Featured Stories: 12
Stories
The Death Train
In March of 1945, they were transported in the filthy cattle cars once again (Lesser, 133). Ben had led his weak cousin to the back end of the car so that they could support themselves against the wall (Lesser, 135). Unfortunately, when bread was…
Arriving at the Death Factory
In May of 1944, Ben took his first journey of deportation within a cattle car. Divided into groups of eighty per car, Ben went with his brother Tuli, his cousin Isaac, his aunt and uncle, and his sister Goldie (Lesser, 108). Ben has gone on to say,…
Loss of a Loved One
In 1943, the Nazis decided to “liquidate” the remaining population of the Krakow Ghetto. As a result, Oskar’s mother was taken from the family and sent to the notorious labor camp of Plaszow, depicted extensively in the movie Shindler’s List. Oskar…
Returning Home
In May of 1946, Jack received his papers to be rotated to the states. After four years, Jack had received multiple Service Awards including “Good Conduct; European Theater w/ 1 Bronze Star and 1 Arrowhead (for first wave on D-Day) American Theater…
The Invasion
Jack was classified as an observer for the invasion (Jack Nemerov, We Remember History Oral Interview). His duty was to observe the value of waterproofing and getting equipment through the water upon the shore. He was put in a command position,…
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Later in life Gerda and her husband, Kurt, decided to move to Scottsdale which is located just outside of Phoenix, Arizona to be closer to their family. Gerda continued traveling throughout the country speaking at events, high schools, and televised…
Liberation
The girls marched for months across Germany with no knowledge of where they may end up by the end of it. There were questions about where they might be headed, like Auschwitz. They thought to themselves that this might be the end for them.…
Auschwitz Transit Camp
In June of 1942, everything that Gerda had known or come to love about Bielsko, Polond was gone. A couple of days before Gerda’s departure from Bielsko, her father was taken away by train to a new destination. Then Gerda and her mother left the…
Growing up in Poland
Gerda Weissmann was born on May 8, 1924 in Bielsko, Poland. Bielsko is surrounded by the Szyndzielnia Mountains. A lot of skiing and hiking can be done on these mountains throughout the year. There is also the famous castle of the Dukes of Cieszyn,…
A Return Home
The war started to go south for Hitler and one major battle that was lost was code named Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944. Bergen states, “…the western Allies landed in Normandy in northwestern France. D-Day, as it became known was the greatest…