Watch the testimony of Anity Lasker Wallfish, then read her short biography.
Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was born in Breslau, Germany on July 17, 1925. Her family identified as Jewish but was not actively involved in church functions. Before the war, Anita’s father served as a lawyer while her mother cared for Anita and her sister at home. Anita’s mother—who was a skilled musician—encouraged her daughters to explore their artistic abilities. Anita ultimately developed a liking for the cello; her skills would later impact her experience at Auschwitz. As tensions grew in Germany, Anita’s family made several attempts to emigrate. These efforts proved unsuccessful, however, due to document complications. Shortly thereafter, both Anita and her sister were assigned to work in paper factories. Anita was later relocated to Auschwitz as a prisoner. Though she arrived with no special privileges, her musical talents made her experience at Auschwitz particularly noteworthy. She was recruited into the camp’s orchestra as a cellist. This position lent her a special status in the camp; in fact, Anita attributes her survival to it. In 1944, Anita was transported to another camp: Bergen-Belsen. This would be her last relocation before British armed forces liberated the camps in 1945. Immediately after liberation, Anita began serving as a translator for the British army. She later immigrated to London, England where she settled permanently. This interview took place on December 8, 1998 in London, England.