Who is the most high-agency person you've never heard of?
Rudolf Vrba.
He escaped Auschwitz by soaking himself in gasoline -- to give a memo to Churchill, Roosevelt, and the Pope.
Meet the man who saved 200,000 lives from the Nazis:
Rudolf Vrba.
He escaped Auschwitz by soaking himself in gasoline -- to give a memo to Churchill, Roosevelt, and the Pope.
Meet the man who saved 200,000 lives from the Nazis:
Rudolf Vrba was 18 when he entered Auschwitz
His name was removed and replaced with a number: 44070
His name was removed and replaced with a number: 44070
When Vrba was 19, he lost his virginity in Auschwitz to Alice Munk.
The next day Alice was killed in the gas chambers.
It's impossible to fathom Vrba's level of heartbreak.
The next day Alice was killed in the gas chambers.
It's impossible to fathom Vrba's level of heartbreak.
The biggest modern misconception about Auschwitz:
It's viewed with today's knowledge.
Key point: The Nazis hid what they were doing to everyone.
If they were open with their plan, people would not get on the trains.
It's viewed with today's knowledge.
Key point: The Nazis hid what they were doing to everyone.
If they were open with their plan, people would not get on the trains.
Vrba had a unique job:
He was responsible for collecting the luggage from new arrivals at Auschwitz.
Every day, he would watch SS guards calm down new arrivals:
"Don't worry. You'll be well. Just get a shower"
As they were escorted into the gas chambers.
He was responsible for collecting the luggage from new arrivals at Auschwitz.
Every day, he would watch SS guards calm down new arrivals:
"Don't worry. You'll be well. Just get a shower"
As they were escorted into the gas chambers.
Vrba was one of the few people in the world that knew what was happening.
He saw the greatest assembly line of murder ever created at its peak in 1942.
Vrba knew that if he could escape Auschwitz and tell the world what was happening -- fewer people would be killed.
He saw the greatest assembly line of murder ever created at its peak in 1942.
Vrba knew that if he could escape Auschwitz and tell the world what was happening -- fewer people would be killed.
Vrba teamed up with another prisoner: Alfred Wetzler.
The problem?
If he tried to escape Auschwitz, SS guards would put out a 3-day hunt squad.
If found, he'd be hanged in front of the rest of the camp.
The problem?
If he tried to escape Auschwitz, SS guards would put out a 3-day hunt squad.
If found, he'd be hanged in front of the rest of the camp.
High Agency Part 1: Find the hiding spot.
Vrba & Wetzler hid under blocks of wood just meters away from Auschwitz.
They knew if they could hide in there for the 3-day search -- they could escape.
Vrba & Wetzler hid under blocks of wood just meters away from Auschwitz.
They knew if they could hide in there for the 3-day search -- they could escape.
High Agency Part 2: Avoid dogs.
Auschwitz had sniffer dogs. If they were sat hidden just meters away from the camp, the dogs would find them.
Vrba & Wetzler had a genius idea:
They soaked themselves in gasoline and tobacco so the dogs couldn't smell them.
Auschwitz had sniffer dogs. If they were sat hidden just meters away from the camp, the dogs would find them.
Vrba & Wetzler had a genius idea:
They soaked themselves in gasoline and tobacco so the dogs couldn't smell them.
It was an extremely close shave.
At one point, the SS guards shouted:
"Look behind those planks!"
Vrba clutched a knife -- ready to take his own life than be caught.
They started taking the pile apart -- but then stopped mid-way through.
At one point, the SS guards shouted:
"Look behind those planks!"
Vrba clutched a knife -- ready to take his own life than be caught.
They started taking the pile apart -- but then stopped mid-way through.
After the 3-day hunt was over, they sprinted out of there late at night.
Problem:
They had to walk 86 miles to Slovakia.
Dressed in Auschwitz uniforms.
And the Nazis had replaced all local people with sympathizers.
Problem:
They had to walk 86 miles to Slovakia.
Dressed in Auschwitz uniforms.
And the Nazis had replaced all local people with sympathizers.
High Agency Part 3: 86 miles without being caught
1. No Google Maps. They had 0 clue where they were.
2. No Uber. They had to do the 86-mile journey on foot.
3. No heating. They had to do the journey at night in the freezing cold.
They navigated their whole way to Slovakia.
1. No Google Maps. They had 0 clue where they were.
2. No Uber. They had to do the 86-mile journey on foot.
3. No heating. They had to do the journey at night in the freezing cold.
They navigated their whole way to Slovakia.
High Agency Part 4: Remove emotions
Vrba & Wetzler didn't produce an emotional report about how they killed his first love.
Instead, it was an objective report like McKinsey consultants.
It was the first-ever objective account of Auschwitz's murder assembly line.
Vrba & Wetzler didn't produce an emotional report about how they killed his first love.
Instead, it was an objective report like McKinsey consultants.
It was the first-ever objective account of Auschwitz's murder assembly line.
Vrba had a photographic memory of every train and person arriving at Auschwitz.
He warned them that the Jews of Hungary would be next.
Despite the initial denial of the report -- it began to spread -- and it was the first time people got an objective insight into the Holocaust
He warned them that the Jews of Hungary would be next.
Despite the initial denial of the report -- it began to spread -- and it was the first time people got an objective insight into the Holocaust
The report was eventually given to Churchill, Roosevelt, and the Pope.
“This is possibly the greatest and most horrible crime ever committed in the whole history of the world.” - Churchill after receiving the report
“This is possibly the greatest and most horrible crime ever committed in the whole history of the world.” - Churchill after receiving the report
Even though they were slow to act -- the Vatican put enough pressure on the Nazis -- they halted all trains out of Hungary.
It's estimated Vrba & Wetzler's high agency saved 200,000 lives due to this.
It's estimated Vrba & Wetzler's high agency saved 200,000 lives due to this.
Vrba's life afterward is full of high agency:
1. He immediately signed up for the Slovakian army
When he asked for a pistol - they said:
"We don't issue pistols to lads like you... We issue sub-machine guns"
Vrba fought as a machine gunner defeating the SS in Stara Tura
1. He immediately signed up for the Slovakian army
When he asked for a pistol - they said:
"We don't issue pistols to lads like you... We issue sub-machine guns"
Vrba fought as a machine gunner defeating the SS in Stara Tura
2. He changed his name.
Rudolf Vrba's actual name is Walter Rosenberg.
He changed his name in case he was ever caught by the Nazis again.
They wouldn't know who he was or that he was Jewish.
Rudolf Vrba's actual name is Walter Rosenberg.
He changed his name in case he was ever caught by the Nazis again.
They wouldn't know who he was or that he was Jewish.
3. Post-War Career
He was a lecturer in Pharmacology in Canada.
It's reported that most of his students never knew his story or what he did.
He preferred a quiet life.
He was a lecturer in Pharmacology in Canada.
It's reported that most of his students never knew his story or what he did.
He preferred a quiet life.
4. He was an amazing dresser
Vrba spent the rest of his life extremely well-dressed according to friends.
After the experience of being a number in a concentration camp, he never let his individuality ever die.
Vrba spent the rest of his life extremely well-dressed according to friends.
After the experience of being a number in a concentration camp, he never let his individuality ever die.
In the age of Transformers 13 and Fast & Furious 10 - a fascinating question is:
"What stories aren't Hollywood making because they are busy with infinite remakes?"
I'd add Vrba's story to that list.
It deserves an actor like Leo and a megabudget.
"What stories aren't Hollywood making because they are busy with infinite remakes?"
I'd add Vrba's story to that list.
It deserves an actor like Leo and a megabudget.
If you enjoyed this, I'm adding Vrba to the 0.1% of ideas I go back to regularly.
I'm going to add a section called "The High Agency Library"
You can get the 0.1% of ideas here -> george-mack.com
I'm going to add a section called "The High Agency Library"
You can get the 0.1% of ideas here -> george-mack.com
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