Dita Kraus

Dita Kraus (; born Edith Polachová; 12 July 1929 – 18 October 2025) was a Czech-Israeli teacher, writer and Auschwitz survivor. She was known for being The Auschwitz Librarian.

Early life Dita Kraus (born Edith Polachová) was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) on 12 July 1929.

The Holocaust years

In November 1942, Kraus and her parents were sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. While there she met her future husband, Otto Kraus. While in Auschwitz, she and her mother were sent to the women's barracks: her father died six weeks after their arrival. Upon arrival, her mother soon fell ill and had to be put into isolation. They were placed in the Theresienstadt family camp. Dita was responsible for organizing the borrowing and hiding of books; the knowledge of the books was kept a secret.

Kraus died in Jerusalem on 18 October 2025, at the age of 96.

Writing In 2017, Antonio Iturbe published The Librarian of Auschwitz which was based on Kraus' time at Auschwitz. Iturbe's book was based on interviews with Kraus. In 2020 Kraus published her own book, A Delayed Life, which presents her story from her own perspective.