Courtesy Photo | Holocaust survivor Irene Weisberg Zisblatt holds a bouquet of flowers given to her by...... read more read more
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Navy Operational Support Center, Norfolk 's Cultural Awareness Committee hosted a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, April 22.
Guest speaker Irene Weisberg Zisblatt, an Auschwitz Death Camp survivor, shared her story with the crowd, recalling the hardships she suffered, including the death of her loved oned.
At nine years old, she was taken out of school, ostracized, and labeled "Jew" by having to wear a golden star. Her family was moved to a brickyard labor camp with other Jewish families from her town. She stayed there until they were relocated in 1944.
"They stuffed 100 people in each boxcar of a cattle train and locked the doors from the outside," said Weisberg Zisblatt. "When the doors opened, there were men yelling in German. A man tried to help us; my mother asked where we were. The man said you are in Auschwitz."
Weisberg Zisblatt told how she was separated from her family and never saw them again. She was taken to become a "test rabbit" for Dr. Josef Mengeles' experiments in cruelty until 1945.
Escaping death in a gas chamber she was sent to another concentration camp and from there sent on a death March.
"They told us that we were marching away from any freedom and into death," Weisberg Zisblatt said.
During the march she and another girl, Sabka, escaped the formation. They found a brook and slept on the bank until they were awakened by the butt of a rifle nudging them.
"I saw soldiers with funny uniforms and funny boots, and I couldn't understand their mumbling language," said Weisberg Zisblatt. "I didn't believe they were going to help us until I saw the Jewish Ten Commandments on his dog tags. I asked him, who are you, and he answered, "Don't worry. We are Americans. Don't be afraid.'"
The soldiers made them food and let them use beds and pillows. Sabka died in her sleep.
Weisberg Zisblatt was eventually taken to New York where her name was put on a survivors list. From there, she went to live with her uncle in America.
Weisberg Zisblatt did not speak of her experiences for 50 years. In 1994, she knew it was time to speak up for all those who died during the Holocaust. She has spoken in numerous states, schools and countries.
She has since had the opportunity to return to Auschwitz and the past came rushing back to her when she saw it.
Weisberg Zisblatt said she saw all the evidence of the cruelty had been destroyed and it angered her. She went to Dr. Mengeles' platform and yelled, "Look at me, I am alive. Despite your experiments I survived. I am here with 1,500 healthy beautiful children and you can't touch us!"
The Sailors and Marines in attendance were touched by Wesiberg Zisblatt's story, some were in tears.
"It was very important to me, as I am Jewish," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Doron Ilisirov, the publicity and recruitment chairperson for the committee. "It brought me to tears to hear of so much hatred."
Weisberg Zisblatt's story is part of Steven Spielberg's, Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation and the Academy Award winning documentary, "The Last Days."
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.24.2009 11:22 |
| Story ID: | 32824 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA BEACH, US |
| Web Views: | 180 |
| Downloads: | 142 |
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