Ruppertsgrün, 19 November 2025: The International Auschwitz Committee, together with German and Polish trainees from Volkswagen AG, the representative of the French ambassador in Berlin, Julien Acquatella, and other guests, unveiled a memorial plaque bearing names during a ceremony in the church of Ruppertsgrün and at the grave of Ernest Smilowski.

The young people had previously spent 12 days helping to preserve the Auschwitz memorial site and learning about the fate of Ernest Smilowski and his friend and fellow prisoner Raphael Esrail.

In January 1945, Raphael Esrail, a French-Jewish Auschwitz prisoner, and his friend Ernest Smilowski tried to escape from a prisoner transport on its way from Auschwitz to Dachau when they were close to Zwickau. Ernest Smilowski was shot dead on the spot. Raphael Esrail was caught and returned to the transport.

Since January 1945, the remains of four Auschwitz prisoners have been lying in the cemetery at Ruppertsgrün, but only their prisoner numbers are known. For many decades, Raphael Esrail searched for the grave of his murdered friend. In 2006, Esrail personally searched for traces of his friend in and around Zwickau – with the help of Pia Findeis, the mayor at that time.

With the help of many dedicated individuals, it has now been possible to prove that one of the prisoners buried in Ruppertsgrün is Ernest Smilowski.

At a memorial ceremony on 19 November, we gave Ernest Smilowski his name once again.

On 
Wednesday 19 November 2025 (Day of Repentance and Prayer) at 11:30 am

in the
St. Annen Kirche in Ruppertsgrün
St. Annen Str. 5
08427 Fraureuth