Table
of Contents
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Volume
20
Guenther Ludwig Zilversmit
From Holland and
Back
published by the
Concordia University Chair in Canadian Jewish Studies
Abstract
Author was born in Leer, Germany, in 1926. Describes the
social and cultural life of the town which had a population of thirteen thousand including
approximately 175 Jewish families. Major Jewish occupation was cattle dealing. Gives
account of the changes that occurred following the election of 1933 when Hitler came to
power. In 1937, at the age of eleven, he joins his grandparents who had earlier moved to
The Hague. With the Nazi invasion of Holland, family forced to move away from the coastal
region. When the German decree forbidding Jewish attendance at school takes effect, he
gets a job as blacksmiths apprentice. Describes the hardships of daily life and the
food shortages. In 1943 Jews are transported to transit camps in Holland, and he arrives
at Westerbork where author and his brother work in the garage and at maintenance and
repairs. Questions the role played by Jewish inmates who ran the camp. In 1944 transported
to Theresienstadt where grandparents had been sent earlier. Detailed description of the
conditions in Theresienstadt and the German deceitful transformation of the camp into a
resort village in order to deceive the Red Cross officials. Meets his grandparents who are
later sent to Auschwitz on the last transport from Theresienstadt. He and brother are
transported to Auschwitz and pass selection by Joseph Mengele. Describes camp conditions:
food, work, barrack life. Sent to Gleiwitz, a camp 50 kilometers from Auschwitz, where he
works as a welder producing sea-mines. With the Russian army approaching, prisoners are
forced to march to the south west. Meet Russian soldiers and occupy barracks that formerly
held P. O. W.s. Later transported by Russians to Lvov and then Chernowitz where he
encounters other survivors. Travels to Odessa and relates his adventures en route. In June
1945 embarks on British troop transport for Holland. Lands in Marseilles. Reaches Holland
and travels to hometown of Nunspeet. Records his reception by former neighbours: all the
possessions the family had left with neighbours were returned. He moves to The Hague and
finds employment as a blacksmith in a chandelier factory. Enrols in school for flight
engineers. Meets future wife and they marry in 1949. Emigrates to Canada in 1951.
Key Words
Leer, Germany; Duesburg/Ruhrort, Germany; Niedermercz,
village in Germany; The Hague; Nunspeet, torn in Holland; Westerbork, transit camp;
Obersturmfuerer Gemmeke, commandant of Westerbork camp; Theresienstadt, concentration camp
in Czechoslovakia; Jo Spier. Dutch cartoonist; Joseph Mengele; Gleiwitz, industrial city;
Blechhammer concentration camp; I. G. Farben; Marshal Zhukov; Lvov/Lemberg; Chernowitz;
Odessa; Marseille, Montreal. |