History Extra Podcast: The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz
Episode Release Date: April 10, 2025
Introduction
In this poignant episode of the History Extra podcast, host Lauren Good delves into a lesser-known yet profoundly moving chapter of Holocaust history: the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz. Author Anne Sever, renowned for her insightful work, joins the conversation to shed light on how music became both a tool of oppression and a means of survival for female prisoners in one of history's most infamous concentration camps.
Formation of the Orchestra
Anne Sever opens the discussion by addressing the paradox of having an orchestra in Auschwitz, a place synonymous with brutality and death. She explains that the Nazis established several orchestras within Auschwitz, predominantly male, to project an image of a cultured military facility rather than an extermination camp. The Women's Orchestra stood out as the only all-female ensemble among approximately 14 or 15 orchestras in the camp.
"It wasn't beautiful, pleasurable music until Alma became conductor... the Nazis liked to show the world this is a military camp, it's not an extermination camp."
— Anne Sever [02:39]
The primary purpose of these orchestras was multifaceted:
- Control and Discipline: Music was used to enforce marching in time, making it easier for Nazis to count prisoners and maintain order.
- Propaganda: Sunday concerts were orchestrated to deceive the outside world about the true nature of Auschwitz, portraying it as a cultured institution.
- Torture: The incessant and often jarring music served as an additional form of psychological torment for the prisoners.
Role of Music as a Tool of Oppression and Survival
Initially, the orchestra's music was a form of torture, with unpleasant marches designed to break the prisoners' spirits. However, the dynamic shifted dramatically with the arrival of Alma Rose, a virtuoso violinist whose exceptional talent and leadership transformed the orchestra's role within the camp.
Alma Rose's Influence:
- Musical Excellence: Alma's skills elevated the orchestra from mere tools of oppression to sources of genuine artistic expression.
- Survival Mechanism: Her prowess prompted the Nazis to spare those musicians who could contribute musically, thereby providing them a chance to survive.
- Empowerment: Under her guidance, music became a means of asserting humanity and resilience amidst unimaginable horrors.
"Alma Rose only survived tragically for nine and a half months. So that's what we're talking about mostly when we talk about the orchestra. The orchestra under Alma."
— Anne Sever [06:36]
Key Figures in the Orchestra
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Alma Rose: The central figure whose leadership revitalized the orchestra. Her background as a highly skilled violinist made her indispensable to the Nazis, granting her and her fellow musicians certain privileges crucial for survival.
"Alma, with her great forceful personality, even persuaded the SS at one point to bring in a grand piano... she had to rewrite and score for four voices."
— Anne Sever [15:42] -
Hilda: A remarkable member who played a pivotal role in preserving the orchestra's legacy. As the Nazis attempted to destroy evidence of their atrocities, Hilda bravely rescued musical artifacts and documents, ensuring that the atrocities and the role of music within them were not forgotten.
"Hilda disobeyed orders... she rescued some precious artifacts... she understood instinctively that if she didn't preserve these hard artifacts... there would be people who would say this could never have happened."
— Anne Sever [26:25] -
Flora Jacobs: After suffering an injury that prevented her from playing, Flora was still protected by the Nazis due to her association with the orchestra. Her story emphasizes the orchestra's role in offering a lifeline to its members.
"Flora Jacobs... she was told she is lucky that the orchestra only has two other accordionists, otherwise she would be gassed."
— Anne Sever [13:06]
Survival Strategies Through Music
The orchestra members employed various strategies to use music as a shield against the Nazis' dehumanizing regime:
- Skill Utilization: Possessing musical skills made prisoners valuable to the Nazis, thereby reducing their chances of being sent to the gas chambers.
- Community Building: Music fostered a sense of solidarity and mutual support among the musicians, strengthening their resolve to survive.
- Mental Resilience: Engaging in musical activities provided psychological relief and a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.
"Survival is the way you resist the Nazis who were trying to kill you... If you could play an instrument, word got around that you could be saved."
— Anne Sever [12:37]
Post-Liberation Lives of Orchestra Members
The aftermath of liberation saw diverse paths for the orchestra members:
-
Continuation of Musical Careers: Some, like Anita Laska Walfisch, continued their musical journeys, forming musical dynasties and contributing significantly to the cultural landscape post-war.
"Anita... she's a founding member of the English Chamber Orchestra. She married a pianist and music continued to be a very important part of her life."
— Anne Sever [23:43] -
Transition to Teaching: Others shifted to education, using their musical expertise to nurture the next generation of musicians. Lilly Asael, for instance, became a renowned piano teacher in the Bronx.
"Lilly Asael became a teacher in the Bronx... she was a piano teacher to the child prodigy, Murray Pariah."
— Anne Sever [26:08] -
Abandonment of Music: Some, like La Grande Helene, found it too traumatic to continue with music professionally, opting instead to rebuild their lives away from the instruments they once played.
"La Grande Helene... gave up after the war because she was so damaged. Being a violinist was just too much for her health."
— Anne Sever [26:08]
Author Anne Sever's Personal Connection
Anne Sever shares a deeply personal connection to the story of the orchestra through her father, a tank commander who participated in the liberation of Belsen. His firsthand experiences, coupled with his records, ignited Sever's passion to explore the orchestra's narrative.
"I found in the archives... an account of his time in Belsen... on May 24, there was a Red Cross concert in Belsen with some of the remnants of the orchestra... I kick myself for not interviewing my father, but I am just absolutely certain he must have gone to this concert."
— Anne Sever [29:34]
This discovery not only provided a gateway to the orchestra's story but also highlighted the intertwined nature of personal and historical narratives.
Key Takeaways and Conclusions
Anne Sever emphasizes that the story of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the extraordinary measures individuals take to survive under extreme oppression. Key lessons include:
- Music as Resistance and Survival: Despite being exploited as instruments of torture, music simultaneously offered a lifeline and a form of resistance for the orchestra members.
- The Complexity of Survival: The orchestra's existence highlights the morally ambiguous choices prisoners had to make to survive, navigating a "gray zone" as described by Primo Levi.
- Preservation of Memory: The actions of individuals like Hilda ensured that the atrocities and the unique stories of survival were not erased from history.
- Female Experience in the Holocaust: Sever's work brings to light the specific experiences of women during the Holocaust, a facet often overshadowed in historical narratives.
"It's small acts of kindness... these small acts of sisterhood and looking after each other... remember their names... the female experience of war."
— Anne Sever [33:08]
In her concluding remarks, Sever urges listeners to remember the names and stories of these extraordinary women, ensuring that their experiences continue to educate and inspire future generations.
Final Thoughts
The episode eloquently intertwines historical facts with personal stories, offering a comprehensive understanding of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz. Through Anne Sever's research and narrative, listeners gain a deeper appreciation of how art and humanity can persist even in the darkest of times.
For More Information:
- Author's Book: The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival
- Additional Resources: A three-part virtual lecture series from historian Lawrence Rees available on HistoryExtra.com
- Support the Podcast: Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p here.
Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.