Wilhelm Brasse, Auschwitz photographer, dies.

<p>Wilhelm Brasse, a Pole imprisoned in Auschwitz (in 1940, with a low, 30xx, prisoner number) who as assigned to the Auschwitz's "Erkennungsdienst" department taking official prisoner's pictures and other photographs has died today in Zywiec, Poland.<br>

Apparently he's taken over 50 thousand pictures in Auschwitz. His fascinating story was the subject of a Polish documentary "Portrecista" ("Portrait Photographer.")<br />His pictures are very important both as photographs and as historical documents of German atrocities.</p>

<p>Some of his photographs can be seen at the Yad Vashem website:</p>

<p><a href="http://collections.yadvashem.org/photosarchive/en-us/41668-container.html">http://collections.yadvashem.org/photosarchive/en-us/41668-container.html</a></p>

<p>It must be the same guy that I was reading about...he was 108 and the last Auschwitz prisoner. I wonder how many years (maybe never ?) did it take to shake off the depression: knowing full well about the longevity of life there.</p>

<p>Les</p>

<p>The stark nature of those photos and the knowledge of the fate of those photographed remain powerful even after almost 70 years. Let us hope that never changes.</p>