Rudolf Vrba

Slovak-Jewish Auschwitz escapee, Canadian biochemist

Rudolf "Rudi" Vrba (September 11, 1924March 27, 2006), was a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia in Canada. His birth name was Walter Rosenberg. In April 1944, he escaped from the Auschwitz concentration camp. After escaping, he passed information to the Allies who were fighting the Axis Powers during the Second World War. He informed the authorities about the mass murder that was taking place at the camp.