Two Lives Devoted to Freedom struggling: Harry and Martha Naujoks
In the heart of Berlin-Kreuzberg, on August 26, 2025, at 8 PM, the bookstore Schwarze Risse will present a significant publication: "Martha Naujoks - Harry Naujoks: Two Lives for Liberation." This book, filled with 47 international contributions on fascism, serves as a testament to the enduring impact of these extraordinary individuals.
Harry Naujoks, a survivor of the concentration camps of Sachsenhausen and Flossenbürg, was intensely engaged with the history of the anti-fascist resistance. His experiences during the Cold War, a time marked by repression of communist resistance fighters in West Germany, were a powerful force in shaping his perspective.
As the longest-serving prisoner at Sachsenhausen, Harry Naujoks secretly documented the conditions and abuses within the camp. His detailed accounts, published posthumously in 1987 as "My Life in Sachsenhausen," have had a significant impact on research on the history of the Nazi concentration camp system. Today, his memoirs continue to provide a credible and nuanced testimony that shapes historical research.
Numerous historians have praised Naujoks as a particularly credible chronicler of Nazi terror, and his work has been instrumental in the scholarly and public recognition of resistance movements and the importance of confronting the Nazi past in West German society.
Martha Naujoks, Harry's wife, also played a significant role in the study of anti-fascist resistance. After the war, she continued her anti-fascist activities, contributing to the remembrance and study of fascism’s impact and the resistance. Tragically, Martha fell victim to Stalinist persecution.
The "comrade conversations" among former Sachsenhausen inmates led to the creation of Harry Naujoks' memoirs. Activists, including the group "Children of Resistance," have recently reprinted these long-out-of-print writings, ensuring that their powerful testimonies continue to be heard.
Harry Naujoks also took over the chairmanship of the Sachsenhausen committee of the Federal Republic of Germany and was involved in several organizations related to anti-fascist resistance. Despite being frozen out by the KPD leadership after his release, he delivered a speech on October 14, 1962, at the national meeting of former Sachsenhausen inmates in Essen. At that time, the authorities had banned the Communist Party of Germany.
The lives of Harry and Martha Naujoks serve as a poignant reminder of the resilience and courage of those who fought against fascism. Their contributions are a testament to the power of personal testimony and the importance of preserving the memory of the past for future generations.
- The ongoing discourse about education-and-self-development and policy-and-legislation concerning fascism and anti-fascist resistance is highly relevant today, as demonstrated by the publication of "Martha Naujoks - Harry Naujoks: Two Lives for Liberation."
- Harry Naujoks' lifelong learning and commitment to uncovering the truth about the Nazi concentration camp system have significantly influenced the study of fascism and the importance of general-news reporting on this critical aspect of history.
- The engagement in politics by figures like Harry Naujoks serves as a reminder that lifelong-learning and personal testimonies are essential in shaping our understanding of the past and ensuring a more informed future.
