Mala Zimetbaum and Edward (Edek) Galinski - also known as Romeo and Juliet from Birkenau.
Most romantic and tragic history of love ever:
Jewish woman (of Polish origin) and Polish political prisoner – both arrested and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp ( built and operated by Nazis in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II) – Mala in 1942, Edek in 1940. They met, they fall in love in a place which was all about death and destruction.
Edward planned to escape from the camp with his friend Wieslaw Kielar, The plan fell through when Kielar lost a pair of SS guard’s uniform pants needed as a disguise for their escape. Edek told his friend that he would escape with Mala instead.
The plan was as follows: Edek would dress up as the SS guard and escort Mala through the perimeter gate, pretending that he was escorting a prisoner to install a washbasin.
The plan was put into action in June 1944, and the couple succeeded in escaping to a nearby town. After their escape, Edek hid nearby as Mala went into a store to try to buy some bread with gold she and Edek had stolen from the camp. The passing German patrol became suspicious and arrested Mala. Edek watched from a distance as Mala was arrested.
Knowing she would be killed for the escape, he turned himself in to the German patrol since they had promised not to separate.
Edek and Mala were taken out to be executed at the same time, in the men’s and women’s camp respectively.