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.
Gerda Freiberg's
Story
The Holocaust in Poland
In 1939, around 3.3 million Jews lived in Poland, making it home to Europe’s largest Jewish community. In 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, and the country was split between Germany and the USSR, which occupied its eastern half. Ghettos were established in cities across Poland, including Lodz and Warsaw. Ghettos were closed areas in which Jews were required to live; conditions in the ghettos were deliberately brutal, with overcrowding and malnutrition common. Thousands died of disease, starvation or mistreatment in the ghettos. After the Nazi invasion of the USSR in 1941, the entire country came under Nazi control, and would become the epicentre of the Final Solution.
In 1942, the Nazis began deporting Jews from the ghettos to concentration camps and killing centres including Auschwitz and Treblinka. Most deportees were gassed on arrival, while others were used as forced labour in the Nazi concentration camp system. In 1943, the surviving inhabitants of the Warsaw Ghetto rose up against the Nazis; though brutally supressed, the uprising—and others like it across Poland—stands as a powerful symbol of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. Ultimately, about 90% of Poland’s prewar Jewish population were murdered during the Holocaust, and most of the survivors never returned to their prewar homes.
Pre-War Jewish Life
Andy’s parents were from “ordinary, poor families” in Hungary. His parents, whom he
describes as a deeply loving couple, married in 1939; Andy was born in 1942, two
years before the country was invaded by Nazi Germany. Andy’s father and
grandfather were both swimming instructors, a talent Andy would inherit himself.
As a child, Andy lived with his parents and paternal grandparents in a small
courtyard apartment in Budapest. His family life was warm and close knit, with his
mother and grandmother providing strong female role models.
Timeline of Key Events in Gerda’s Life
October 12th, 1925: Gerda is born in Bielschowitz, Upper Silesia, Poland
September 1st, 1939: Germany invades Poland; Gerda’s hometown is evacuated due to its
proximity to the border.
October 19th, 1939: Gerda’s father is arrested by the Nazis.
March 6th, 1940: Gerda, her mother, and sister are deported to the Jaworzno ghetto.
February 1942: Gerda’s sister is arrested and sent to a labour camp in the Sudetenland.
April 11th, 1942: Gerda is arrested and taken to a holding camp and sent by train to the
same camp as her sister.
Summer 1942: Gerda’s mother escapes the deportation of the ghetto’s population to
Auschwitz by jumping off a truck and hiding in the town’s Jewish cemetery.
Summer 1942: Gerda’s mother joins them after travelling to the camp to find her
daughters.
May 8, 1945 – Gerda and her mother and sister are liberated by the British Army.
1945-1949: Gerda and her family live in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany.
1949: Gerda immigrates to Israel.
1952: Gerda immigrates to Canada.
Discussion & Reflection Questions
What role did family bonds play in Gerda’s survival, and how did they give her a sense of purpose during captivity?
How does Gerda’s story help us understand the psychological impact of long-term dehumanization and forced labour?
What does her mother’s decision to hide and later rejoin her daughters say about courage and agency during the Holocaust?
Why is it important to hear stories like Gerda’s in her own words rather than only through historical summaries?
How might Gerda’s post-war experience in refugee camps shape our understanding of “liberation” and its aftermath?
Activity Suggestions
Survivor Testimony Reflection Journal
Select a moment from Gerda’s testimony, such as her father’s arrest, her deportation, or her liberation
Write a journal entry from her perspective, describing her experiences and her emotions (Optional) as a class, discuss the themes of Gerda’s experience (e.g. resilience, family, identity)
Timeline Construction
Work in groups to create a detailed visual timeline of Gerda’s Holocaust journey using physical or digital materials
The timeline should include historical context, as well as significant events in Gerda’s life. (Optional) present your timeline to the class
Mapping Gerda’s Journey
Using historical maps of Europe, students trace Gerda’s path from Poland to Czechoslovakia On the map, identify locations such as ghettos, labour camps and displaced persons camps (Optional) as a class or in groups, discuss what each location meant for Gerda and what the themes of her story are (e.g. displacement, deportation, emigration)
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