00:03The story of Mala Zimetbaum is one of the most powerful and tragic accounts of courage during the Holocaust.
00:11Mala Zimetbaum was born in 1918 in Poland, but she grew up in Belgium after her family moved there.
00:26She was known as intelligent, kind, and fluent in several languages, traits that would later play a crucial role in
00:34her survival.
00:42When Nazi Germany occupied Belgium during World War II, Mala, being Jewish,
00:47was eventually arrested and deported to the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942.
01:02Mala Zimetbaum was known for her remarkable ability with languages,
01:07which played a major role in her survival and influence inside Auschwitz concentration camp.
01:11She was fluent in at least six languages, commonly identified as German, Polish, French, Flemish, Dutch, English, Italian.
01:28Because of this, the Nazis used her as an interpreter and messenger in the camp.
01:34But instead of only serving their system, Mala used her position to quietly resist it.
01:39She translated for prisoners, helped them understand orders, warned them of danger
01:43and sometimes even manipulated information to protect lives.
01:48We must remain strong. We have to believe that this will pass. I pray you are right.
01:53We must remain strong. Hold on to your confidence, for it is our light in the darkness.
01:58Her linguistic ability made her more than just a prisoner. It gave her a unique kind of power in a
02:04powerless place.
02:05I am here for you. Behandle the prisoners well.
02:10It allowed her to move between groups, build trust and become a lifeline for many.
02:16In many ways, her fluency wasn't just a skill. It became a tool of resistance and compassion.
02:22At Auschwitz, Mala was assigned as a messenger and interpreter because of her language skills.
02:28This position gave her slightly more mobility within the camp compared to other prisoners.
02:34Despite the extreme danger, she used this role to help fellow inmates, smuggling food,
02:40passing messages and warning others about selections when prisoners were chosen for death.
02:45She became known among prisoners as someone who gave hope in a place designed to destroy it.
02:51While imprisoned, Mala met a Polish political prisoner named Edward Galinsky.
02:57The two fell in love under the most unimaginable conditions.
03:01Together, they made a daring plan to escape the camp.
03:05In June 1944, Edward disguised himself as an SS guard and Mala wore a stolen uniform.
03:12Using forged documents and careful planning, they managed to walk out of Auschwitz.
03:18Something almost unheard of.
03:20For a time, they were free.
03:23But after about two weeks, they were captured near the border.
03:25They were brought back to Auschwitz and imprisoned separately.
03:29Despite brutal interrogation and torture, neither betrayed others or gave away details that could harm fellow prisoners.
03:36Their execution became an unforgettable moment in the camp's history.
03:40Edward was publicly hanged.
03:42Mala was also meant to be executed, but before it could happen, she reportedly cut her own wrists using a
03:49hidden razor blade.
03:51Even in her final moments, she resisted, slapping a guard and shouting words of defiance against the Nazis.
03:58According to witnesses, she encouraged other prisoners not to lose hope and to resist oppression.
04:08I want you to be strong and do not give up.
04:14Mala Zimetbaum died in 1944 at Auschwitz concentration camp after being captured following her escape attempt.
04:22She and Edward Galinsky were returned to the camp and sentenced to death.
04:25Edward was executed by hanging in front of other prisoners.
04:30Mala's execution was meant to be carried out publicly as well, but she resisted to the very end.
04:36According to survivor testimonies, she had secretly hidden a razor blade.
04:40As guards prepared to execute her, she cut her own wrists in an act of defiance, choosing to resist rather
04:47than submit quietly.
04:48Even then, she did not remain silent.
04:51Witnesses say she struck an SS guard and shouted words encouraging fellow prisoners to stay strong and not lose hope.
04:59The guards reacted brutally.
05:01She was beaten, and accounts differ slightly on the exact final moment.
05:05But it is widely believed she died shortly after from her injuries and blood loss.
05:10Her death, like her life, became a powerful symbol of resistance during the Holocaust.
05:15A refusal to be broken, even in the face of death.
05:21Mala Zimetbaum died in 1944, but her legacy endured.
05:26She is remembered not just as a victim of the Holocaust, but as a symbol of bravery, compassion and resistance.
05:35In a place built on cruelty, she chose to help others, to love and to fight back, right until the
05:42end.
05:43Her story continues to inspire people around the world as a reminder that even in the darkest times, humanity and
05:51courage can still shine.
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