Survivors: I Am Somebody!
Reporter
Poem
Bridge Builder
This story connects to the modern day world in the way that perseverance is important. The kids in the story didn't give up and they had perseverance and they ended up surviving.
Walter Ziffer's story begins in September 1, 1939, when the 12 year old's city, Cesky Tesin, was invaded by Germany. The Gestapo ended up sharing a building with his family, and they were eventually kicked out. They were sent to a ghetto with 1,000 others, and this is when Leo told Walter that he was somebody, a phrase he would draw inspiration from. While working in a factory at the ghetto, Walter fell in love with a girl his age named Lydia Reindl. They spent three months together before Lydia's family attempted to escape to Russia, only to get caught and killed. On June 21, 1941, everyone in the ghetto was told they would be deported. After being separated from his mother and stripped of personal possessions, Walter, his cousin, and his sister were put on a train. When the train briefly stopped, a friend of Walter's father recognized them and saved them from going to Auschwitz. His cousin and sister ended up leaving the transition camp they were put in, but Walter did not, and traveled between camps. On May 8, 1945, Soviets entered his current camp, freeing him and the others. Walter reunited with the rest of his family the following day. His father, sister, mother, and cousin all survived the Holocaust. Walter now lives in Weaverville, North Carolina, married with four kids and 10 grandchildren.
Artist
Discussion Leader
Discussion Leader Answers:
Diction Detective
- On September 1, 1939, what did Walter Ziffer wake up to?
- In the Main Street below what did Walter visualize?
- Which horrifying news did Walter overhear about his town going down?
- What did the SS Officers find amusing while taking children down the stairs from their home?
- Where were the Ziffers able to gather their belongings and stay?
"I am somebody"
This is the phrase that kept Walter going during the holocaust. His father told him to remember that he was somebody and it inspired Walter throughout his whole holocaust experience.
Kapos
A trusted prisoner within the camps that acted as guards.
Laus Allee
Or lice alley is what the prisoners called the haircut they received during the holocaust
"Organize food"
A camp term for stealing something to eat.
"Arbeit Macht Frei"
A sign at the camp Walter was at. The sign read, "Work Makes You Free"
- He referred what he woke up to the sound of thunder, but he actually woke up to the Nazi's and the S.S invading his city.
- He visualized groups of Nazi's and SS Officers trampling over people and if they would not obey what they say, these Jews were shot.
- The horrifying news Walter overheard about his city was that the Nazi's were coming with the SS to take everyone away from their homes to the concentration camp.
- While taking children from their homes and down the stairs they found it amusing to trip them down the stairs.
- The Ziffer's were able to gather their belongings and stay at one of their downstairs neighbors on 2nd Street.