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Samuel Willenberg, Last Survivor Of Treblinka Nazi Death Camp, Dies Aged 93

Last Survivor Of Treblinka Death Camp Dies Aged 93
Sarah Ann Harris
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The last survivor of Treblinka death camp has died aged 93.

Samuel Willenberg was taken to the camp in 1942, one of 6,000 people transported there from the Opatow ghetto.

Most people were killed on arrival but Willenberg was assigned manual labour.

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Samuel Willenberg was the last survivor of Treblinka

He escaped from the camp in Nazi-occupied Poland in 1943 in a daring mass breakout which saw prisoners seize weapons, set fire to buildings and flee.

Most of the escapees were killed but Willenberg was among 67 who survived the ordeal.

According to Sky News, he later described his survival as “chance, sheer chance”.

Jewish News reported that Willenberg said that his blue eyes and “non-Jewish” look allowed him to survive in the countryside before arriving in Warsaw and joining the Polish underground.

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In later life he took up sculpting to describe his experiences.

Willenberg died in Israel and is survived by a daughter and grandchildren.

Around 875,000 were gassed to death at Treblinka - the second highest death toll from a camp after Auschwitz.

Auschwitz 70 years on
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Auschwitz survivors walk through the gate of the former Auschwitz concentration camp as they arrive to attend fesitivities to mark the 70th anniversary of the camp's liberation on January 27, 2015 at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site in Oswiecim, Poland. Seventy years after the liberation of Auschwitz, ageing survivors and dignitaries gather at the site synonymous with the Holocaust to honour victims and sound the alarm over a fresh wave of anti-Semitism. (credit:JANEK SKARZYNSKI via Getty Images)
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One of the Survivors stands near the Wall of Death during the 70th anniversary. (credit:Gallo Images via Getty Images)
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US director Steven Spielberg (C) is pictured on the sidelines of the unveiling of a plaque at the former Auschwitz concentration camp. (credit:JANEK SKARZYNSKI via Getty Images)
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Members of an association of Auschwitz concentration camp survivors walk past a guard tower as they depart after laying wreaths at the execution wall at the former Auschwitz I concentration camp. (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
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Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski (C), Piotr Cywinski (C-R), director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum and Auschwitz survivors arrive to lay down a wreath. (credit:JANEK SKARZYNSKI via Getty Images)
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Holocaust survivors pay tribute to fallen comrades at the 'death wall' execution spot in the former Auschwitz concentration camp in Oswiecim, Poland/ (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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A view of Auchwitz Death Camp. (credit:Gallo Images via Getty Images)
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A Holocaust survivor pays tribute to fallen comrades putting her hand on the 'death wall' execution spot. (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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A view of Auchwitz Death Camp. (credit:Gallo Images via Getty Images)
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A member of an association of Auschwitz survivors departs following a wreath-laying ceremony at the execution wall. (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
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Members of an association of Auschwitz survivors, including one showing a medal given to Polish former concentration camp prisoners, depart after laying wreaths at the execution wall. (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
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A view of Auchwitz Death Camp. (credit:Gallo Images via Getty Images)
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Auschwitz survivors walk away from the execution wall. (credit:Ian Gavan via Getty Images)
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Holocaust survivors arrive to pay tribute. (credit:JANEK SKARZYNSKI via Getty Images)
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Survivors walk out the gate with the sign saying 'Work makes you free' after paying tribute to fallen comrades at the 'death wall' execution spot. (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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A stone with a message to the fallen is seen in a crack in the 'death wall' execution spot. (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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Survivors walk in their former prison after paying tribute to fallen comrades at the 'death wall' execution spot. (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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Members of an association of Auschwitz concentration camp survivors depart after laying wreaths at the execution wall. (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
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Yuda Widawski, 96, who is among the oldest survivors of the Auschwitz concentration camp, arrives for ceremonies in a tent built over the original entrance gate to Auschwitz-Birkenau marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 2015 in Oswiecim, Poland. International heads of state, dignitaries and over 300 Auschwitz survivors are attending the commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops on 27th January, 1945. Auschwitz was among the most notorious of the concentration camps run by the Nazis during WWII and whilst it is impossible to put an exact figure on the death toll it is alleged that over a million people lost their lives in the camp, the majority of whom were Jewish. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
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US director Steven Spielberg (2ndL) films with his smartphone as he sits next to the President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder (2ndR) at a tent build in front of the entrance of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau for the main ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp on January 27, 2015 in Oswiecim, Poland. Seventy years after the liberation of Auschwitz, ageing survivors and dignitaries gather at the site synonymous with the Holocaust to honour victims and sound the alarm over a fresh wave of anti-Semitism. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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Chairman of the Nobel Peace committee and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjoern Jagland (C) arrives at a tent build in front of the entrance of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau for the main ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp on January 27, 2015 in Oswiecim, Poland. Seventy years after the liberation of Auschwitz, ageing survivors and dignitaries gather at the site synonymous with the Holocaust to honour victims and sound the alarm over a fresh wave of anti-Semitism. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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UK Defence Minister Philip Hammond (C) arrives at a tent build in front of the entrance of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau for the main ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp on January 27, 2015 in Oswiecim, Poland. Seventy years after the liberation of Auschwitz, ageing survivors and dignitaries gather at the site synonymous with the Holocaust to honour victims and sound the alarm over a fresh wave of anti-Semitism. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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Holocaust survivor Ela Weissberger, aged 84 looks at one of only 70 special candles, and the first in Scotland,commissioned to mark 70 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27, 2015 in Ayr,Scotland. People across Britain will come together today to remember and honour the millions killed in the Holocaust and mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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US director Steven Spielberg (L), a donor for the '18 Pillars of Remembrance project, sits inside a tent erected in front of the entrance of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau during the main ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp. (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
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