Meet our Survivors

Fajga Orenbuch was born on December 3, 1916 in modern Poland, originally referred to as Łódź. They had escaped this territory due to active antisemitism and moved to Brussels, Belgium in 1926. In 1938, Fanny got married and in the spring of 1939, she gave birth to her daughter Josiane. The next year Nazi Germany invaded Belgium, and her husband Jacques had fled to England to work in a factory. Fanny was situated in Belgium with Josiane but faced extreme antisemitism. For instance, Josiane's medical care was no longer allowing entrance and treatment of Jewish patients. Jews were forbidden to attend school, work, dismissed from their positions, and stripped from basic freedoms. 

Fanny partook in hiding refugees in her apartment by being involved in the Belgian Resistance movement. She decided to separate from her young daughter. 

Jacques was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center in August 1942 and had overheard from a survivor that her father had died on the train en route to Auschwitz. 

Fanny and her mother spent time in several hiding places until they were discovered and arrested. They were beaten by the Gestapo and taken to the Mechelen (Malines) transit camp in Belgium and then sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center in May 1944. Fanny would not be able to see her mother as her mother was sent to the gas chambers. Fanny was chosen for forced labor and SS doctors conducted invasive and traumatizing medical experiments upon Fanny. With the horrific experiences she endured she found encouragement other women which helped her survive. In January 1945, the SS evacuated Auschwitz and Fanny was forced on a death march. After four months she was freed and was brought to a hospital to find care. Upon arriving home, she had been eventually reunited with Josianne, her sister and Jacques, her father. (US Holocaust Memorial Museum)