Skip to main content

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Site
    • English home page
    • المصادر بالعربية
    • Πηγές στα Ελληνικά
    • Recursos en español
    • منابع موجود به زبان فارسی
    • Ressources en français
    • Gyűjtemény és tudástár magyar nyelven
    • Sumber Bahasa Indonesia
    • Materiali e risorse in italiano
    • 日本語のリソース
    • 한국어 자료
    • Recursos em Português (do Brasil)
    • Материалы на русском языке
    • Türkçe Kaynaklar
    • اُردو ری سورسز
    • 中文参考资料
  • Events
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Support the Museum
  • Connect
  • Donate
  • Learn About The Holocaust
  • Remember Survivors and Victims
  • Confront Genocide and Antisemitism

  • Home
  • Museum Information
  • Exhibitions
  • Traveling Exhibitions
  • Retired Exhibitions

Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the Holocaust

  • Visit the Museum
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Museum Exhibitions
    • Traveling Exhibitions
      • Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race
      • State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda
      • Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933–1945
    • Online Exhibitions
  • About the Museum
  • Press Room
  • Retired Exhibitions
  • The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936
  • Fighting the Fires of Hate: America and the Nazi Book Burnings
  • Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the Holocaust
  • Remember the Children: Daniel's Story
  • Schindler
  • Varian Fry: Assignment Rescue 1940–1941

Driven by a racist ideology that viewed Jews as "parasitic vermin" worthy only of eradication, the Nazis implemented genocide on an unprecedented scale. All of Europe's Jews were slated for destruction. When World War II ended in 1945, six million European Jews were dead, killed in the Holocaust. More than one million of the victims were children.

Thousands of Jewish children, however, survived this brutal carnage, many of them as hidden children. With identities disguised, and often physically concealed from the outside world, these youngsters faced constant fear, dilemmas, and danger. Theirs was a life in shadows, where a careless remark, a denunciation, or the murmurings of inquisitive neighbors could lead to discovery and death.

Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the Holocaust explored the remarkable history of children who went underground to escape Nazi persecution and destruction. It detailed stories of desperation, tragedy, courage, love, and survival in this darkest of times. To tell this poignant history, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum assembled documents, photographs, and objects from all over the world, donated or borrowed from hidden children themselves and their rescuers.

This was the first traveling exhibition to include original artifacts and archival documents.

View online exhibition

Past Venues

Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the Holocaust appeared in the following venues:

2006

St. Paul, MN
July 20, 2006 through October 15, 2006
Minnesota Historical Society

New York, NY
January 24, 2006 through June 25, 2006
Museum of Jewish Heritage

2005

Battle Creek, MI
September 6, 2005 through November 13, 2005
The Art Center of Battle Creek

Chicago, IL
March 20, 2005 through July 31, 2005
Spertus Museum

Museum Information

  • Today at the Museum
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Exhibitions and Collections
  • Traveling Exhibitions

Resources for Academics and Research

  • Ask a Research Question
  • About the Museum's Collections
  • Research about Survivors and Victims
  • Academic Programs

Resources for Educators

  • Teaching about the Holocaust
  • Programs for Teachers
  • Teaching Materials
  • Holocaust Encyclopedia

Resources for Professionals and Student Leaders

  • Judiciary
  • Military
  • Law Enforcement
  • Faith and Interfaith Communities
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC 20024-2126
Main telephone: 202.488.0400
TTY: 202.488.0406

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • About the Museum
  • Contact the Museum
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Legal
×

#WeRemember #HolocaustRemembrance

Days of Remembrance Commemoration

Watch Live

The ceremony at the US Capitol, featuring a candle-lighting and names reading, is happening now.

×

FirstPerson

Conversations with Survivors
of the Holocaust

Watch Now

Join us right now to watch a live interview with a survivor, followed by a question-and-answer session.

×

Fight Hate and Antisemitism

Join our #GivingTuesday challenge to make your tax-deductible gift go twice as far. Help us teach about the consequences of unchecked hate and antisemitism. Give today.
MATCH MY GIFT
×

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Museum's commemoration ceremony, including remarks by the German ambassador and a Holocaust survivor, is happening now.

#WeRemember

Watch Now