Stanisław Ryniak (21 November 1915 – 13 February 2004) was a Polish political prisoner of Auschwitz concentration camp during the Second World War. He was the first Polish prisoner in Auschwitz (that is, the one with the lowest number – 31).[1]

Stanisław Ryniak
Stanisław Ryniak (KL Auschwitz)
Born21 November 1915
Sanok, Poland
Died13 February 2004(2004-02-13) (aged 88)
Wrocław
NationalityPolish
Alma materWrocław University of Science and Technology
OccupationArchitect
Known forFirst inmate of Auschwitz
Honours

In May 1940, when he was 24, Ryniak was arrested by the Germans in his hometown of Sanok and was accused of being a member of the Polish resistance. He was transported to Tarnów prison on 7 May, together with 18 Poles from Jarosław, and arrived at Auschwitz on 14 June 1940, in the first mass transport of prisoners to the camp.[2]

Numbers were tattooed on prisoners' arms in the order of their arrival. The first 30 numbers were given to German criminal prisoners who would serve as camp guards. Ryniak's number was 31.[3][4]

He is buried in Wrocław, Poland.[5]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ www.auschwitz.org. "News / Museum / Auschwitz-Birkenau". en.auschwitz.org.
  2. ^ Staff, Times; Reports, Wire (2 March 2004). "Stanislaw Ryniak, 88; First Death Camp Inmate at Auschwitz" – via LA Times.
  3. ^ "Auschwitz/Birkenau and subcamps". www.cympm.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006.
  4. ^ ORNAK. "Dia-pozytyw: SHOAH". www.diapozytyw.pl.
  5. ^ "Stanislaw Ryniak, Auschwitz Inmate, Is Dead at 88". The New York Times. 28 February 2004.
  6. ^ "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 2 listopada 2000 r. o nadaniu orderów i odznaczeń". prawo.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d Historia Okręgu Dolnośląskiego Polskiego Związku Byłych Więźniów Politycznych Hitlerowskich Więzień i Obozów Koncentracyjnych 1946-2002 (in Polish). Wrocław: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej. 2003. p. 149.