An ambitious young Austrian, Maria Mandel, born in the unremarkable town of Münzkirchen, not far from Hitler's homeland - Braunau was a rare exception in the male SS Brotherhood - she was an SS lieutenant colonel and the head of the Birkenau women's camp. Obersturmbannführerin Mandel obtained permission from the commandant of the entire Auschwitz camp, Rudolf Höss, to create a women's orchestra. At first it consisted of Polish political prisoners, most of them non-professional musicians, former music teachers in secondary schools. Each of them somehow knew some kind of instrument. Zofia Czakowska, whom Mandel called “Tchaikovska”, was appointed director of the orchestra - she was very impressed by the consonance with the name of the great Russian composer, although prohibited for performance in the Reich. Tchaikovska was a school choir conductor before the war, and of course she was not ready for the role of orchestra leader. Realizing that the quality of the small ensemble’s playing would in no way satisfy Mandel and the SS authorities, and that the path of the entire ensemble could at any moment lead all of its members to the gas chamber, Tchaikovskaya managed to convince Mandel to attract several professional musicians to the orchestra from among the girls of Jewish origin who arrived at the camp from different countries. Europe.
Maria Mandel began her “professional” training in the women's concentration camp for political prisoners - Ravensbrück. There she acquired the necessary “skills” for her future activities in Auschwitz - breaking jaws and noses with one blow... She went a long way from an ordinary SS guard to a lieutenant colonel and the head of a women’s camp in an exceptionally short time. Indeed, the Nazi Revolution created greater opportunities for upward mobility even for some women. It is unlikely that the tall, slender blonde in a gray uniform, black cap, silk stockings and elegant shoes would have been recognized by her former fellow countrymen. One thing she hasn’t changed is that she adored music and her ambitions haunted her until she got her own orchestra.
Her lover Karl Bischoff was also in the camp - he was the chief of the SS construction service. True, his occupation was the construction and maintenance of complexes of gas chambers and cremation ovens... In normal times, perhaps, they would have been an unremarkable couple, loving music and living peacefully in one of the cities of Upper Austria, but now... now both were in the center the European “Dominion of Death”, and the effectiveness of the “FACTORY”, which had no precedent in human history, depended on their efforts.
The Birkenau women's camp orchestra began its existence in May 1943. The head of the orchestra, Zofia Czajkowska, also held the post of “block leader” (blokalteste), responsible for maintaining order and reporting to her superiors about everything that was happening in her barracks/block/. The orchestra was allocated block 12, which was called the “musical block”. Czajkowska was a political prisoner and, as many prisoners testified, she was tortured upon her arrival in Birkenau. Her neuropsychic state was quite severe, although she showed almost maternal care towards young girls - Poles and Jews. She recruited into the orchestra one of the first “non-Aryans”, two sisters from Greece, who felt completely lost in the hell of “quarantine”, not even having a language to communicate, except for a few French words.
During rehearsals, she became so angry that she sometimes hit her orchestra members. With great difficulty she managed to learn several marches and folk songs. The first performance took place in the camp infirmary - “revere”, after which the small orchestra had to play every morning and evening, weather permitting, when the “working teams” went to hard labor and when they returned after sunset.
“Improving the quality of the orchestra’s playing”, “selecting and auditioning new members of the ensemble” - such ordinary and prosaic things in normal life, acquired a completely different meaning in the conditions of Auschwitz - this was a matter of life and death for all applicants in the literal sense of these words. Even further stay in the orchestra could be interrupted at any moment. There was only one way out of the orchestra - into the gas chamber. All its participants knew this.
Mandel ordered that all women be sewn dark blue skirts, jackets with gray-blue stripes / so that they would not forget where they are! / and give them white blouses. Head scarves covered their heads and they all enjoyed absolute luxury, inaccessible to women prisoners here - they were allowed to wear underwear...
One of the members of the orchestra, the Parisian cabaret singer Fania Fenelon, who ended up in the camp for trying to pass herself off as an “Aryan” with false documents, wrote in her book of memoirs “Playing for time”, which in this context can be translated as “Playing to survive.” ", published in France in 1947, about a story concerning Maria Mandel. Perhaps it was a camp legend, perhaps it was true. This story told about an extraordinary incident that occurred during the “selection” upon the arrival of transport from Poland. The baby, who had barely learned to walk, ran out of the line of those waiting for the selection and rushed towards Mandel. She, according to Fenelon’s story, did not throw him back, although she was famous for her particular cruelty towards women with young or infant children. Mandel took him in her arms and carefully carried him to her place. She dressed the boy exceptionally beautifully the next day and took him everywhere with her. And five days later the child disappeared... The duty of a National Socialist demanded discipline from her too.
All the orchestra members knew this story, and regardless of its authenticity, they always remembered that any call to Mandel could be the last. Literally under the windows of the music barracks there was a platform where trains with the doomed arrived and the road - the last 150-200 meters to the barracks, where everyone had to undress, be shaved bald and go to the “shower”. The infernal world and the world of still living souls who made music rehearsing new programs of classical and light music were located close to each other.
One of the most frequent “guests” in the musical block was Dr. Mengele - the “angel of death”. He forced him to play his favorite piece by R. Schumann “Dreams,” originally written for piano and arranged for cello accompanied by orchestra, an infinite number of times! It was performed by Anita Lasker, a seventeen-year-old girl brought here from the Polish city of Wroclaw / Breslau /.
She played the piece over and over again, and Mengele demanded that the music of “Dreams” be repeated again and again... It was a kind of torture and a very sophisticated one. Many years later, Anita Lasker became one of the founders of the famous English Chamber Orchestra. In 1996, a BBC correspondent asked her: “How did it feel to play for people like that?” “I don’t think we felt anything at all...” was her response. "But did you know what they were doing?" "Of course we knew what they were doing... But what was the alternative?"
Another member of the orchestra, the singer Fania Fenelon, who has already been mentioned, Maria Mandel and the head of the entire camp, Rudolf Hess, were forced to sing an aria from Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly” ten times in a row. After listening to their favorite aria, both went to the “selection” of the arriving train...
Most of the girls in the orchestra lived to see their liberation. They told the story of the women's orchestra both in their memoirs and in their testimony about the investigation into Nazi crimes. The film mentioned above once again stirred up the memories of the surviving prisoners.
Completely here: http://berkovich-zametki.com/2006/Starina/Nomer4/Shtilman1.htm
Among the Nazi criminals who were put on trial after the fall of the Third Reich were women.
One of them, Maria Mandel, nicknamed the “beast” or “beast,” was superior to many men in cruelty and cynicism. Her direct involvement in the extermination of more than half a million female prisoners in concentration camps has been proven. Background Maria Mandel was born in 1912 in Austria-Hungary. Her father was a shoemaker. After finishing primary school, Maria lived for some time in Switzerland, then served as a postal employee in Austria. In September 1938, Mandel moved to Munich, and on October 15 of the same year, she took a job as a guard at the Lichtenburg concentration camp in the province of Saxony. This was one of the first concentration camps in Germany. Mandel worked there as one of 50 women who were part of the SS auxiliary services. Career with corpses Mandel quickly made a good impression on the leadership. In May 1939 she was transferred to Ravensbrück, where she was subsequently promoted to senior warden. Her duties included conducting daily formations and roll calls, issuing tasks to prisoners, and organizing punishments, including beatings and floggings. On April 1, 1941, Mandel joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP). This opened the door to career growth for her. In October 1942, Maria Mandel was appointed head of the Auschwitz-Birkenau women's camps. The complex was located in Poland, 60 kilometers from Krakow. Russians are more familiar with the Polish name for this death factory, Auschwitz. It was there that Dr. Mengele conducted monstrous experiments on people. Among the more than 500,000 women who perished in the ovens of Auschwitz were the Dutch gymnast, 1928 Olympic champion Estella Agsteribbe with her three-year-old son, and the French writer Irene Nemirovsky. The survivors were Stanislava Leszczynska, a midwife who delivered more than three thousand women in the concentration camp, and the writer Krystyna Zywulska, who wrote the book “I Survived Auschwitz” in 1947. A monster with a pretty face, SS Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) Mandel controlled all the women’s camps in Auschwitz. She had unlimited power over all female prisoners. The beating and humiliation of helpless victims gave Mandel sadistic pleasure. The prisoners did not call her anything other than “beast” or “monster.” Mandel was distinguished by the fact that, without a shadow of a doubt, she ordered to kill on the spot any woman passing by who had the imprudence to look at her. The camp director approved the lists of prisoners to be liquidated. She sent more than half a million women and children to the gas chambers at Auschwitz. For her distinctions before the Reich, Mandel was awarded the Cross of Military Merit, 2nd class. Cruel fun Mandel loved to choose “pets” from among Jewish prisoners for entertainment. She made them run errands for her or walk around the camp. Maria quickly became bored with the “little animals”, after which they were immediately sent to the gas chamber. Mandel received genuine pleasure during the selection of victims from among the prisoners to be sent to the gas chambers. She especially enjoyed “working” with children. Parisian cabaret singer Fania Fenelon, in her memoir Playing for time, says that once after transport from Poland arrived at the camp, a little boy ran out of the line of people waiting to decide their fate. He could barely walk, but headed towards Maria Mandel, who was famous for her particular cruelty towards women with small children. She did not throw the child away, but carefully took him in her arms and carried him to her. Mandel dressed the baby in beautiful things and took him everywhere with her. But five days later the boy disappeared. The fun got boring, and with one stroke of Mandel’s pen, the child was put on the list for destruction. Music lover in SS uniform Surviving prisoners said that Maria Mandel was a passionate music lover. Following the example of her male colleagues, who assembled two orchestras from prisoners in Auschwitz-Birkenau, she obtained from Rudolf Höss, the commandant of the entire Auschwitz camp complex, consent to form a women’s orchestra. The musicians were allocated a “musical barracks” - a separate block No. 12. Gradually, Polish political prisoners (former music teachers) were replaced by Jewish women arriving at the camp. The girls were professional musicians. Mandel ordered them to be given white blouses, jackets with gray-blue stripes and dark blue skirts. All female musicians received permission that was not allowed to ordinary prisoners - they could wear underwear. The members of the orchestra were, perhaps, the only prisoners in the camp who enjoyed the sincere favor of Maria Mandel. After the war, the women recalled that she treated them quite warmly - she often came to block No. 12 and asked to play this or that melody. A cheerful melody for the last journey The women's orchestra quickly honed its skills. The prisoner Alma Rose, the niece of Gustav Mahler and a talented violinist, was appointed its director. Alma was respected by the SS, and Mandel deeply sympathized with her. The team included 5 singers, 30 performers and even 8 note takers. Rose obtained additional rations for the musicians and the right not to attend mandatory roll calls. The orchestra played twice a day at the gates of the camp - when the work teams left for assignments and when they returned to the camp. The girls also performed in front of concentration camp staff, important guests, and privileged prisoners. To increase the efficiency of the liquidation of prisoners, Mandel instructed the orchestra to play bravura melodies for those going to the gas chambers. The end of deadly music In 1944, Mandel was transferred to one of the camps of the Dachau-Muldorf complex. After the Allies arrived, she fled to the mountains, to her homeland, but in August 1945 she was detained by the US Army and handed over to the Poles. After the First Auschwitz Trial, Maria Mandel was sentenced to hang. The execution took place in January 1948 in a Krakow prison. Before her death, Mandel proclaimed: “Long live Poland!” Her body was handed over to medical students.Maria Mandel(1912-1948) - Nazi war criminal. Occupying the post of head of the women's camps of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in the period 1942-1944, she was directly responsible for the death of about 500 thousand female prisoners.
Biography
Maria Mandel was born on January 10, 1912 in the Austrian city of Munzkirchen. Beginning in 1938, she served in the women's auxiliary units of the SS.
On May 15, 1939, she was transferred to the Ravensbrück women's concentration camp. She managed to impress the camp authorities, and in June 1942 she was promoted to senior guard. Her duties included conducting roll calls, sending prisoners to work and assigning punishments.
On October 7, 1942, Mandel was transferred to the large Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. There she took over the post of director of the women's camps at Auschwitz. Occupying a lower position compared to the male part of the camp authorities, she nevertheless had absolute power over the women's barracks and the rank of SS lieutenant colonel.
It was Mandel who formed the patronage Irma Grese, who took over the post of head of the Hungarian women's camp in Auschwitz.
Mandel was described by fellow employees as an "extremely intelligent and dedicated" person. Auschwitz prisoners called her a monster among themselves. Mandel personally selected the prisoners, and sent thousands of them to the gas chambers. There are known cases when Mandel personally took several prisoners under her protection for a while, and when she got bored with them, she put them on the list for destruction. Also, it was Mandel who came up with the idea and creation of a women’s camp orchestra, which greeted newly arrived prisoners at the gate with cheerful music. According to the recollections of survivors, Mandel was a music lover and treated the musicians from the orchestra well, personally coming to their barracks with a request to play something.
In 1944, Mandel was transferred to the post of warden of the Muhldorf concentration camp, one of the parts of the Dachau concentration camp, where she served until the end of the war with Germany. In May 1945, she fled to the mountains near her hometown of Münzkirchen.
On August 10, 1945, Mandel was arrested by American troops. In November 1946, she was handed over to the Polish authorities at their request as a war criminal. Mandel was one of the main defendants in the trial of Auschwitz workers, which took place in November-December 1947.
The court sentenced her to death by hanging.
mandel maria simdyankina, mandel maria shukshinaMaria Mandel
Maria Mandel(1912-1948) - Nazi war criminal. period 1942-1944, head of the women's department of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, responsible for the death of about 500 thousand female prisoners.
Biography
Maria Mandel was born on January 10, 1912 in the Austrian city of Munzkirchen. Beginning in 1938, she served in the women's auxiliary units of the SS. From October 15, 1938, Mandel worked in the Lichtenburg concentration camp. On May 15, 1939, she was transferred to the Ravensbrück women's concentration camp. She managed to impress the camp authorities, and in June 1942 she was promoted to senior guard. her duties included conducting roll calls, sending prisoners to work and assigning punishments. On October 7, 1942, Mandel was transferred to the large Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. There she took over the post of director of the women's camps at Auschwitz. Occupying a lower position compared to the male part of the camp authorities, she nevertheless had absolute power over the women's barracks and the rank of SS lieutenant colonel. It was Mandel who formed the patronage of Irma Grese, who took the post of head of the Hungarian women’s camp in Auschwitz.
Mandel was described by fellow employees as an "extremely intelligent and dedicated" person. Auschwitz prisoners called her a monster among themselves. Mandel personally selected the prisoners, and sent thousands of them to the gas chambers. There are known cases when Mandel personally took several prisoners under her protection for a while, and when she got bored with them, she put them on the list for destruction. Also, it was Mandel who came up with the idea and creation of a women’s camp orchestra, which greeted newly arrived prisoners at the gate with cheerful music. According to the recollections of survivors, Mandel was a music lover and treated the musicians from the orchestra well, personally coming to their barracks with a request to play something.
In 1944, Mandel was transferred to the post of warden of the Muhldorf concentration camp, one of the parts of the Dachau concentration camp, where she served until the end of the war with Germany. In May 1945, she fled to the mountains near her hometown, Münzkirchen. On August 10, 1945, Mandel was arrested by American troops. In November 1946, she was handed over to the Polish authorities at their request as a war criminal. Mandel was one of the main defendants in the trial of Auschwitz workers, which took place in November-December 1947. The court sentenced her to death by hanging. The sentence was carried out on January 24, 1948 in a Krakow prison.
Notes
- 1 2 3 Arthur Shtilman. From Vienna to Auschwitz (Russian). Jewish antiquity (No. 3(39)). Retrieved January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012.
- 1 2 3 Nikolai Grotovsky. Several portraits against the background of barbed wire (Russian). Lenta.Ru (10.04.2005 (16:48:08)). Retrieved January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012.
- Brown, D. P.: The Camp Women: The Female Auxiliaries Who Assisted the SS in Running the Nazi Concentration Camp System; Schiffer Publishing 2002; ISBN 0-7643-1444-0.
mandel maria zakharova, mandel maria mironova, mandel maria simdyankina, mandel maria shukshina
Among the Nazi criminals who were put on trial after the fall of the Third Reich were women. One of them, Maria Mandel, nicknamed the “beast” or “beast,” was superior to many men in cruelty and cynicism. Her direct involvement in the extermination of more than half a million female prisoners in concentration camps has been proven.
BACKGROUND
Maria Mandel was born in 1912 in Austria-Hungary. Her father was a shoemaker. After finishing primary school, Maria lived for some time in Switzerland, then served as a postal employee in Austria. In September 1938, Mandel moved to Munich, and on October 15 of the same year, she took a job as a guard at the Lichtenburg concentration camp in the province of Saxony. This was one of the first concentration camps in Germany. Mandel worked there as one of 50 women who were part of the SS auxiliary services.
CAREER ON CORDS
Mandel quickly made a good impression on management. In May 1939 she was transferred to Ravensbrück, where she was subsequently promoted to senior warden. Her duties included conducting daily formations and roll calls, issuing tasks to prisoners, and organizing punishments, including beatings and floggings. On April 1, 1941, Mandel joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP). This opened the door to career growth for her. In October 1942, Maria Mandel was appointed head of the women's camps at Auschwitz.
MONSTER
SS Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) Mandel controlled all the women's camps at Auschwitz. She had unlimited power over all female prisoners. The beating and humiliation of helpless victims gave Mandel sadistic pleasure. The prisoners did not call her anything other than “beast” or “monster.” Mandel was distinguished by the fact that, without a shadow of a doubt, she ordered to kill on the spot any woman passing by who had the imprudence to look at her. The camp director approved the lists of prisoners to be liquidated. She sent more than half a million women and children to the gas chambers at Auschwitz. For her service to the Reich, Mandel was awarded the Cross of Military Merit, 2nd class.
CRUEL FUN
Mandel took genuine pleasure in selecting victims from among the prisoners to be sent to the gas chambers. She especially enjoyed “working” with children. Parisian cabaret singer Fania Fenelon, in her memoir Playing for time, says that once after a transport from Poland arrived at the camp, a little boy ran out of the line of those waiting to decide his fate. He could barely walk, but headed towards Maria Mandel, who was famous for her particular cruelty towards women with small children. She did not throw the child away, but carefully took him in her arms and carried him to her. Mandel dressed the baby in beautiful things and took him everywhere with her. But five days later the boy disappeared. The fun got boring, and with one stroke of Mandel’s pen, the child was put on the list for destruction.
MUSIC LOVINE IN SS FORM
Surviving prisoners said that Maria Mandel was a passionate music lover. So, she obtained from Rudolf Höss, the commandant of the entire Auschwitz camp complex, consent to the formation of a women’s orchestra.
The orchestra played twice a day at the gates of the camp - when the work teams left for assignments and when they returned to the camp. To increase the efficiency of the liquidation of prisoners, Mandel commissioned the orchestra to play bravura melodies for those going to the gas chambers.
THE END OF DEADLY MUSIC
In 1944, Mandel was transferred to one of the camps of the Dachau-Muldorf complex. After the Allies arrived, she fled to the mountains, to her homeland, but in August 1945 she was detained by the US Army and handed over to the Poles. After the First Auschwitz Trial, Maria Mandel was sentenced to hang. The execution took place in January 1948 in a Krakow prison. Before her death, Mandel proclaimed: “Long live Poland!” Her body was handed over to medical students.