Music as Survival: Trumpeter Louis Bannet’s Chilling Ultimatum at Auschwitz

The Auschwitz Museum wants to preserve reinforced concrete elements and preserved fragments of the gas chamber wall in crematorium II in the former German Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp. The facility said on Monday that there is one company interested in carrying out the work. The museum said the tender, which is to select a maintenance contractor, has received one bid. It was assembled by the company Secco from Cracow. Sings on 550.9 Article The Au…

Music as Survival: Trumpeter Louis Bannet’s Chilling Ultimatum at Auschwitz

Before the war, violinist and trumpeter Louis Bannet was a celebrated jazz musician in Holland, often called “the Dutch Louis Armstrong.” Once, before the war, he heard a knock on his dressing room door. “So you’re the Dutch Louis Armstrong?” a deep, raspy voice said. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m the American one.” And just like that, he and Louis Armstrong jammed the night away. Then everything changed. Arrested and sent to Auschwitz, Louis Bann…