The Stone Crusher
Page 51
Auschwitz during WWI, 165
emigration, 100, 104–105, 106–107
block 7, 215, 219–220
Fritz and, 218–219
brothel and, 233
Herta and, 11
coat making, 245
Judaism, 11, 12, 13
as content, 194
letters to family, 123, 310
exchange of badges, 191–192
New Bedford life, 121–122
father and son in Auschwitz,
return to Vienna, 317–318
192–193, 236
Tini and, 11–12, 104–105
Fritz’s “death,” 211, 213, 213–214
United States arrival, 109–114
illness, 237
Kleinmann, Tini (Gustav’s wife)
as kapo, 189, 238
arrest of Fritz, 37–39
letters to family, 190
arrested in Vienna, 137–139
news/gifts from family/friends,
death of, 150–151 ( see also Maly
229–230, 231–232, 259
Trostinets)
as Polish in Auschwitz, 174
emigration applications, 71–72, 83,
resistance, 244–245
99, 100, 120–121, 131
work, 183, 185, 238
extended family of, 72–73, 74
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Kurt and, 11–12, 72, 104–105
bombers overhead, 15
leaving Vienna, 139–146
damage to, 312
in Leopoldstadt district, 8–9
description of, 8–9, 13–14
letters to family, 70–71, 102, 119, 123
evictions, 36
marriage, 6, 166–167
Fritz playing in, 217–219
Star of David badges, 130–131
identity cards, 22
Kleinmann family
Kurt returns, 318
emigration, 33, 34
losing heart, 229
enjoying the Danube, 149–150
November pogrom/Kristallnacht,
home of, 11–12
23–24, 27
love between Gustav and Fritz, ix, 119 Levi, Primo, 250
other relatives, 72–73, 74
lice, 187, 287, 288
photo, 19
Liebehenschel, Arthur, 215
reunited in United States, 322
Lisbon, 106–107
reunited in Vienna, 319
Loch (civilian worker), 239
story as fact, x
Löhner‑Beda, Fritz, 90, 95–96, 97, 184,
story as original, ix
195
summer in Vienna, 218–219
London, England, 309–310
work during Anschluss, 21
Löwenherz, Josef, 70
Koch (Commandant), 92–93, 117–118, Luftwaffe, 84
124–125
Luger, Sepp, 211
Koch, Karl Otto, 47
Lustig, Fredl, 154, 210
Kohl, Pepi (Josef), 282–283, 289
lynchings, 301, 306
Kohn, Karl, 105, 106–110
Koplowitz, Georg, 243
Majdanek concentration camp, 237
Kosiek, Albert J., 306
Makarenko, Anton, 79–80
Kozwara, Paul, 248
Makovski, David, 62
Kral, Franz, 229
Maly Trostinets, 147–148, 150–151
Kramer, Josef, 296, 297, 299–300
Matzner, Max, 210
Kunke, Hans, 97
Maurer, Alma, 71, 100
Kurz, Willi, 81, 184
Mauthausen‑Gusen concentration camp
Death Block, 284
Leeds, 58–61, 62–63, 86
description of, 196, 271, 280–281,
Léhar, Franz, 95
282, 306–307
Lehmann, Emil, 13
escape, 284
Leitner, Sepp, 321
liberation, 310–311
Leopoldi, Hermann, 90, 96
liquidation of prisoners, 291–293, 304
Leopoldstadt district
number of deaths, 306
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quarry work, 281
Nazi press, 31, 32
resistance, 282–283
Nazi sympathizers, 9–11, 12, 14–15,
Stair of Death, 281–282
17–18, 241–242, 297, 321
starvation, 289
Netherlands, 116
transport to, 1, 269–274
New Bedford, Massachusetts, 112–114,
Meixner, Jule, 211, 257
121–122
memorials, 238
Novacek, Friedrich, 38
Merkl (rabbi), 51
Novacek, Karl, 229
Messerschmitt, 290, 292
November pogrom/Kristallnacht, 23–28,
Meth, Leo, 242–243
30, 32, 61–62
Minsk, 144–148, 150–151
Nuremberg Laws of 1935, 19
Mishlinge, 227–228
Mittelbau‑Dora concentration camp, 286 Operation Barbarossa, 119
Moll, Otto, 262
Oświęcim. see Auschwitz
Monowitz concentration camp. see
Auschwitz III–Monowitz con‑
Palestine, 30, 33–34
centration camp
Palitzsch, Gerhard, 175–176, 215
Moses, Leopold, 78, 82, 91, 94, 137, 182 Palonka, Władvsłava, 304
Muselmann, 188, 212, 242
Paltenhoffer, Edith. see Kleinmann,
Mussolini, Benito, 15
Edith
Paltenhoffer, Peter John (son), 88, 309
National Socialists. see Nazi Germany; Paltenhoffer, Richard, 61–63, 86
Nazi Party
Pathenhoffer family, 318
Nazi Germany. see also Gestapo; Hit‑
Pawel (Auschwitz escaper), 246–249
ler, Adolf; SS
Peller, Karl, 246–248
Austria independence, 6–8, 9–10,
Pepitschko (civilian worker), 240–241,
12–13, 18–19, 20
245
Austrian government seizure, 19–20
Petzold, Walter, 221, 316
Austrian invasion, 15–17
Pister, Hermann, 134
Hungary invasion, 234, 239
Plaut, David, 255, 260
as machine, 198–199
police, 10–11, 14, 15, 18, 27, 28–29,
Nazi uprising, Austria, 10–11,
37–39
12–13, 14–15
Polish partisans, 246, 247
Soviet Union invasion, 119
Polish people, 173–174
surrender in Stalingrad, 189
political prisoners, 65, 78, 91, 116–117,
trials, 322
154, 186–187. see also communists
Nazi Party, 6, 12. see also Austrian
Portugal, 106–108, 120
Sturmabteilung
Posener, Curt, 244
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POWs (prisoners of war), 243, 251–252, Roosevelt, Franklin D., 31, 71, 99, 120
288
Rotfuchs (SS corporal), 241
prejudice against Germans. see fifth
Rottenstein, Jenni, 230
columnists
Rottenstein, Markus, 187
Preuss, Jakob, 188–189
RSHA (Reich Main Security Office),
Prifer, Bettina, 71
190–191, 234, 291
Prifer, Ignatz, 71
Russia. see Soviet Union
propaganda, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 22–23
property/belongings, 21, 164, 195, 214, sabotage, 203, 206, 259. see also resis‑
>
227, 238. see also “Canada”
tance
Salomon, Irmgard, 105, 106–107, 110
“Quarry Kaleidoscope” (Kleinmann),
Schäfer, Paul, 215
66, 288, 324
Schmidt, Paul, 213, 285
quarry work, 48–51, 64, 65–67, 81–82, Schmidt, (SS‑Sergeant), 82–83
281, 324
Schobert, Max, 92, 157
Scholz, Fritz, 314
RAF (Royal Air Force), 84
Schöttl, Vinzenz, 187, 191, 220, 222, 233,
Rakers, Bernhard, 244
248–249, 251
Rausch, Felix “Jupp,” 203, 243, 323
Schramm (SS‑Sergeant), 76
Red Army, 1, 251–252, 254, 261, 305
Schubert (civilian worker), 240
refugees, 60, 107–109, 120, 122. see also
Schuschnigg, Kurt, 6–7, 12–13, 15,
JRC (Jewish Refugees Committee)
190–191, 208
Remmele, Josef, 195, 196
Schwarz, Heinrich, 226, 248–249
resistance. see also kindess
Semlak, Karoline (Lintschi), 229
Auschwitz, 202–210, 211–213, 220–
Seyss‑Inquart, Arthur, 12, 15
221, 225–226, 230, 251–252, 259 Shabbat, 11–12, 13
Buchenwald, 117–118, 119, 123
Shirer, William L., 124
Fritz’s interrogation, 207–210
Siboney, SS, 107–109
Germans (general), 242
Siewert, Robert, 91–94, 137–138,
hesitance over Wocher, 225–226, 230
155–156, 157, 158, 314
hiding Fritz, 211–213
Sington, Derrick, 298–302
informers in Auschwitz, 220–221
Sipo‑SD, 144, 145–147
Mauthausen, 282–283, 289
Smolinski, Boleslaw “Bolek,” 221
Vienna, 17
Social Democratic Party of Austria, 7
Road to Life (Makarenko), 79–80
solidarity, 199
Robert, Danneberg, 95
Sommer, Martin, 117–118, 297
Rödl, Arthur, 89
Sonderkommando, 147–148, 149,
Roma people, 61, 65
235–236
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Sondheim, Fritz, 158
Stanislawa, Stepa, 239
Sonnenschein, Fritz, 251
Star of David badges, 130–132, 191–192
Soviet prisoners, 126–128
Steinitz, Heinrich, 184
Soviet Union
Stepa (civilian worker), 245
anti‑Semitism, 125–126, 164
Steyr‑Daimler‑Puch, 290
entering Vienna, 305
Steyskal, Olga (Olly), 229, 259, 316,
Nazi Germany invasion, 119,
318
134–135
Stolten, Richard, 180, 183
pushing Germany back, 237–238, 260 Stone, Abe (Barnet family), 122
Red Army callousness, 254, 261
stone crusher machine, 67–69, 324
resistance contacting Red Army,
Stone, Ruthie (Barnet family), 121–122
251–252
strikes, 116
SS fleeing, 1
suicides, 18, 30, 50, 121
World War I, 163–166
S‑Wagen, 148–149
spies. see fifth columnists, 84–85
swastikas, 20
SS. see also RSHA (Reich Main Secu‑
synagogues, 23–24, 28, 63
rity Office); individual officers
Szenek (Auschwitz escaper), 246–249
air raids, 250, 252
Buchenwald barracks, 91
T4, 124
Buchenwald Commando 99 reac‑
tattoos, 172–173
tions, 128
Täuber, Gustl, 254–255
Buchenwald escape register, 50, 67
Taute, Johann, 207, 221
Buchenwald resistance reaction, 123
taxes, 30–32
evacuating Mauthausen‑Gusen, 305
Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel R. I. G., 298,
faith in Nazi regime, 241
299–300
fleeing Red Army, 1
Teperberg, Bertha, 230
Himmler Totenkopfverbände, 45
The Land of Smiles (Léhar), 96
at Israelitische Kultusgemeinde, 20
Third Reich. see Nazi Germany
lynched at Bergen‑Belson, 301
train transport
Maly Trostinets reactions, 148
to Bergen‑Belsen, 295
prisoners becoming, 289–290
to Buchenwald, 44
Red Cross food plunder, 291
death train (from Gleiwitz II), 1–2,
street abuse, 23
269–273, 285–286
Vienna, 16, 21, 24
escape into Austria, 275–277
work at Bergen‑Belson, 302
to Mauthausen, 1–2, 280
Stadttempel, 24, 320
to Minsk, 141–145
Stair of Death, 281–282
during WWI, 161–162
Stalin, Josef, 125–126
tuberculosis, 125
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typhus, 78, 200, 211, 212, 295, 297,
Nazi sympathizers, 9–11, 321
298–299, 301, 302–303
November pogrom/Kristallnacht,
Typhus Research Station, 129–130
23–26
passing on death train, 272–273
Umschweif, Max, 155
police, 10–11, 14, 15, 18, 27, 28–29,
United States. see also Kleinmann,
38–39
Edith; Kleinmann, Kurt
Red Army entering, 305
air raids, 249–250, 252, 257–259
Stadttempel, 12, 13–14, 320
capturing Austria, 305–306
Star of David badges, 130–132
Edith immigration application, 34
vivisection, 118
fascism, 120
Vogel (kapo), 81
funds transfers, 120
Völkischer Beobachter (newspaper), 225
immigration policies, 31, 32, 71,
Vom Rath, Ernst, 23, 28
99–100, 120
Kurt’s arrival, 109–114
Waltraud (civilian worker), 239
Mauthausen liberation, 310–311
Windeck, Josef “Jupp,” 194–196
November pogrom/Kristallnacht
Windmüller, Walter, 221
reaction, 28
Winsen an der Aller, Germany,
298–299
veterans (WWI), 28–29
Wocher, Alfred (Fredl), 223–226,
Vienna. see also Austria; Leopoldstadt
228–229, 237, 253, 259–261, 320
district
Wolfram, Paul, 292, 304
after war, 317–318
women, 34, 52–53, 208, 232–233. see
anti‑Semitism, 8, 16–17, 18, 319–320
also Kleinmann, Edith; Klein‑
as civilized, 15, 17, 19
mann, Herta; Kleinmann, Tini;
condemnation of abuse, 32
Maly Trostinets
curfew, 70
Worgul, Emil, 255
damage to, 312
World War I, 161–168
emigration, 36, 120–121
World War II
government restrictions, 119–120
allies capturing camps, 237–238
as home, 5
allies helping camps, 250
Im Werd, 6
end of, 311
Jewish emigration/deportation,
news of, 123
3
19–320
start of, 37
Leopoldstadt district, 13–14, 15, 16,
22, 23–24, 27, 36, 217–219
Ziereis, Franz, 289, 291, 292, 304
Mishlinge, 227–228
Zuckmayer, Carl, 14
Nazi resistance, 17
Zyklon B, 202
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HISTORY / HOLOCAUST / BIOGRAPHY
$29.99 (CAN $39.99)
THE
“Heart-wrenching yet compelling, The Stone Crusher is STONE
the vivid true story of a father and son’s survival of abso-N 1939, Gustav Kleinmann, a Jewish
lute horror. Beautifully written, deeply poignant in its upholsterer in Vienna, was arrested by
detail, it is a necessary testament today in the fi ght against Ithe Nazis. Along with his sixteen-year-old
Holocaust denial.”
son Fritz, he was sent to Buchenwald in
Germany, where a new concentration
— Helen Fry, author of The London Cage: The Secret History of Britain’s camp was being built. It was the beginning of a
World War II Interrogation Center
six-year odyssey almost without parallel. They
helped build Buchenwald, young Fritz learning
CRUSHER
construction skills that would help preserve him
PRAISE FOR JEREMY DRONFIELD’S PREVIOUS BOOKS:
from extermination in the coming years. But it
was his bond with his father that would ultimately
“Vivid and engaging . . . a moving
“This book could read like a thriller, yet
and appalling tale of the full horror
the thorough research here provides a
THE STONE
keep them both alive. When the fi fty-year-old
of World War II’s last year on the
weightier feast . . . a well-researched
Gustav was transferred to Auschwitz—a certain
eastern front.”
and well-ordered biography.”
death sentence—Fritz was determined to go with
him. His wiser friends tried to dissuade him—“If
— Randall Hansen, author of Fire
— Spectator
JEREMY DRONFIELD is a biographer, historian,
and Fury: The Allied Bombing of
you want to keep living, you have to forget your
novelist, and ghostwriter. Following a career in
Germany, 1942–1945
“Meticulously researched and written
father,” one said. But that was impossible, and
archaeology, he began writing fi ction. His titles
with great verve, this biography is
Fritz pleaded for a place on the Auschwitz trans-
include the bestselling thriller The Locust Farm
“An elegant and sensitive biography . . .
about as good as it gets.”
port. “He is a true comrade,” Gustav wrote in his
and The Alchemist’s Apprentice. His recent non-
[an] absorbing book.”
CRUSHER
— Neil McKenna, author of
secret diary, “always at my side. The boy is my
fi ction includes the bestselling Beyond the Call