Norbert Wollheim

Born 1913, Berlin, Germany

Norbert studied law and did social work in Berlin. Norbert’s parents were deported from Berlin in December 1942. Norbert, his wife, and their child were deported in March 1943 from Berlin to Auschwitz, by cattle car. At Auschwitz, Norbert was separated from his wife and child. He was sent to perform forced labor for the Buna works constructed near Auschwitz III (Monowitz). While in Auschwitz, Norbert and some of the other inmates in his barracks would participate in religious observances, even though these were forbidden. Norbert survived the Auschwitz camp.

Describes the uncertainty facing survivors after liberation.

Murray Pantirer

Born 1925, Krakow, Poland

The Germans occupied Krakow in 1939. Murray's family separated several times in search of food and other necessities and was finally confined to the Krakow ghetto. In 1942, Murray and a brother were deported for forced labor in Plaszow. In May 1944, his brother was sent to Auschwitz. That year, Murray was transferred to Gross-Rosen and to Bruennlitz to work for German industrialist Oskar Schindler. Murray was liberated in 1945, the only one of nine family members to survive.

Describes antisemitic climate in postwar Krakow.

Thomas Buergenthal

Born 1934, Lubochna, Czechoslovakia

Thomas and his family left Czechoslovakia as harassment of Jews increased. They entered Poland, and registered with the British Consul in Katowice because they had papers to leave for England. Thomas was five years old when Germany invaded Poland. With the outbreak of war, the family was unable to leave Poland and was eventually forced into the Kielce ghetto. The ghetto was liquidated in 1942, and Thomas and his family ended up in a forced-labor camp. Thomas survived a massacre of children in 1944. He and his parents were deported to Auschwitz, where Thomas was eventually sent to the children's barracks. In January 1945, Auschwitz was evacuated as Soviet troops advanced. Thomas and other inmates were forced on a three-day death march to Gleiwitz. They were then transported to the Sachsenhausen camp. Following the Soviet liberation of Sachsenhausen in April 1945, Thomas was placed in an orphanage. He was eventually reunited with his mother, who had also survived, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1951.

Describes eventual reunification with his mother after the war.

Jacob Wasserman

Benjamin Bornstein

Emanuel (Manny) Mandel