Miklós Nyiszli (June 17, 1901,
Szilágysomlyó,
Austria-Hungary – May 5, 1956,
Oradea,
Romania) was a
Jewish prisoner at the
Auschwitz concentration camp (altough evidence later seems to state he was actualy never in Auschwitz). Nyiszli, his wife, and young daughter, were transported to Auschwitz in June 1944. On arrival, Nyiszli felt impelled to volunteer himself as a doctor and was sent to work at number 12
barracks where he operated on and tried to help the ill with only the most basic medical supplies and tools. He was under the supervision of
Josef Mengele, an
SS officer and physician. Mengele decided after observing Nyiszli’s skills to move him to a specially built
autopsy and operating theatre. The room had been built inside
Crematorium 2 (Crematorium 1 being in Auschwitz Town camp), and Nyiszli, along with members of the 12th
Sonderkommando, were housed there.