A Capo in Auschwitz asked me to make a Jew laugh so that he could hunt for his golden teeth

Editor’s Note: In this letter dated from 1994, my grandfather shares the fascinating story of Capo Winter. His moral integrity and faith fill me with much pride.

September 15, 1994

From Henryk Arfa, born in Poland

What I’m about to describe is how God himself—bichvodo v’atzmo (in his honor and strength)—protected me from being murdered and killed or gas-chambered.1

The workplace in Jaworzno had three Capos commanding the workplace.

The first Capo was a “Reich’s German.”2 His job at the concentration camp was: killer and murderer. He wore a sign on the front of his jacket for people—the authorities, the SS, his German masters, etc., to recognize his purpose there. His name was Capo Winter.

The second Capo was a Pole. He was one for political reasons. He was only 17 years old, tall and strong.

The third Capo was a Jew, a friend of mine. He was a nothing.

Somehow Capo Winter approached me and said, “Henryk (“Heinrich” in German), I want you to approach every Greek Jew inmate—to strike a conversation and try to make him laugh so that he would show you his teeth. If he has golden teeth, then tell me, and for this you will receive extra soup and other things.”

Now the Polish Capo also wanted the same thing fro me or else he would kill me.

I could not perform such a tragic thing. Now, understand me: I could never be directly involved in that scum of killing innocent people.

Every day, Capo Winter approached me and said: “What’s new? Can’t you find anything?”

“Wait, I’m looking.”

I was in good communication with Capo Winter.

“I’m still looking.”

I told Capo Winter that Capo Gustaw would kill me if I don’t cooperate with him.

“Ach, Quatsch (nonsense),” meaning: Do not be afraid of Capo Gustaw. He won’t kill you.

“But, please. I want you, Capo Winter, to come with me and tell Capo Gustaw to leave Heinrich alone.”

So Capo Gustaw was afraid of Capo Winter. “I will leave Heinrich alone.”

One angel of death away.

Now the question was: How can I, Henryk, force Capo Winter to leave me alone?

I was playing for time. I could not sleep at night, and the next day you had to go to work. No excuses!

Allow me describe his function: to kill people with golden teeth in their mouth. My conscience did not even allow me to think of committing such a criminal act.

I could not find anybody to intervene on my behalf. But I found someone: God himself intervened on my behalf and rescued my life.

This is how this miracle happened: In the morning, I was standing in the line to be dispatched for my job, and Capo Winter approached me.

“This is it, Heinrich. Du kommst (you’re coming).” I was next to be killed for not delivering anybody with golden teeth.

Now guess what happened? Capo Winter had built a house without permission. He thought that he was a big shot being a Reich’s German, but he was an inmate. So Capo Winter had a quarrel with the master of the shop, a Reich’s German, a civilian, who was SS in rank.

Capo Winter said to him: “You think you will beat me up as you are doing this with Jews?”

The German master called the SS commando. They sent over five tall SS troopers with whips and put Capo Winter in the middle of the working place on a table and whipped him with 50 lashes. Capo Winter was screaming as loud as he could. That was the end of Capo Winter. He was gas-chambered in Auschwitz.

And Henryk Arfa was a free man for the time being.

Sincerely yours,

The holocaust survivor Henryk Arfa

PS. God himself stood up for me in time of need to save my life to be able to keep my promise given to my holy mother at the time of departing with her forever: That I’m going to be alive and give a generation to the Jewish world.