Holocaust Memoir Insights

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Questions and Answers

What was a major economic issue in Poland after it gained independence in 1918?

Terrible inflation and high taxes

How did the Polish government determine how much tax people owed?

They taxed people based on how much they thought someone should pay.

What business did the author's father start with his friend Max?

A small business manufacturing clothing.

What was the business of the author's maternal grandparents?

They had a dairy stand in the market. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the author's parents live when they first got married?

In the mother's parents' apartment. Signup and view all the answers

What is noted about the author's paternal grandfather's physical appearance?

He had red hair and a thick, bushy beard. Signup and view all the answers

Which Jewish holidays are specifically mentioned as times when the author's family would gather?

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Signup and view all the answers

What was the method of travel to the author's paternal grandfather's farm?

Train and then a wagon. Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's purpose in writing this memoir according to the first paragraph?

To ensure that the events that happened are remembered. Signup and view all the answers

According to the author, who will continue to write about the Holocaust after the survivors are gone?

Historians Signup and view all the answers

What is the prisoner number of Felix Opatowski?

143425 Signup and view all the answers

In what city was the author born?

Lodz Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the population of Lodz was Jewish when the author was growing up?

Approximately one-third Signup and view all the answers

What trade was the author's father involved in?

Textiles Signup and view all the answers

Why did the author's father leave Poland when he was about 15 years old?

To avoid being drafted into the Russian army. Signup and view all the answers

What countries had open borders with Poland, according to the text?

Germany and Austria Signup and view all the answers

Where did the Germans assemble the prisoners before transport?

In a big field outside of Lodz. Signup and view all the answers

What was the first labour camp the narrator was sent to?

Poznań Stadium. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the German officer want Rex to stay with him?

The passage doesn't explicitly state why the officer wanted Rex to stay, but it implies it was to keep Rex from leaving with the family, which would have been difficult without a leash. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the camp in Rawicz where the narrator was taken?

Weisser Adler (White Eagle) Signup and view all the answers

What did the family use to restrain Rex since they didn't have a leash?

They tied a rope around Rex's neck. Signup and view all the answers

What were the sleeping quarters like at Weisser Adler?

Long bunks in three tiers with straw on the bare boards. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the narrator and his brother cry as they left?

They cried because the German was holding Rex back from them. Signup and view all the answers

What was the only form of 'payment' the workers received for their labor?

A bit of lousy food. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the camp commander?

Charnetski Signup and view all the answers

Why did the family have to walk to Baluty instead of taking the streetcar?

The streetcar was too expensive and did not go many places. Signup and view all the answers

Why were the family's relatives not particularly welcoming to them?

The family hadn't had much contact with these relatives before and the apartments were small and crowded. Signup and view all the answers

What did the narrator find out about his father after the war?

That is why he hadn’t visited him on the transport day Signup and view all the answers

What were some of the reasons the family's relatives accepted them into their home?

The text mentions it may have been out of pity and also for financial reasons, due to money given to allow the family to move in. Signup and view all the answers

From where were additional workers sent when the camp needed more help?

Poznań Signup and view all the answers

How many people eventually lived in the two-room apartment with the family?

At least twelve people lived in the two rooms with the family. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the narrator have to sleep since there was not room inside?

The narrator had to sleep on the landing outside the apartment. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the author's mother stay with him on his first day of school?

The author's mother stayed with him because he was crying and did not want to be there without her. Signup and view all the answers

What was the physical characteristic that made the author's cousin unhappy?

The author's cousin was unhappy because she had freckles. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the author spend most of his time with his father?

The author spent most of his time with his father at his father's shop on Sundays. Signup and view all the answers

What sport was the author particularly good at during his childhood?

The author was particularly good at soccer during his childhood. Signup and view all the answers

How did the author's soccer teammates defend him when he was harassed?

The author's teammates told the bullies to find someone else to pick on and defended him from the antisemitic slurs. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main form of prejudice the author experienced growing up?

The main form of prejudice the author experienced growing up was antisemitism. Signup and view all the answers

What was the author's father's response when he asked why he was called a 'dirty Jew'?

The author's father told him that he was going to have to live with this problem all of his life. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the author experience prejudice growing up?

The author experienced prejudice in the playground and in school. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the narrator initially try to get his number written down?

He thought it was a way to get assigned to work and avoid being selected for the gas chamber. Signup and view all the answers

What did the narrator learn about the fate of those whose numbers were written down by the civilian?

They were placed in a special barracks without food or water, and then sent to the gas chamber after a couple of days. Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator unintentionally avoid being selected for the gas chambers during the selection process?

He was pushed to the other side by a guard, placing him with those whose numbers were not recorded. Signup and view all the answers

What was the narrator's initial impression of Josef Mengele?

The narrator thought Mengele looked like a movie star because he was good-looking, tall, and wore a black SS uniform with shiny boots. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the saying, 'You’re better off if he doesn’t see you,' in relation to Mengele?

It meant it was better to avoid Mengele because he selected individuals for experiments and death. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to twins upon arrival at Auschwitz?

Twins were in trouble because they were selected for Mengele's experiments. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the sleeping arrangements in the quarantine barracks.

There were three tiers of bunks, each holding four to six men, with no blankets and very cramped conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the advice Jakob gave the narrator regarding survival in quarantine?

Jakob taught the narrator what to do and what not to do to increase his chances of survival. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prologue

In 1950, the author felt disoriented after the liberation of concentration camps
The world felt foggy and uncertain
The author describes the mental state of a survivor as extreme
Stalin's regime and policies caused a new exodus of Jews from Eastern Europe
The author met Regina, a 17-year old Jewish woman from Poland, and fell in love in 1946
They had 4 children and 5 grandchildren
The author and his wife immigrated to Canada in 1949 with no money, profession, or job.
They faced communication barrier; they felt unwelcomed as survivors.

My Childhood in Lodz

The author was born in Lodz, Poland in 1924.
Lodz was a major textile manufacturing center
His parents, Esther and Nathan, had a small business in textiles
His brother was named Romek
Family traditions included celebrating birthdays
His father, who arrived in Germany at age 15 because of Russian military occupation; had brothers and sisters.
The family history showed anti-Semitism, discrimination and the hardships faced by Jewish people, including the author's family, in their community and during the war.

Gatehouse to Hell

The author recounts his experience in the Lodz Ghetto and Nazi concentration camps
He emphasizes the experiences of Jews during the Holocaust and the atrocities of the Nazi regime
He describes the difficult conditions and the systematic persecution faced by Jews
The author's family and other Jewish families endured significant hardship and suffering during World War II due to Nazi policies and discrimination.

The War Begins

The German occupation of Lodz began on September 8, 1939, a week after the war began.
Jewish people were forced to wear yellow armbands.
Eventually, Jews were forced to wear the Star of David on their clothing.
The author and his friends were forced to experience the violence of the Nazi regime.
The author and his family members lived in the ghetto and observed the German's cruelty.

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Description

Explore significant economic and cultural aspects of Poland post-1918 through a personal memoir. This quiz delves into the author's family history, including business ventures, traditions, and the impact of Jewish identity. Test your understanding of the author's narrative and the historical context surrounding it.