Antoni Dobrowolski

Antoni Dobrowolski (October 8, 1904 – October 21, 2012) was a Polish educator, teacher and Holocaust survivor. At the time of his death in 2012, Dobrowolski was the oldest known survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp.[1][2][3]

An early photo of Dobrowolski.

Dobrowolski was born in Wolborz, present-day Poland, on October 8, 1904.[1]

Nazi German authorities limited the education of ethnic Polish children to only four years during the occupation of Poland in order to undermine Polish culture.[2] Despite the ban, Dobrowolski joined the Secret Teaching Organization to provide underground education in occupied Poland, according to Auschwitz historian Adam Cyra.[1] Dobrowolski was discovered and arrested in June 1942 by the Gestapo.[1] He was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he was assigned the prisoner number 38081.[1] Dobrowolski later recalled that "Auschwitz was worse than Dante's hell."[2] He was transferred to the Gross-Rosen concentration camp and Sachsenhausen concentration camp, remaining a prisoner until his release in 1945.[1][2]

He moved to Debno, Poland, following the end of World War II following his liberation.[1] He worked as an elementary school teacher, before becoming the director of a high school.[1]

Dorbrowolski died on October 21, 2012, in Debno, Poland, at the age of 108.[1] He was the oldest known survivor of Auschwitz at the time.

See also

References
  1. "Oldest Auschwitz survivor dies in Poland". United Press International. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  2. "Antoni Dobrowolski, oldest Auschwitz survivor, dies". BBC News. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  3. "World's oldest survivor of Auschwitz dies aged 108". The Daily Telegraph. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
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