march 27, 2006 notes talking about children aviva – 1zeyda avram weiss bobby – rosa...

March 27, 2006 Notes Talking about children Aviva – 1st birthday and walk before aliyah Visit to Israel – cherry farm. Note from aviva – Tova – you inspire me ---------------------------------------- Beginning Sator. Mountains surrounding house – Vegetation rich Planting flowers 2 boys and 2 girls - Big Brother – ice skating/ horse back riding rusty big circle white fur Mitzi (horse) – shared with siblings Swimming Big river – by house – Summertime in neighborhood – parents made sure involved in many activities. Walked everywhere - no car horse and buggy Sleigh riding Siblings Isidor – oldest Jeno – with 2 dots on o Magda – younger sister Mom and Dad- Regina Herman Parents role model – very interested in children Praying being spiritual – helped in many difficult times Dad – mom import/export – shipping to italy and france worked poultry business and eggs – chicken duck geese eggs

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This is a verbatim transcript of spoken word. It is not the primary source, and it has not been checked for spelling or accuracy.

zeyda Avram Weiss bobby – Rosa Weiss – lived with them until age 5 – sator – kindergarten public school - 1st yr. Teacher lived close – a few blocks away – used to invite to harmat nani – apostrophe on a invited her to house taught her how to exercise Lived together with zeyda – on Shabbat Zeyda Talmud chocem – every Shabbat after lunch had to be together with family and recite weekly parsha. Looked for nice piece of property in the suburb- material to build house – house built out of stone – Grandfather born in chezc. Zeyda – had lots of land – farmers would grow crops Father had 4 siblings – squash – chestnut Szigete bobby – mom had 2 brothers and 4 sisters – lost father when very young Was part of Romanian – once a yr came to stay – beautiful tall slim – wearing shetyl Died before war broke out.. Jolan nani – yoji baci They survived made aliyah Berta nani – petuktikva, israel – 95 yrs old still beautiful Curly hair blue eyes – but mom had dark brown eyes – Blanka nani – made aliyah from Romania—after the war Closed store in evening and was beaten and died in israel Magda – mommas baby Mom very open minded – saw lilac time – janet macdonald – Circus – straw Schneider – circus – tight wire act main street in ohey- Shabbat shul everyone – went home dinner at lunch time – holidays Clothes custom made designed – mom focused on girls dresses Children and parents custom clothes for holidays – says shed never forget turquoise dress Dad good provider – was generous – ZsaZsa- friend – baba nani tante baba – allowed ester to play piano at her house Worked together most of time – under 50 when taken – Zeydas brothers son cantor



Jews from age 20 had to go to army – all jewish soldiers had to wear civil clothes – sent marching to borders where war began labor camp. Horti- president gave out laws every jewish store close – Birthday – connections with publishing company – said come to office and then see if can falsify papers – all 18 yr old woman had to go to stadium – gold star already on clothes Had to move in together in ghetto house //q) What was ghetto house like? q) Did you already finish high school? Secretly applied to college - q) how many days was first death march? Over a week --- big road end of Budapest to Vienna – divided at Danube Roster feather hats – gendarmes took into jail – had to march 1hr in half. Went to jail empty filled with hundreds of women like herrings sardines – males separate Several nights days – announcement in yard track with wagon to take everything – Do you remember talking to these girls - - - Wind up in Auschwitz - Margit Nani – asked if she saw anyone – Hotetsik landi – ‘how are you’ We talked – over and over – People standing spitting.



April 3, 2006 Website: EsterGrun-HolocaustSurvivor.com Lilli – SUNY Wednesday Bring Scanner for pictures Random house volunteer lawyers Send lady email from random house Neil – journalist get number Wednesday Reading from notes Auschwitz- April or May – ordered to go into courtyard – noticed wagons lined up with animal wagon herded into filthy animal trains Leaving jail – animal wagon - Arrived Auschwitz – Mengele – murderor – ***Q) you once described Mengele what he looked like --- handsome? Chosen – had to go to work side – only thing thinking about family – Head counting – Chosen to go work in the forest – work in the kitchen with projects selecting vegetables – **Q) do you remember first night? Under the sky with one blanket In Auschwitz until December – **Q) describe work in forest ? **Q) did you have any idea of time – how did you know? Sign of horror stories about being taken to another concentration camp – traveled 7 nights to get to ravensbruk – urinate in clothes –



Arrived in huge area – huge black iron gate Ravensbruk Arrived with slaps – 1000s of us 100 hungarians of all ages – Young polish woman – 6’ tall skinny – beat them slapping --- so hard see stars in dark room where pushed in **Q) do you remember any incidents at aushwitz or ravensbruk – beatings/killings you witnessed Separated after head counting – 300-300 into a 5x5 room – leather club leather --- 20 inches long – 4” thick leather – tiny SS woman cruelest woman ever imagined – when finished with beating – we would be led out and assigned to work Work began at 6 am – tiny slices of dark ¼” thick bread – meal for day learned that bread was prepared out of bark of trees ground up to make bread – given project to cut wood – selected to go into forest huge logs of wood and long blade of saw given and ordered to cut wood into smaller pieces for firewood. End of December and January – every day selected to cut wood - so malnourished Until 5pm in afternoon – from 7-8pm in morning – 1 day selected to carry out dead bodies – every morning someone died – and had to put bodies into cellar – did this on several occasions Persian rugs – out of icy snowy trains – put rugs into storage- worried would be frozen to death in morning – 8pm-3am rugs – agreed to push under Persian rugs – lips couldn’t move form cold someone walking on body in storage – SS came to check on them to see production – **Q) what did you eat Did they give you medicine? Human horse? When stars disappear times – come out now SS left and we have to be ready to get picked up – work partner helped lift layers of three rugs – 2 hours --he didn’t question where she was 4am head counting following evening to collect Persian rugs – 25x45 – heavy with snow and ice - - if prayed give a little energy to survive daily chores in ravensbruk – Hashem heard her praying – one day after head counting – 2 SS 1 woman 1 man—select 16 young women – the commander chose strong people – pointed and hit with stick to move from head count line – after selection black iron gate opens up like a wing – not for



freedom – SS soldier told them had to march long way to train station to another concentration camp 1-1/2 hr walk – Saw Leipzig – then moiselwitz – led to concentration camp – place hidden deep in forest like Auschwitz and moiselwitz Arrived after long walk – taken into special place where they had shower – scary heard about shower – gas -- big room with many shower heads – had to stand nude – had to take clothes off in front of men—petrified..was really water – also got small amount of soap---soap made out of peoples fat – made soap out of it – Rosenthal porcelain – ground up skeleton adding it to make china --- Ordered to put clothes back on. Taken to health examination – check hair for lice – saved hair – has no lice - girl sleep in bed together – she checked her hair – so shred checking heads to make sure no lice. She said don’t worry you will get a room so you can be together – safe clean – have water and wash-room to keep clean when back from work. 1st treatment in moiselwitz put into own room – reason was all Hungarian – chose all Hungarians in moiselwitz established ammunition factory of 500 Heflings – separately living polish prisoners – figured complicated to mix polish and Hungarians. – 3 layers of bunk beds – rooms build out of paper mache practically – cold – but given fire wood – fire place in center – given match and wood and could make small fire – would sit around before go to sleep if didn’t work overnight. Huge terat to keep body warm – Next day taken and signed up for ammunition factory – to produce bullets for war weapons… given machine to produce bullets – received a base of shape of bullets – specal cut in blade--- made 40 bullet and each sider carreod tp place whew accumulating bullets --- made out of lead- 14 hours night and day – breathed in lead – all over no protection – Commander said as soon as bombing had to get out of rooms and stay outside under sky – reciting shma – couldn’t see drop of sky --- planes right next to eachother – bullets falling down and firing – once heavy bombing over all planes disappeared then had to go for head counting then go to work - bombing was getting so bad that no hope to build factory back up – US soldiers bombed factory -- sometimes built it back – had to clean up property – shovel in forest to dig stones into Note : figure out what filled up – put stones into basket – long piece of round wood control speed to slow down – maneuver – then had to push up together iron wheels filled up brought down… Nazis were building – making bricks – collapsed like paper mache clean up territory and create vegetable garden – Clean up debris and dig up and clean then when up to clean land have to get shovel and create top soil – to be able to plant and make vegetable garden – told that they have to



create --- had to plant rhubarb – april – didn’t eat bread because pesach – pinched out rhubarb and ate it – so sour – tiny bite sour bitter didn’t know whether to swallow it because SS watching – building vegetable garden for Nazis—factory build back again – had to make more weapons – Early morning heavy bombing – bombing began so bad that room where slept split Nazis rooms too….SS came and said we are not going to go back to work – have to leave concentration camp – going to have trains – had train track in yard in woods – put in own trains began to leave – not safe war bombing very bad – could hear everything because open wagons— 6000 prisoners and Nazis --- bombing so bad in train – 1 part of train badly bombed train couldn’t move – track bombed – some of the Hungarian girls hurt bleeding – called red cross we need help removed – no food or anything – filled with closed in wagon – some people trying to find way to get food – Nazis shot them dead – **Q) When is this :??? Death march – marching 7 nights – red cross found out they were on the road commander stopped beause red cross coming --- raw potato – ***Q) why would red cross give potatos to Nazis??? Did nazi’s call?? When given rest from death march – 1st farm land - 3 hours 2nd larger farm land – found empty can – thought they could cook potato into dish and cook - - this was end of april Through forest heavy snow – ate potato raw –tried because between life and death – Farm big – know this is end of my life – hand joints swollen—left show wooden shoe no lace and broken in half – snow ice mud on ground --- see huge straw sack – not far away from it – mind all over trying ot think how can save my life – if I don’t save it tonight ill be dead by morning --- Shall I pray shall I have faith – I didn’t want anyone to be involved --- didn’t want to create guilt among girls didn’t tell – squeezed into sraw managed to go as far as possible pushed into as deep as possible – so not visible In standing position – straight numb – straw very cold inside – no choice – after 12 am when arrived --- this is something I have to face--- maybe he will pass straw sack – actung actung – hear words very clearly – also feel tip of bayonet in straw sack --- felt in belly button – edge of bayonet – silent and soldier left – hear transport 5000 prisoners marching moving away from farmland – alone silently what shall I do now –



Did not want to come out now…stayed in haystack for rest of day – 4-5 hours – why not come out and see if can sense anything – afternoon fell onto ground of farmland – so frozen couldn’t get up and walk lot of snow cold frozen Stood thinking looking up and noticed barn – quite a distance but definitely a barn – crawled there – managed to get inside opened huge barn door with hinges – put hand under bottom of door to try to open door – managed to open enough to get in – barn door squeaking – not sure who left or who stayed – went inside pulled door closed – as inside try to breathe and get energy to think whats next – see up to ceiling hay bale prepared for animals in winter – heard some kind of movement – sound from hay – what could be ? like hay scratching moving – shall I speak ? speak german polish Hungarian? Said in Hungarian – who is here? In Hungarian ad get answer back shari is here—shari her close friend --- broke into tears… starving freezing who else is here he von itten? Eva von itten Eva is here – hiding behind hay bales in corner came to get ester – clunched into eachother crying and frightened – share stories – getting dark lets leave farm – no one here. Build high up farm could see down to highway road – decided to walk down to highway – maybe farm not only farm – See small sign on highway – mayors office – mayor opens door – looked horrifying – striped clothes – knock on mayors door – skinny man creepy creature – leg problem – couldn’t awlk well limping because knee shorter than other…cursed at us – you get out of here --- we ran so fast couldn’t figure out where got energy to run – 7 days no food no water just 1 hot potato 1 raw --- **q) what town do you think mayors town was? 3rd farm land – woman opened door could not go in – said looking for work of any kind Small wash tub with warm water – kissed her finger and her hand – sent quart of soup with 3 spoons – hadn’t seen spoon and water enough for 3 – shared soup – said a breha for lady so kind to help – ate soup slowly – very tired fell asleep – small window someone knocking on window – Hungarian woman – scared to open door collaborator cannot open door – she went to city hall next village walking over to city hall to get work Scared to get hung in city hall – **Q) when was this? Month yr. Drummer tall young man in square announcing with drum 3 young women looking for any kind of work – 3 farmers announced accepting all 3 have to split up don’t have enough for all 3 together but not far away so we can allow you to have 2 hours every Sunday to meet – all 3 farmers took them by feet – said goodbye put to work – in charge of animal stable – cleaning inside stable and take dirt out with wheelbarrow – in charge of chickens – eggs every day – every morning when finished go to chicken coop and collect eggs and bring to kitchen – very loyal anything had to do – gave one meal lunch- Bombing going on very often family would leave – after several hours come back – did not come back for 4 or 5 days --- wouldn’t take food without permission – scared all the



time when there – but nice--- 2nd day so hungry and weak… decided to take one egg – and drink egg -- had to **q) did you know if mother was dead at this point? Took more eggs sip slowly made a small hole covered egg into hole and covered so if they come back she would not find the eggs. Rest she would leave in the kitchen Ester survived on these 2 eggs when she was in the farm---- and left no food after 5 days. 6th day early morning over loud speaker heard voice hitlter istut --- ‘Hitler is dead’ Owner of farm arrived – healthy strong man went outside – shari and eva arrived at her farm – landowner arrived and speechless – is this really true? Are we free? Landowner says you are free – and said you could stay with us…but they say they want to go home….are you sure --- condition is dangerous – Nazis hiding in hills and mountains to people – just went home – nothing more to worry nothing more to lose.. Russian liberators liberated that area – going to town – say the way they loked and were dressed and tried to give clothes but didn’t understand Russian – began to speak to them in Yiddish – helped took them into house – gave them clothes from farm – didn’t really want to take others clothes – at end separated from soldiers – Looked at road – which way to begin? As proceeding – marching 3 of them a red cross soldier with truck rides on highway and stops and talks to them where are you going – mountains dangerous – shooting--- you must not walk on highways yet….i am offering a ride for you advise you – I will take you to a shelter where many other young survivors empty school ----summer already – Sat on bench while driving – took to next village empty school – survivors there – told by red cross soldier – go town to town to secure to make safe – when comes back to pick up will be safe up to a certain point – each day trying to proceede add more secure roads – they trusted him – **Q) was he American red cross? Speaking german Hungarian? Ran into german uniform soldiers – speak Hungarian --- 1500 hungarian german collaborators who voluntarity collaborated – did not trust them Got tb from lead in ammunition factory….. asked to leave –



Ordered special medication for brothers heart came from scandanavia – you could hear his heart beating every time it beat – so loud like abig machine…had terrble poison infection from breathing in all of this lead – I was coughing and breathing very poor – never had colds or anything before war – Went to tatra in ’46 – Dr. Ciner – was doctor before wa – immediately found out htat she shad TB and after all the following year sent to a sanitorium which is in the Tatra (apostrophe on a) mountain hill where the sanitorium is in checkoslovakia – used to be part of hungary but took it back form hungary – someone arranged another survvvor who lived in chezc part – went to college in SH – knew everyone in checko arranged all my problems to be able to tell doctor to send me to the tatra – was there for 6 weeks with good care and good food and air so important fresh mountain air – and mountain filled with fir trees claim that fir tees very special as far as cleaning oxygen in air and once wyou breath all this clean air it helkps patient who sufferes from TB -- not healthiest stil breathing problems. .. Found out heart damaged from hard work but somehow on America since living here doctors were kind and help try to survive. Every Hungarian male had to go build up country – said to two brothers – leave country – decided to go over border to Vienna and they did with success – were accepted into dp camp. When they left she was alone – th0ough it was best to go be healthy – fellow who attended college before war broke out he would help me with all the legality and give all info for doctor – doctor for a ll the survivors – followed up with jewish organization connected with hiyas and connected with institution in tatra. Had a good doctor there all Hungarian – since was part of hungary one time elderly docotre survivor himself. Every yr. 2x chest xray because damage of lung – want to make sure to see condition. Went back to hungary and was unhappy bec was alone --- in touch finally with aunt and continue to be in touch with her to corresponf – didn’tlike idea that was all aone was in touch with cousin who was her first cousin and my second cousin and was in toch w them was 2 of them alone together decided to adopt me bc was cousin --- they adopt me bc very happy with me – I was like a blessing… Both very good to me --- aunt suggested take a train welocoming me and waiting took very good care of me until the last minute I finished all important part of documents dressed me up – her name AMI cousins wife most elegant lingerie showroom – on 5th avenue (in Budapest) va(‘)ci street –most elegat lingerie showroom designed every pieve for customrs – created for me magnificent lingeir – have nice nighgown and coat and slip - had to wear slip every day ---really took care looked after me as if I was her



own daughter 0-00 came with gift luggage – hatbox that’s how she arrived….didnt have much --- fit into hat box Hatbox made out of patten leather – still have back check that ami gave – and still have slip--- think gave to granddaughter --- slip built like bra --- georgette material – nightgown and slip and bloomers – not separately like underpants mad with same material bloomers like fitted.



April 5, 2006 Notes Moiselwitz memory – woke up from deep sleep on April 4th 2006 – “MOISELWITZ” Following day we were called over 5000 people to be in head counting – Already beaten – lined up to watch polish prisoner get beaten – tall SS commander announcing what was going on – trying to escape going to be severely punished – told him to take his shirt off – SS said don’t close your eyes you have to watch every bit of it—if you try to escape this is the punishment you will receive – Man to be beaten up by whip --- so shaken up by whole scene kept waking up hearing Kept hearing sound of whip – woke up from nightmare – each time hitting the whip – horrifying crying pain from man and bleeding from beating – ss ordered him to turn around and be on his back – kept beating him on back --- first thought it was a dream but feeling going through whole body into brain 45 minutes – dark dungeon oval circles of gate – man taken to dungeon—throwing him into dungeon --- worst scene ever experienced – 3-4 hours couldn’t go back to sleep --- enough try not to think of it ---- close story behind you………..still in front of me…. ------- use this as intro to MOISELWITZ chapter------ April 4, 2006 (time) I wake up --- sounds of whip in my body --- is this a dream Dungeon was underground build out of a rock ledge dark there --- bleeding heavily from each whip from sadist nazi soldier….. Knew not to escape – barbed wire if you touch it – it would kill you. **Q) NOTES FROM MOTHER (DO YOU STILL HAVE THEM) Going back to questions for Auschwitz…. AUSCHWITZ Way of traveling but allowed to be in budapest jolane—corresponding – have letters be cautious don’t go out to street because is dangerous – wedding picture so important –carried all the way to Auschwitz – when herded in wagon still have picture – when arrived – yellow silk large handkerchief – belonging to father - could not have picture Arrival in Auschwitz – separated from family – hope and pray keep repeating sh’ma Journey number 1 journey into Auschwitz – dropped off under sky had to live 24 hours outdoors – weather not helpful nights cool – beganto warm up --- summer just around



corner – everything sprouting – fresh energy spring and summer – some people chosen to work – work kitchen – garbage - containers of kibble wagon outside – 2 girls take out – had to take to dump in forest – Mengele beautiful tall handsome man – title of doctorit – planning innocent jewish people of all ages to send into crematorium – fat people – decided to collect fat to make soap -- Q) HOW LONG IN AUSCHWITZ? Bark bread ----- worked hard received liquid – called vegetable soup but vegetable size of pea - After 6pm free time Q) WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT WITH PEOPLE ? Heading into ravensbruk – Late at night Talking about auschwitz – talking to friend - beating left continuous pain for complete time there – most of beating daily --- or even at night… Requested head counts – stuba bunk -- people would be hurt Emotional physical pain kept growing by minute and being frightened – every minute of day and night never knew what was going to come next minute – treated so horribly – nazis plan included in beating – headcounting always ended with Moiselwitz – 14 hours straight in ammunition factory – 100% lead as grinding bullets Headcounting before going into bunk – if in morning -- from nachshift – Rye bread oval shape white butter heavily covered delicious honey – small ss woman look at bread – when starving Auschwitz – jews from Poland quite cruel – positions – Nazis chose some polish prisoners pushy aggressive beating down on us – then Nazis take over – some polish people had been there some for 3 yrs….went through what we are going to get – became like skeletons – barely could walk no energy --- visualize a complete skeleton – go and shoot them down ---



Selections to right or left – undressed – hair checking shaving – some pointed to go into shower – some pointed to go into gas chamber – some went to other side of it those chosen for you---mind focused on what she was saying ---same idea to shave her hair – made circle managed to go to group charged to go to work ---miracle other girl from Czech – but Hungarian did same thing from that moment stuck to eachother – decided to share checking --- 6pm at night walk Quiet talk in moiselwitz - all Christians – young girl speaks fluent german – introduces herself I heard you girls are from hungary --- you speak german – I speak german – I am jewish --- hugged and kissed us all – told us her story – a polish jew – she is only jew and her husband deported together – separated husband other side of fence – 5000 christian males he is among those prisoners – she kept sneaking in – couldn’t know our existence – she knew what time she would come in when she knew we were there and visit with us – she was a visitor - Moiselwitz – kappo gorgeous polish woman – head of kappo of moiselwitz fluent german Lethol--- gas ? condensation from gasoline --- remants of liquid leithel - -- Auschwitz latrina kablie--- hole cut out - - in Auschwitz --- no more periods--- even after survived took long long time to get period --- One cousin survived said had to go see doctor --- because clotting so much --- Am I going to ever be able to free myself from these thoughts ? Wedding picture: Beautiful cutom veil – pure lace – design - down over wedding dress – size 8 /9 Close to each other ---- still kept until ravensbruk – kept hope but took picture away – dream and think of how can find it--- Still snuck out certain things . .. When leaving ghetto: Sardines from aunt backpack with undies food ---- Heard children crying in ravensbruk - - taken from france – put together - heard when in Budapest --- all those children put into gas chamber… outside in ravensbruk was a gas chamber.



Add Hungarian words nugemamma *** notes from mother Notes from kids



MAY 8 2006 NOTES Reading NEW notes: Marriage to zoltan grun Simple wedding city hall Husband had apt on riverside drive – Positive thinking loving caring sharing Ollika born – miracle baby Maternity nurse brought ollie to my bed 7 12 lbs…fullhead of hair red bow--- Ollika- 3 ½ nyu iq test – highest score to hunter college 1st yr school for 1st grade Wanted baby sister---god had given me such a blessing to conceive – 2nd time ollie named her ny aug 19 1953 Monday 830pm. Talk about 2 daughters – getting older school – Traveling between li and Westchester co. --- found house in white plains Moved in end of june to new house – took 25-35 minutes – could have dinner together – did a lot of activities together with daddy – Linda enrolled in small nursery school – ollie into white plains hs on north st. Put everything into perspective – have to think about organizing home – husband tried to get busy and furnish new home – designed furniture – shipped it right home ---- Long big open porch screened in – best time when had to spend relaxing hours – slate porch—magnificent garden a lot of property – garden flowers colors huge old trees fruit trees flower garndens – in 1965 added swimming pool – all birds helped enjoy pool – owl on property – Leonard – conductor – (find last name) Children and dolls - - - thought husband could make doll cradles. – designed cradles – pink cradles – kids were so happy – Bolshoi ballet Last journey leaving hungary – 3 cousins survived – came up with idea how to say goodbye – cousin had 4 seater kayak – he duna (the Danube) – journey to say goodbye to hungary 1948 june 14….(may?) Sailing was over within a couple of hours--- and say goodbye to hungary – the following day going to Prague ---waiting for rail journey 1948 May 17 8 pm – plane took off.. flying to united states. Since may 18 1948 – most beautiful country – gods country –



Westchtester live a quality life – handed down whatever qualities



march 27, 2006 notes talking about children aviva – 1zeyda avram weiss bobby – rosa...

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