Ludwig Wörl: Difference between revisions

{{Expand German|topic=bio|date=December 2020}}

'''Ludwig Wörl''' (1906 – 27 August 1967), was a [[Carpentry|carpenter]] by profession. He was an opponent of [[Nazism]], and as a result of his actions, was imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camps. He received the title of [[Righteous Among the Nations]] file #1 (the first to be recognized) for rescuing Jews in concentration camps.

One of Wörl's anti-Nazi activities was to publish information booklets to the general public in Munich about the terrible conditions in the [[Nazi concentration camps]]. This action caused his imprisonment in [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]] 1934, by the [[Gestapo]]. After nine months in a dark detention cell, he was first transferred to the camp's carpentry shop and eventually became a paramedic in the medical clinic. In 1942, there was an outbreak of the [[Typhus]] in [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]], that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Auschwitz prisoners and personnel. In order to deal with the disease, Wörl was sent together with 17 other male nurses to the camp's clinic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Righteous Among The Nations|url=https://righteous.yadvashem.org/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=The Righteous Among The Nations}}</ref>

Appointed as the Lagerälteste (the camp elder) of the hospital barracks, Wörl  employed Jewish doctors, against the express orders of the SS, and saved them from certain death. Wörl, who cared for the health of his patients in the camp, put his life at constant risk in order to obtain the minimum medical equipment for the treatment of the prisoners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ludwig Wörl {{!}} The Stories of Six Righteous Among the Nations in Auschwitz {{!}} Yad Vashem|url=https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/righteous-auschwitz/woerl.asp|access-date=2020-11-22|website=www.yadvashem.org}}</ref> He would falsify patient data lists, in order to save them from the gas chambers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=מתוך עדותו של קופל בוימן {{!}} לודוויג ורל {{!}} סיפורם של שישה חסידי אומות העולם באושוויץ {{!}} יד ושם|url=https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/he/exhibitions/righteous-auschwitz/kopel-boiman-testimony.asp|access-date=2020-11-22|website=www.yadvashem.org}}</ref> As a result of consistent opposition to the orders of SS doctors aimed at deciding the number of patients, Wörl was arrested and re-imprisoned in an isolated detention cell.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2020}}

After his release, by virtue of his German descent and seniority, and thanks to his medical experience, he was appointed head of a forced-laborlabour camp, called Güntergrube, which was located near Auschwitz. In his new role, he protected 600 Jewish prisoners who had been abused by the German [[kapo]]s. He made sure that they would get the clothes and food they needed despite the unequal distribution that took place in the camp. Wörl acted openly for the Jews and their rights and looked for the best way to gain their trust.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2020}}

He worked tirelessly for the Jews, created among them the idea of underground action and mass flight, raised the Jewish morale, and gave many prisoners hope that the end of this difficult time was near.{{cncitation needed|date=December 2020}}

After the war, Wörl was in charge of the Auschwitz Prisoners' Organization in Germany. He remained a clear anti-Nazi even after the war, and searched for the SS soldiers from the camps. In addition, Wörl devoted his life to commemorating Nazi crimes and prosecuting the perpetrators. In 1963 he was one of the main witnesses at the [[Frankfurt Auschwitz trials|Auschwitz trial in Frankfurt]].{{cncitation needed|date=December 2020}}

Until his death (Auguston 27, August 1967), he appeared in public assemblies and showed documents he had collected about the concentration camps in plays and films. On 19 March 19, 1963, [[Yad Vashem]] recognized Ludwig Wörl as a Righteous Among the Nations.<ref>{{cnCite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/07/archives/outburst-stirs-auschwitz-trial-spectator-shouts-for-death-of.html|title = OUTBURST STIRS AUSCHWITZ TRIAL; Spectator Shouts for Death of Accused Nazi Guard|newspaper = The New York Times|date =December 20207 April 1964}}</ref>

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