The lessons of the Holocaust figure prominently in FSWC’s education programs that promote the principles of inclusion, social justice and democratic values. In addition to the important historical facts behind Nazi Germany’s murder of six million Jews, we bring this dark chapter to life through the Holocaust survivor testimonies of those who, against all odds, survived the genocide.
Since the inception of FSWC, Holocaust survivors have discussed the horrors of concentration camps at our educational workshops and events. We are deeply grateful for their participation and for their strength in sharing their difficult personal journeys with young people, with the hope it will help prevent such a horrific tragedy in the future.
We are honoured to introduce you to some of the incredible men and women who have given so much of their time to contribute greatly to Holocaust education in Canada. The short summaries below and accompanying videos offer only a brief glimpse into the lived experience of antisemitism and trauma each of these people endured in their younger years duirng Holocaust.
Sadly, with the number of survivors constantly diminishing, the day is fast approaching when there won’t be anyone left who can give first-hand testimony of the excruciating reality Jews faced under the Nazis. All the more reason it is imperative to forever preserve and revisit these stories as part of the legacy of survivors.
Faigie (Schmidt) Libman's
Story
The Holocaust in Lithuania
In 1939, Lithuania’s Jewish population was around 160,000; after the invasion of Poland in September 1939, the arrival of many Jewish refugees from Nazi-occupied Poland increased this figure to around 250,000. Lithuania was invaded by the Soviet Union in June of 1940, leaving the country’s Jews vulnerable to arrest and deportation by the new Soviet occupiers, as well as increasing violence from Lithuanian civilians. The Nazi invasion of Lithuania in June 1941 led to an immediate and dramatic intensification of antisemitic oppression and violence, beginning with the arrival of mobile killing units known as Einsatzgruppen. These special SS attachments, along with Lithuanian auxiliaries, murdered over 175,000 Lithuanian Jews before the end of 1941. This wave of violence is known as the Holocaust by Bullets.
In November of 1941, Lithuania’s 40,000 remaining Jews were forced into the Vilna, Kovno (Kaunas), Siauliai, and Svencionys ghettos, and in various labor camps across the country. Living conditions were deplorable, with severe food shortages, outbreaks of disease, and overcrowding. In 1943, the Nazis began the liquidation of the Lithuanian ghettos; the ghetto in Kaunas, Faigie’s hometown, was transformed into a concentration camp, while in other Lithuanian ghettos, the population were deported to killing centres and concentration camps or murdered by shooting in nearby forests. Lithuania was liberated by the Red Army in the summer and fall of 1944. During the Holocaust, over 95% of Lithuanian Jews were murdered by the Nazis and local collaborators, one of the highest rates in Europe.
Pre-War Jewish Life
Faigie was only five when the Second World War broke out in 1939. For her family, life hadbeen relatively peaceful in the preceding decades. Her family was affluent and Faigiedescribed her life in pre-war Lithuania as “wonderful”, with beautiful clothes, a Russiangoverness, and trips to the Baltic coast for family vacations. She was also the luckyrecipient of a Shirley Temple doll from her aunt in New York, which made her the envy ofmany of her classmates. She was extremely close with her father, who she describes as herbest friend and confidant.
Timeline of Key Events in Faigie’s Life
July 29th, 1934 - Faigie is Born in Kaunas, Lithuania.
September 1st, 1939 - The Second World War Begins with the Nazi invasion of Poland.
June 22nd, 1941 - Nazi Germany invades Lithuania as part of Operation Barbarossa.
June 21st, 1941- Faigie and family are forced into the Kaunas (Kovno) Ghetto.
October 29th 1941 - ‘Great Action’ at the Ninth Fort in Kaunas ghetto; over 9000 Jews are murdered.
March 27th, 1944 - ‘Kinder Aktion’ at Kaunas Ghetto; children and old people are
deported and murdered.
July 1944 - Faigie and her mother are deported to Stutthof Concentration Camp.
January 1945: Faigie and her mother are sent on a death march.
January 21st 1945: Faigie and her mother are liberated by the Red Army.
March 1948 - Faigie immigrates to Canada.
Discussion & Reflection Questions
How does it feel to hear someone share their direct memories from this time in history? How is it different from reading a book written by a historian or reading about it online?
Did you learn any new information about the Holocaust from Faigie’s testimony? Werethere any details that supported info you already know?
Why do you think Faigie chooses to speak publicly about her experiences during theHolocaust? Do you think it takes an emotional toll to share these memories?
Now that more than 80 years has past since the end of the Holocaust, many studentswon’t have the opportunity to meet living witnesses directly. Why is this video and otherslike it important for the future of Holocaust remembrance?
After watching Faigie’s video, what questions are you left with? What would you ask her(if you could)?
Activity Suggestions
Research Inquiry: Holocaust Remembrance in Lithuania Today
Use reputable sources (either trusted websites or peer-reviewed books/
articles) to answer the following questions:
What can you find about the history of Jews in Lithuania before the
Holocaust?
What is the Jewish population like in Lithuania today? How does this compare
with the number before 1939?
Where did the survivors go?
Does antisemitism still exist in Lithuania today?
Does the government in Lithuania promote/support Holocaust education?
Are there any sites or monuments dedicated to Holocaust remembrance in
Lithuania today?
Have there been any controversies related to Holocaust remembrance in
Lithuania?
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