Holocaust Survivor Stories

1. When was Henoch Kornfeld born?

BORN: 1945 Berlin, Germany

BORN: 1950 Budapest, Hungary

BORN: 1938 KOLBUSZOWA, POLAND

BORN: 1925 Warsaw, Poland

BORN: 1938

KOLBUSZOWA, POLANDHenoch's religious Jewish parents married in 1937. His father, Moishe Kornfeld, and his mother, Liba Saleschutz, had settled in Kolbuszowa, where Henoch's mother was raised. There, Liba's father bought the newlyweds a home and started his new son-in-law in the wholesale textile business.1938-39: Henoch was born in late 1938, and was raised among many aunts, uncles and cousins. Around Henoch's first birthday, Germany invaded Poland and soon reached Kolbuszowa. Polish soldiers on horses tried to fight against the German army, but they were no match for tanks. After a short battle, there were many dead horses in the streets. Henoch's town came under German rule.1940-42: Everyone in town, including the children, knew of Hafenbier, the vicious German police commander with the face of a bulldog who was posted in Kolbuszowa. Hafenbier terrorized and killed many of the town's Jews. Henoch often played a game with the other children in town in which he would portray Hafenbier, saying to his friends, "If you are a Jew, you are dead." Then, with a rifle made from a piece of wood, Henoch would "shoot" his playmates. They, in turn, would fall over, pretending they had been killed.Henoch and his family were deported to the Rzeszow ghetto on June 25, 1942, and then to the Belzec extermination camp on July 7 where they were gassed. Henoch was 3 and a half years old.Copyright © United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC

Explanation

BORN: 1938

KOLBUSZOWA, POLANDHenoch's religious Jewish parents married in 1937. His father, Moishe Kornfeld, and his mother, Liba Saleschutz, had settled in Kolbuszowa, where Henoch's mother was raised. There, Liba's father bought the newlyweds a home and started his new son-in-law in the wholesale textile business.1938-39: Henoch was born in late 1938, and was raised among many aunts, uncles and cousins. Around Henoch's first birthday, Germany invaded Poland and soon reached Kolbuszowa. Polish soldiers on horses tried to fight against the German army, but they were no match for tanks. After a short battle, there were many dead horses in the streets. Henoch's town came under German rule.1940-42: Everyone in town, including the children, knew of Hafenbier, the vicious German police commander with the face of a bulldog who was posted in Kolbuszowa. Hafenbier terrorized and killed many of the town's Jews. Henoch often played a game with the other children in town in which he would portray Hafenbier, saying to his friends, "If you are a Jew, you are dead." Then, with a rifle made from a piece of wood, Henoch would "shoot" his playmates. They, in turn, would fall over, pretending they had been killed.Henoch and his family were deported to the Rzeszow ghetto on June 25, 1942, and then to the Belzec extermination camp on July 7 where they were gassed. Henoch was 3 and a half years old.Copyright © United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC

2. Where was Sarah Judelowitz born?

LIEPAJA, LATVIA

Warsaw, Poland

Vienna, Austria

Munich, Germany

Sarah Judelowitz was born in Liepaja, Latvia, a Baltic port city, ca. 1899.

Explanation

Sarah Judelowitz was born in Liepaja, Latvia, a Baltic port city, ca. 1899.

3. What was the life story of Lisl Winternitz?

Lisl Winternitz was a renowned scientist who contributed to the development of the atomic bomb.

Lisl Winternitz was a successful businesswoman who owned a chain of restaurants in Prague.

Lisl Winternitz was a famous German actress during World War II.

4. What were the circumstances surrounding Friedrich-Paul von Groszheim's imprisonment during the Nazi regime?

Friedrich-Paul was arrested for being a spy for the Allies.

Friedrich-Paul was arrested for resisting Nazi policies in his hometown.

Friedrich-Paul was arrested for being a war criminal during World War II.

5. Who was Helen Melanie Lebel?

An Austrian Olympic swimmer

The first female lawyer in Austria

A famous opera singer from Vienna

6. Who is Karl Stojka?

Karl Stojka was a famous German musician.

Karl Stojka was a renowned Austrian painter.

Karl Stojka was a prominent French politician.

Karl Stojka was a survivor of the Holocaust, born in Austria to Roman Catholic Gypsy parents in 1931. He experienced the horrors of Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

Explanation

Karl Stojka was a survivor of the Holocaust, born in Austria to Roman Catholic Gypsy parents in 1931. He experienced the horrors of Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

7. Where was Wilma Schlesinger Mahrer born?

Budapest, Hungary

Zvolen, Slovakia

Vienna, Austria

Berlin, Germany

Wilma Schlesinger Mahrer was born in Zolyom, Czechoslovakia on December 19, 1876.

Explanation

Wilma Schlesinger Mahrer was born in Zolyom, Czechoslovakia on December 19, 1876.

8. What was Aron Tabrys known for?

Aron was a successful businessman in Estonia.

Aron was a famous artist in Poland.

Aron was a prominent political leader in Vilna.

Aron Tabrys was known for being the son of Jewish parents in Vilna, a city known for its Jewish cultural life. He was not known for being an artist, political leader, or businessman as the incorrect answers suggest.

Explanation

Aron Tabrys was known for being the son of Jewish parents in Vilna, a city known for its Jewish cultural life. He was not known for being an artist, political leader, or businessman as the incorrect answers suggest.