Ken Wetcher was born in 1941 in Bolshaya Rechka, a town in Siberia. At the time, the town was known for the Soviet forced labor camp there. Due to Nazi advancement into Poland and the Soviet Army’s retreat, Ken’s parents, Polish Jews, followed the Soviet Army out of Poland. Ken's parents were not yet married. Upon arrival, they were deported to … [Read more...] about Ken Wetcher
Karel Van Dam
Karel Van Dam lived in Amsterdam with his family. He worked as a sales representative for a printing factory. His son, Jacques, described his father as having “respect for all people.” He was also involved in the Dutch underground resistance that helped Jews during WWII. When the Netherlands feared of a possible German invasion, Karel was unable … [Read more...] about Karel Van Dam
Julian Goren
Julian Goren was born in 1935 in Poland. His father was a talented musician and conductor. His mother was a communist organizer. The family lived in Warsaw and later their neighborhood became the Warsaw Ghetto. Julian recalls seeing a variety of atrocities within the ghetto. There were people starving and collapsing in the streets. Fallen horses … [Read more...] about Julian Goren
Josef Lipshutz
Josef was born in 1918 in Krakow, Poland. He was born and raised in a traditional Jewish home. His mother was a housewife and helped his dad run his gift shop business. He had two brothers and one sister. Josef’s father died in 1938, one year before Germany invaded Poland. At the age of 22, Josef, his mother, and sister were sent to the Krakow … [Read more...] about Josef Lipshutz
John Mann
John Mann was born Jose Mankowski in Paris, France on November 9th, 1926. When the Germans invaded Paris, the family left in their truck along with many other Parisians. However, after hearing that things were well in Paris, the family returned. This was a fatal mistake. In June 1942, John’s father was arrested and sent to the labor camp Drancy. … [Read more...] about John Mann
Jakob Fritz Holzberg
Jakob Fritz Holzberg was born in 1912 in Chorostkow, Poland. Today he goes by the name Fritz. Fritz grew up in a Jewish family, and his family moved to Vienna, Austria when he was twelve years old. In March of 1938, Germany invaded Austria. The family moved to a Zionist run farm in the countryside in preparation for their eventual life in … [Read more...] about Jakob Fritz Holzberg
Jacques Van Dam
Jacques grew up in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with his family. “I grew up like every normal Dutch kid grew up… I did not experience, as far as I remember, any anti-Semitism in the Netherlands.” German forces occupied the Netherlands in 1940, and by 1942, Jews were being deported. The Nazis prohibited Jews from official occupations and restricted … [Read more...] about Jacques Van Dam
Ilse Wischia
Ilse Wischia (born Ilse Linz) and her family lived in Rotenburg, Germany. After Kristallnacht, they fled to Frankfurt. Ilse’s father was arrested and taken to Buchenwald concentration camp. He was released due to his World War I war record and ordered to leave Germany. Mr. Linz had to leave his family behind. After her father’s departure, Ilse’s … [Read more...] about Ilse Wischia
Henri Suyderhoud
Henri Suyderhoud was born in 1930 on the island of Borneo in the Dutch colony of Indonesia. Both his parents were Dutch citizens. His mother was a Protestant and his father was a Freemason. Henri’s childhood in a diverse community shaped Henri into a racially tolerant and accepting person. The family moved to The Hague in 1935. Henri’s school … [Read more...] about Henri Suyderhoud
Henny Porter
Henny was born in 1926 in Stuttgart, Germany to Rose and Morris Katz. Before the war, Henny had a happy childhood. Hitler’s rise to power changed everything. In 1933 laws and restrictions against Jews set in. Henny’s gentile friends became cruel. An anti-Semitic newspaper was prominently displayed in kiosks. Despite these changes, her parents … [Read more...] about Henny Porter