Max Liebster (15 February 1915 – 28 May 2008) was a German-born victim of Nazi persecution during World War II due to his Jewish race and religion. During his imprisonment in four concentration camps (Sachsenhausen, Neuengamme, Auschwitz, Buchenwald) he studied the Bible with fellow inmates that were Jehovah’s Witnesses and converted to their religion, baptized in a bathtub at Buchenwald.[1][2][3][4] Liebster is also notable as the author of the book Crucible of Terror: A Story of Survival Through the Nazi Storm.[1][5][6][7]

Photo of Max Liebster included in Nazi files
List of personal effects of Max Liebster as a prisoner at Buchenwald Nazi Concentration Camp, after his transfer from Auschwitz
Stolpersteine

Family

edit

Liebster was born to Beirech “Bernhard” Liebster and Bertha Oppenheimer in Reichenbach, a part of Lautertal (Odenwald).[1][2][8][9][10][6] In 1947, Liebster emigrated to America and petitioned to become an American Citizen in 1953.[2][3][9][11] In 1956, he married Simone Arnold, another survivor of Nazi persecution.[2][6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Founders: Max Liebster". Arnold Liebster Foundation. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Siegert, Harry (29 Jul 2008). "Max Liebster died at the age of 93 years". Viernheimer Tageblatt.
  3. ^ a b Poland, Auschwitz-Buchenwald Transport, January 22 & 26, 1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, 2013. Name: Max Liebstor Date of Birth: 15 Feb 1915 Place of birth: Reichenbach Profession: Dekorateur Date of Transport: 26 Jan 1945 Buchenwald Prisoner Number: 120420 Auschwitz Prisoner Number: 69733 Prisoner Nationality/Category: German/Austrian Jew (German)
  4. ^ "Monument to Witness Holocaust Survivor Unveiled in Germany". JW.org. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  5. ^ Liebster, Max (2003). Crucible of Terror: A Story of Survival Through the Nazi Storm. New Orleans, Louisiana: Grammaton Press. ISBN 9780967936628. OCLC 237852345. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Interview with Max Liebster". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 5 Feb 1991. Retrieved 25 August 2019. Oral History Accession Number: 1992.A.0124.34 RG Number: RG-50.028.0034 Interviewer: Robert Buckley Language: English
  7. ^ "Interview with Max Liebster". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 17 May 1994. Retrieved 25 August 2019. Oral History Accession Number: 1992.A.0124.97 RG Number: RG-50.028.0097 Interviewer: Robert Buckley Language: English
  8. ^ "Max Liebster becomes an honorary citizen in his hometown". Bergstrasser Anzeiger. 20 Nov 2004.
  9. ^ a b New York, Eastern District Naturalization Petitions, Index, 1865-1957, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XGX3-Q61 : 6 December 2014), Max Liebster, 1953; from "Index to Naturalization Petitions of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1865-1957," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing Court U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, Index to Naturalization Petitions of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1865-1957, NARA microfilm publication 1164 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1991), roll 86.
  10. ^ New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1967, database w/images (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed date 24 Aug 2019) The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Number: 2848504; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3998; NARA Roll Number: 69 Name: Max Liebster Nationality: American Arrival Age: 42 Birth Date: 15 Feb 1915 Birth Place: Reichen Bach/German Hessen Arrival Date: 19 Jul 1958 Arrival Place: New York, New York, USA Destination: New York Airline Ona DC-4 Flight Number: 415
  11. ^ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24PQ-3WP : 15 March 2018), Max Liebster, 1947; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
edit