Ballerina Who Slaughtered Nazi Officers at Auschwitz: Franceska Mann
When Art Meets War
•
11m
Once a rising star of Polish ballet, Franceska Mann’s life ended in Auschwitz—but not before she made history. In October 1943, trapped in the camp’s gas chamber, she attacked SS guards, wounding and killing them with their own weapon. Her final act of defiance showed extraordinary bravery and inspired countless prisoners, leaving a legacy that turned tragedy into a legend of resistance.
Up Next in When Art Meets War
-
The Occultist Who Helped Hitler Seize...
Erik Jan Hanussen, an Austrian--born clairvoyant and showman, became Hitler’s secret mentor in crowd control and propaganda. He dazzled Berlin with séances, lavish parties, and predictions—including foreseeing the Reichstag fire. But his closeness to Nazi leaders and the debts they owed him seale...
-
Murdered in Moscow Under Stalin’s Ord...
Zinaida Reich was one of Moscow’s brightest actresses, the wife of director Vsevolod Meyerhold, and the former partner of poet Sergei Yesenin. Outspoken and unwilling to bend to Stalin’s control of Soviet art, she became a target. In July 1939, assailants stabbed her 17 times in her apartment, in...
-
Famous Polish Actor Turned Nazi Colla...
From a popular film star to one of Poland’s most infamous Nazi collaborators, Igo Sym’s story is one of fame, betrayal, and deadly consequences. He was handsome, charming, and adored by fans. But under Nazi occupation, he was working with German authorities and used his influence to aid the occup...
