Date of birth:

December 3rd, 1917 (Zywiec)

Date of death:

October 23rd, 2012 (Zywiec)

Nationality:

Polish

In the 1930s he learned to photograph in Katowice in his uncle's photo studio. When the Germans invaded Poland he refused to enlist in the Wehrmacht. He tried to flee to Hungary, but was arrested at the border. After imprisonment in Sanok and Tarnów, he was deported to Auschwitz on August 31, 1940. He entered as a political prisoner and was given registration number 3444. In February 1941, he was employed at the Erkennungsdienst as a photographer.
It is estimated that he took between 40,000 and 50,000 photographs, many of which have been preserved and serve as evidence of the Nazi crimes. After Auschwitz he was deported to Ebensee, a side camp of Mauthausen. In early May 1945 he was liberated by American soldiers. By many he was called "The photographer of Auschwitz".

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

• - CRIPPA, L. & ONNIS, M., De fotograaf van Auschwitz, Boekerij, Amsterdam, 2014.