During The Holocaust
Changes in Hungary
As Vera continued her life in Debrecen, she didn't know what was happening to the Jewish people in other European countries, until conflicts began arising where she was living and the Nazis invaded. By April 5th of 1944, all Jews in Hungary had to wear the yellow star wherever they went. Only a few weeks later, plans were made for a ghetto to be built, and for Jews to be sent there.
The Beginning of Vera's Holocaust Experience
In May of 1944, Vera was forced to move into the ghetto. She stayed there for around 3 weeks until she was taken to a brick factory outside of Debrecen. Vera lived there for another few weeks. Her father strongly did not want Vera's family to have to be deported somewhere else. He protected them from having to leave the brick factory in the first two transports, but by the time the 3rd one came around, there was no stopping them from being taken away. As they stepped up to get on the cattle cars, Vera's dad noticed that the floor of the car was covered in animal litter. He immediately took a shovel and began cleaning. He then turned to Susica, the older sister of Vera's best friend, and said "Take care of my little girl." Although Vera and her family didn't know it yet, they were being deported to Auschwitz ghetto. The date was June 27th, 1944, Vera's 20th birthday.
Auschwitz Ghetto
Vera, her family, and many other Jews spent 3 days in the cattle cars. The journey was horrible and they faced many hardships along the way. When they finally arrived at Auschwitz, Vera was separated from her family. When they got out of the cattle cars, men were sent one way, and women the other. Vera said a sad goodbye to her father and that was the last time she would ever see him. In the next line, Vera and her mother were each sent in separate directions and never saw each other again. They lived through such hard times, always facing new sicknesses, hunger, and terrible guards. But Susica took great care of her sister and Vera. She was so kind, caring, and helpful to them, and always made sure that they had the best possible circumstances even in the worst of situations. She was doing what Vera's dad had asked of her. One day, around 6 weeks after arriving, everyone was lined up and sent in different directions. For this next part of her story, listen to Vera explain it to you herself.
Because of this one German guard, Vera was able to stay with her friends instead of being separated from them. The group was of 1,000 people, all chosen to go to the Allendorf camp.
The End of Vera's Holocaust Experience
Vera spent months at Allendorf (a subcamp of Buchenwald), working many different jobs. She started as a potato peeler, then worked in a munitions factory, and lastly, worked in a factory recycling materials. Vera would work for 12 hours a day, tired, hungry, and injured, but she never gave up. She persevered, and lived through the horrible hardships of the Holocaust. Finally, on March 28th, 1945 Vera was liberated by American forces. When the Americans came to liberate her, Vera's face lit up and she held a very special place in her heart for Americans long after the war for saving her.