Walter was born in Vienna, Austria in 1918. His family observed Jewish holidays and Walter went to religious school twice a week. Walter went to secular school where he faced anti-Semitism and was taunted by the non-Jewish children. Eventually, he attended printing school to study lithography. He had an accident that caused him to lose fingers, … [Read more...] about Walter Schacherl
Ryfka Schacherl
Ryfka Schacherl was born July 1, 1922 in Dresden, Germany as Ryfka Zweigel. She was the youngest of four girls. Her parents were Orthodox Jews and kept a kosher home. Ryfka was the only Jew in her class. She recalls saying “Heil Hitler” in school. Ryfka did not experience much anti-Semitism personally, but she recalls that there were anti-Semitic … [Read more...] about Ryfka Schacherl
Schama Priever
Date of Birth: October 20, 1898 Schama Priever lived in Paris, France with his wife, Dora, and their two children. He was involved in the fur trade and opened a large factory. He was also a talented musician who lived to play harmonica and piano for his family. His daughter, Rosette, fondly remembers her father playing music, "He would … [Read more...] about Schama Priever
Rosette Gerbosi
Date of Birth: August 15, 1932 Rosette was born in Paris, France in 1932. Her father owned a fur coat factory, allowing her and the rest of her family a comfortable lifestyle. "Life was very good. We were able to go on vacations, and I was given every type of lesson imaginable: ballet, piano, and even English lessons." When the Germans … [Read more...] about Rosette Gerbosi
Rosa Bleich
Date of Birth: June 6, 1910 Rosa Bleich was born in Bochinia, Poland. She and her husband, Nuchem, and two daughters, Sabine and Hadassah, lived in The Hague until the spring of 1942. When times became dangerous for the Jews, she and her family tried to flee their home for Switzerland. Rosa and her family hid in Belgium for almost two … [Read more...] about Rosa Bleich
Robert P. Nossen
My parents and brother left Germany in October 1933 for Denmark after my father received an eighteen month permit to work for a subsidiary of his company. In 1935 they moved to Belgium and finally settled in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Holland) in 1936. I was born there in 1938 and my father’s parents and other relatives from Germany joined us in 1939. … [Read more...] about Robert P. Nossen
Renee Fritz
Renee Fritz was born in 1937 in Vienna as Renee Schwalb. She was two years old when the war broke out. Renee’s mother was a clever and determined woman. She sent Renee on a Kindertransport to Belgium and—after Renee’s father was sent to Dachau—Mrs. Schwalb managed to relocate Mr. Schwalb to the United States. Later Renee’s mother joined … [Read more...] about Renee Fritz
Renee Beddouk
Renee Beddouk was born in Paris as Renee Krasnobroda. Her family was Jewish but not very religious. Both of her parents were naturalized French citizens. In 1942, Renee and her parents left Paris for Clermont Ferrand, a “free zone” which was an area that Jews could be safe from German occupation. Renee’s grandmother chose to stay in Paris and … [Read more...] about Renee Beddouk
Renee Anderson Fiorenza
Renee Anderson Fiorenza was born June 5, 1927 in Berlin to proud German parents. Renee was born into wealth. Although her parents were Jewish, they were not religious and only observed some Jewish holidays. Renee's family thought they would be safe from persecution. However, her father was arrested and imprisoned prior to the start of World War … [Read more...] about Renee Anderson Fiorenza
Paul Tenenbaum
Paul Tenenbaum was born in July 1928 in Luxembourg. He had no siblings and spoke German at home. Paul attended Hebrew classes and belonged to an Orthodox synagogue. He experienced anti-Semitism in his childhood in Luxembourg. Paul recalled the other students calling him a murderer of Chris and was referred to as “a horrible Jew.” When the … [Read more...] about Paul Tenenbaum