Oral History

Sarah (Sheila) Peretz Etons describes her experiences as a child in hiding

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. After the German occupation, Sarah (then just three years old) and her mother were forced into a ghetto. One day, a Polish Catholic policeman warned them that the ghetto was about to be liquidated. He sheltered Sarah and her mother first in his house, then in a potato storage bunker, and then in a chicken coop on his property. Sarah hid there for more than two years, until the area was liberated by Soviet forces. After the war, Sarah emigrated from Europe—first to Israel in 1947 and then to the United States in 1963.

Transcript

Critical Thinking Questions

What do we still not know even after analyzing this oral history?

Why are survivor testimonies important in studying World War II and the Holocaust?

Explore the Museum's website and Collections to research more about hidden children.


Tags


  • US Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
View Archival Details

Thank you for supporting our work

We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies and the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of all donors.