Hedy Bohm - Holocaust Survivor
Hedy Bohm was born in Romania (Hungary) in 1928. She was raised in Oradea, Romania (Hungary) by her mother and father who was a veteran of World War II. Throughout the beginning of the war her family/friends kept her sheltered from what was going on and her father was hopeful that the government would not let anything happen to them as he had a great deal of faith in his country.
Her family was taken from there home in April 1944 where they were relocated approximately 10 blocks away where they were forced to share a room with three other families. They spend just over a month in the ghetto before they were required to report to the train station on the last day of May 1944. Packed into a train car with 80-90 other people they travelled on/off for three days and three nights. Upon arriving at their destination the doors were flung open to reveal a scene that is unforgettable to her, Auschwitz. Hedy's father was immediately taken away with the men and moments later her and were mother were separated, Hedy (her Aunt and cousins) being sent down the path to the camp, not to their deaths.
After spending three months in the camp Hedy her cousins and Aunt were placed on a train with 500 other women with no idea as to where they were being sent. The arrived in Faladlaken (unsure of spelling), Germany to an old Volkswagen factory which had been converted to an ammunition manufacturing plant. Spending a year working twelve hour shifts every day and sleeping in a boomed out basement across the street they survived with no information about the war. Information on two occasions by one of the men in the factory via note Hedy and here family members were able to keep faith that the Allies were coming and the war would soon.
Liberated by Americans on April 14th, 1945 it was the first the of the new start to Hedy's life. Spending time in Bergen Belsen, Germany before returning to her hometown with her Aunt, Hedy spent two years living with her mother's sister (and her husband), in which time she was married (1947). Hedy's husband determined that it would be best for them to relocate to Canada as he feared the Communists would take over their country. Eight months later their paper work was in order and they paid a farmer (who lived near the boarder) to smuggle them over in the night as it was presently illegal to leave the country.
Arriving in Canada in 1948 Hedy and her husband began their new lives.
Hedy recently began tell her story for the first time over two years ago after she became sadden by the denials she was hearing throughout the world. Antisemitism was on the rise again and she wondered, "what will they say when there are no more survivors left to tell the story?" She decided that she had to tell her story because it was important enough, the most important thing that she can do). She hopes to teach young people how much intolerance/prejudice can grow and lead to the dictation of an annihilation of a whole race.
Links & Additional Information
Flamborough Review Article (Feb. 2011): http://www.flamboroughreview.com/news/article/296381weeblylink_new_window
Toronto Star Article (April 2010): http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/793684weeblylink_new_window
Her family was taken from there home in April 1944 where they were relocated approximately 10 blocks away where they were forced to share a room with three other families. They spend just over a month in the ghetto before they were required to report to the train station on the last day of May 1944. Packed into a train car with 80-90 other people they travelled on/off for three days and three nights. Upon arriving at their destination the doors were flung open to reveal a scene that is unforgettable to her, Auschwitz. Hedy's father was immediately taken away with the men and moments later her and were mother were separated, Hedy (her Aunt and cousins) being sent down the path to the camp, not to their deaths.
After spending three months in the camp Hedy her cousins and Aunt were placed on a train with 500 other women with no idea as to where they were being sent. The arrived in Faladlaken (unsure of spelling), Germany to an old Volkswagen factory which had been converted to an ammunition manufacturing plant. Spending a year working twelve hour shifts every day and sleeping in a boomed out basement across the street they survived with no information about the war. Information on two occasions by one of the men in the factory via note Hedy and here family members were able to keep faith that the Allies were coming and the war would soon.
Liberated by Americans on April 14th, 1945 it was the first the of the new start to Hedy's life. Spending time in Bergen Belsen, Germany before returning to her hometown with her Aunt, Hedy spent two years living with her mother's sister (and her husband), in which time she was married (1947). Hedy's husband determined that it would be best for them to relocate to Canada as he feared the Communists would take over their country. Eight months later their paper work was in order and they paid a farmer (who lived near the boarder) to smuggle them over in the night as it was presently illegal to leave the country.
Arriving in Canada in 1948 Hedy and her husband began their new lives.
Hedy recently began tell her story for the first time over two years ago after she became sadden by the denials she was hearing throughout the world. Antisemitism was on the rise again and she wondered, "what will they say when there are no more survivors left to tell the story?" She decided that she had to tell her story because it was important enough, the most important thing that she can do). She hopes to teach young people how much intolerance/prejudice can grow and lead to the dictation of an annihilation of a whole race.
Links & Additional Information
Flamborough Review Article (Feb. 2011): http://www.flamboroughreview.com/news/article/296381weeblylink_new_window
Toronto Star Article (April 2010): http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/793684weeblylink_new_window