How I SURVIVED Four Different Nazi Concentration Camps | Ben Lesser

Ben Lesser was born in Kraków, Poland in 1928. After the German army invaded Poland in 1939, Ben and his family were subject to countless acts of violence by Nazi soldiers and forced to live in the Bochnia Ghetto.

Ben's journey over the next years would be filled with unimaginable pain and suffering. He would survive a seven-week death march and four different concentration camps — Auschwitz-Birkenau, Durnhau, Buchenwald and Dachau.

He would also survive two separate death trains. On the train from Buchenwald to Dachau, Lesser said he spent three weeks in a cattle car with no water, surviving on only crumbs of a bread roll he had smuggled on. Of the 5,000 prisoners on this train, Lesser was one of only 18 who survived and is the last one alive today.

Lesser and one of his older sisters would be the only two of their seven-person family to see liberation.

Interview recorded on November 5, 2022

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Video Credits:
Interviewer - Bob Patrick
Director of Photography - Umit Gulsen
Editor - Daniel Taksas

[umamuthiah]

He was a smart teenager when this happened which saved his life. He saved diamonds but gave up the diamonds to save his uncle’s life. What a pure soul!

[Shandon]

Mr. Lesser spoke at my high school, sharing his story and presenting us with a pin as a lasting reminder. His narrative, even when recounting the distressing incident of a baby being smashed into a door, remains unforgettable. I'm grateful that his story is now available online for others to hear. Very important sorry and historical evidence. Thank you for sharing.

[terrytwotoes]

You survived in a place nobody was meant to survive. You're an angel

[martingustafson]

His story is worse than rated R film! He told the story so well and was able to speck words witch transformed in to an accurate visual detail's. It was as if he teleported you and you were standing right beside him seeing everything he saw. It's unbelievable that he survived to tell his story. I listened brave sir! It happened to you and millions of other people. I will NOT get amnesia and forget the struggles forced upon you.

[strafe-]

The fact that more and more people are denying this is terrifying

[dombanom]

As a Gypsy, people often forget that millions of my people were killed by Germans as well. Hearing this mans story reminds me of my grandfather, who had very similar stories. He hid in the forest with his 3 year old brother for 4 days to get away from Germans. He lived in Czechoslovakia. I was born in 93 and we immigrated to Canada in 98.

[remaguire]

God bless you, Mr. Lesser.

In the neighborhood where I grew up, a Jewish gentleman from Poland had a gift shop a couple of doors down from my parents' deli. He also was in Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau. He knew Mengele from his job working in the kitchens at Auschwitz. How he got that job is a story in itself, but suffice it to say that like Mr. Lesser he was able to think his way into a job that helped him to survive.

I would be surprised if Mr. Lesser's uncle didn't know this man. Maybe even Mr. Lesser did also. He never talked about the horrifying events from the camps, only about how he was able to fool the guards to smuggle food to some of the other inmates. I can only imagine the horrors that he saw and kept to himself.

[reqhskslkwe]

What a loving nephew to his uncle..God bless sir

[briannaatoche]

this story is making me bawl my eyes out. he speaks so well and tells his story so well its like im next to him when he experienced this. Mr Lesser, thank you for sharing your story, i am so sorry you went through this, i wish you nothing but the best these years to come, you are a survivor. God bless you.

[craigiefconcert]

“God left a witness.” That hit me very hard.
Not just a witness to let the tale to the Jewish people, but to all mankind. We must discard hate and have peace.

[quant_solutions]

This poor man, the horrors he has lived through. Hopefully the telling of his stories brings him peace. Telling these truth helps in preventing it from happening again.

[mtnvlifestyles]

I love how his uncle made him pack his shoes with diamonds to help his life be easier, and he gave the diamonds to someone to help his uncle get a job in the kitchen to make his life easier.. and took his tenth man punishment... the selflessness in that situation would probably never happen again

[ClarenceCochran-nedu]

Surviving even one Concentration Camp is amazing. Surviving four ventures into the miraculous. Absolutely astounding

[jaykrishnaa]

Some parts of this story are soo hard to learn that we cant even imagine them and hear them again.. Cannot even think how those people survived that hell, seeing your own family getting killed and what not!

[Roselady]

Wow… what a testimony of faith, bravery and unconditional love for your uncle. No words to say how I’m feeling over the suffering you have gone through. Thank you for sharing. My heart prayers for the baby, the couple and those who were persecuted. I’m so sorry for your losses, as well. 🙏🏼🌹

[yasminbarroso]

You have a guardian angel watching over you Mr. Lesser. Your story was meant to be told and thank you for speaking on probably the hardest times of your life.

[aranyadutta]

The detail in which he remembers LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE THING THAT HAPPENED, just UNREAL; and then there are people who deny the Holocaust ever happened. TO HELL WITH THEM.

[johngillespie]

Witold Pilecki the Polish Cav officer that volunteered to go to Auschwitz in 40. Gave info on the horrors to the Home Army AK Escaped in 43, fought in the Warsaw uprising and was executed by communists in 48. Another hero of Polska 🇵🇱🇮🇱🇺🇲💪

[tonyplayford]

I am so saddened by what happened to the jewish families and your story I only hope you and your loved ones find peace hope and lots of love

[budverissimo]

This dude was a guest speaker at my middle school in a small town in wisconsin. I greatly remember his story and how it impacted me.