survival, underscores the enduring power of culture and the will to live.
As we reflect on her story, let us remember the countless others who faced similar horrors and honor their memory by ensuring such atrocities are never repeated.
Call to Action: Share Anita’s story to keep the memory of Holocaust survivors alive. Explore more about the Kindertransport and the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz to learn how culture and courage intersected in the darkest of times.
From Auschwitz to Belsen: The Story of Alma Rosé and the Women’s Orchestra
Alma Rosé, a niece of the renowned composer Gustav Mahler and daughter of the Vienna Philharmonic’s leader, was a figure of extraordinary resilience and dignity during one of history’s darkest chapters. As the conductor of the women’s orchestra at Auschwitz, she not only preserved the spirits of her fellow prisoners but also, in many ways, saved their lives.
The Orchestra That Offered Escape
In the grim reality of Auschwitz, where survival was a daily struggle, Alma Rosé led the women’s orchestra with what survivor Anita Lasker described as “fearsome professionalism.” Using instruments stolen from other prisoners, the orchestra played a limited repertoire of military music. “Our job was to play marches for the columns that worked outside the camp when they marched out, and in the evening when they came back in,” Lasker recalled.Rosé’s leadership was not just about music; it was about creating a temporary escape from the horrors surrounding them. “She succeeded in making us so worried about what we were going to play and weather we were playing well that we temporarily didn’t worry about what was going to happen to us,” Lasker said in a 1996 interview on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.
For Lasker, the orchestra was a lifeline. “It was an escape somehow into excellence,” she explained. “Somehow you come to terms with the fact that eventually they’re going to get you, but whilst they haven’t got you, you just carry on.”
The Tragic End of Alma Rosé
Despite her strength and determination, Alma Rosé did not survive the war. She died in April 1944 of suspected botulism.Her death was a devastating blow to the orchestra,but her legacy endured. “I think we owe our lives to Alma,” Lasker said. “She had a dignity which imposed itself even on the Germans. Even the germans treated her as if she were a member of the human race.”
From Auschwitz to Belsen: A Descent into Despair
In October 1944, the women were transferred to Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp where there was no orchestra. Conditions there were unimaginably harsh. ”It wasn’t actually an extermination camp – it was a camp where people perished,” Lasker recounted. “There were no gas chambers there, no need for gas chambers – you just died of disease, of starvation.”
the liberation of Belsen by British troops in April 1945 came just in time for Lasker and others. “I think another week and we probably wouldn’t have made it because there was no food and no water left,” she said.
Key Moments in the Story of Alma rosé and the Women’s Orchestra
| Event | Details |
|——————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Alma Rosé’s Leadership | Conducted the women’s orchestra at Auschwitz, providing a temporary escape. |
| Instruments | Stolen from other prisoners, used to play military marches. |
| Transfer to Belsen | October 1944; no orchestra, conditions worsened. |
| Liberation | British troops liberated Belsen in April 1945, saving survivors.|
A Legacy of Resilience
Alma Rosé’s story is a testament to the power of music and human dignity in the face of unimaginable suffering.Her leadership not only preserved the lives of many but also offered a glimmer of hope in a place where hope seemed unfeasible.For more on the liberation of Belsen, watch this BBC video.
What do you think about the role of art and music in times of crisis? Share your thoughts below.
A Journey of Resilience: The Lasker Sisters’ Post-War Lives
After the devastation of World War II, Anita and Renate Lasker reconnected with their eldest sister, Marianne, who had been brought to safety in the UK through the Kindertransport. by 1946, the sisters had settled in Britain, where they began to rebuild their lives. Marianne, however, tragically died in childbirth shortly after the war. Reflecting on the twists of fate, Marianne once remarked, “Such are the ironies of fate,” as she told the Guardian in 2005.
Renate, the younger sister, carved out a career as an author and journalist. In 1982, she moved to france with her husband, where she continued her work until her death in 2021, just 11 days before her 97th birthday.
Anita, conversely, pursued a remarkable career in music. She became a founding member of the English Chamber Orchestra, a testament to her talent and determination. During a visit to Paris, she reconnected with Peter Wallfisch, a fellow refugee and piano student she remembered from her school days in Breslau.The two married in 1952 and had two children: Raphael Wallfisch, a renowned cellist, and Maya Lasker-Wallfisch, a psychotherapist.
Despite their multilingual household, Anita admitted, ”It would have been totally impossible for me to speak German to my children.” This sentiment reflected her deep-seated trauma from the war,a pain that lingered for decades.
For years, Anita vowed never to return to Germany, fearing that anyone of a certain age could have been “the very person who murdered my parents.” However, time softened her resolve. By 2018,she was invited to Berlin to address politicians in the Bundestag,the German parliament. During her speech,she reflected on her journey,stating,”As you see,I broke my oath – many,many years ago – and I have no regrets. It’s quite simple: hate is poison and, ultimately, you poison yourself.”
Key Highlights of the Lasker Sisters’ Lives
| Sister | Achievements | Notable Events |
|————–|———————————————————————————-|———————————————————————————–|
| Marianne | Safely evacuated to the UK via the Kindertransport | Died in childbirth shortly after the war |
| Renate | Author and journalist; moved to France in 1982 | Passed away in 2021, 11 days before her 97th birthday |
| Anita | Founding member of the English chamber Orchestra; married Peter Wallfisch | Addressed the Bundestag in 2018, breaking her vow never to return to Germany |
The Lasker sisters’ lives are a testament to resilience and the power of forgiveness. From the horrors of war to the heights of artistic and professional achievement, their stories remind us of the enduring human spirit.
Anita’s journey, in particular, stands as a poignant example of overcoming hatred and embracing reconciliation. Her words in the Bundestag resonate deeply: “Hate is poison and, ultimately, you poison yourself.”
Through their triumphs and tragedies,the Lasker sisters left an indelible mark on history,inspiring future generations to confront the past with courage and compassion.
A Journey of Resilience: Teh Lasker Sisters’ Post-War Lives
after the devastation of World War II, Anita and Renate Lasker reconnected with their eldest sister, Marianne, who had been brought to safety in the UK through the Kindertransport. By 1946, the sisters had settled in Britain, where they began to rebuild their lives. Marianne, however, tragically died in childbirth shortly after the war. Reflecting on the twists of fate, Marianne once remarked, “Such are the ironies of fate,” as she told the Guardian in 2005.
Renate, the younger sister, carved out a career as an author and journalist. In 1982, she moved to France with her husband, where she continued her work until her death in 2021, just 11 days before her 97th birthday.
Anita, conversely, pursued a remarkable career in music. She became a founding member of the English chamber Orchestra, a testament to her talent and determination. During a visit to Paris, she reconnected with Peter Wallfisch, a fellow refugee and piano student she remembered from her school days in Breslau. The two married in 1952 and had two children: Raphael Wallfisch, a renowned cellist, and Maya Lasker-Wallfisch, a psychotherapist.
Despite their multilingual household, anita admitted, “It would have been totally impossible for me to speak German to my children.” This sentiment reflected her deep-seated trauma from the war,a pain that lingered for decades.
For years, Anita vowed never to return to Germany, fearing that anyone of a certain age could have been “the very person who murdered my parents.” Though, time softened her resolve. By 2018, she was invited to Berlin to address politicians in the Bundestag, the German parliament. During her speech, she reflected on her journey, stating, ”As you see, I broke my oath – many, many years ago – and I have no regrets. It’s quite simple: hate is poison and, ultimately, you poison yourself.”
key Highlights of the Lasker Sisters’ Lives
| sister | Achievements | Notable Events |
|---|---|---|
| Marianne | Safely evacuated to the UK via the Kindertransport | Died in childbirth shortly after the war |
| Renate | Author and journalist; moved to France in 1982 | Passed away in 2021, 11 days before her 97th birthday |
| Anita | Founding member of the English chamber Orchestra; married Peter Wallfisch | Addressed the Bundestag in 2018, breaking her vow never to return to Germany |
the Lasker sisters’ lives are a testament to resilience and the power of forgiveness. From the horrors of war to the heights of artistic and professional achievement, their stories remind us of the enduring human spirit.
Anita’s journey,in particular,stands as a poignant example of overcoming hatred and embracing reconciliation. Her words in the Bundestag resonate deeply: “Hate is poison and, ultimately, you poison yourself.”
Through their triumphs and tragedies, the lasker sisters left an indelible mark on history, inspiring future generations to confront the past with courage and compassion.
A legacy of Resilience
Alma Rosé’s story is a testament to the power of music and human dignity in the face of unimaginable suffering. Her leadership not only preserved the lives of many but also offered a glimmer of hope in a place where hope seemed unfeasible. For more on the liberation of Belsen, watch this BBC video.
What do you think about the role of art and music in times of crisis? share your thoughts below.
