Born: 10 December 1907 (Máramarossziget, Hungary)
Died: 16 December 1988
Biography:
Gisella Perl (10 December 1907 – 16 December 1988) was a Hungarian Jewish gynecologist who made remarkable contributions both during and after the Holocaust. Born and raised in Máramarossziget, Hungary (now Sighetu Marmaţiei, Romania), Perl pursued her medical studies despite initial opposition from her father. Her determination and passion led her to become one of the most respected gynecologists in her hometown.
Perl’s life took a dramatic turn in 1944 when Nazi Germany occupied Hungary. Along with her family, she was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Despite the horrific conditions and lack of basic medical supplies, Perl was assigned by the infamous SS doctor Josef Mengele to work as an inmate gynecologist within the women’s camp.
In Auschwitz, Perl faced unimaginable challenges as she desperately tried to save lives with limited resources. She provided medical care to fellow inmates, often without essential items like antiseptics, clean wipes, or running water. Pregnant women faced particularly grim fates, as they were often subjected to cruel experiments or beaten and killed. Perl, with immense bravery, performed countless abortions to save these women from further suffering.
After enduring the horrors of Auschwitz, Perl was transferred to Bergen-Belsen, where she was ultimately liberated. Tragically, she discovered that her husband, her only son, her parents, and her entire extended family had been murdered in the Holocaust. Devastated by the loss, she attempted to end her own life through poisoning and was subsequently sent to a convent in France to recover.
In March 1947, Perl arrived in New York City on a temporary visa, sponsored by the Hungarian-Jewish Appeal and the United Jewish Appeal, to give lectures on her experiences. She settled in an upper-class neighborhood and began rebuilding her life. However, her future in the United States was uncertain, with the INS questioning her involvement in assisting the Nazi doctors at Auschwitz.
Fortunately, Perl found an ally in Eleanor Roosevelt, who advocated for her and played a crucial role in securing her permanent residency in the US. President Truman signed a bill on March 12, 1948, allowing Perl to stay in the country. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
In New York, Perl became a specialist in infertility treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital. Her expertise and dedication to her patients led to her renowned status in the field. She also became one of the first women to publicly share her experiences of the Holocaust in English when she published her memoir, I Was a Doctor in Auschwitz, in 1948. Perl’s memoir provided a profound and personal account of the atrocities she witnessed and the unimaginable resilience displayed by those who survived.
Later in life, Perl relocated to Herzliya, Israel, where she continued to pursue her medical career. Her unwavering commitment to helping others and her unwavering strength in the face of adversity serve as an enduring inspiration. Perl’s legacy as a compassionate and courageous woman, both as a survivor and a women’s health advocate, has left an indelible mark on women’s history.