Thursday 18th June 2009

Paul Calvert spoke with Ester Manheim

They gave us a number; I have a number on my arm. After a few days they put us on a death train.

At the beginning we had no place to sit. After a few days there were a lot of places to sit because a lot of the people died from cold and from hunger. One night we stayed in a forest, we thought that this was the last moment. Everyone started to pray in all languages; praying in Russian, French and Dutch all in the same wagon. Everyone prayed in their own language.

A German came and asked if there were any sick people and we said no. They took all the sick people on the wagon and killed them on the way.

We arrived in Ravensbruck. There they sent us to another camp and they wanted us to die from hunger. They gave us a piece of bread, one bread for 10 people. I was the happy one with the knife. We had a little piece of bread, so I measured it; how it is high and how it is long to give to everyone. To see the look on their faces when I done it, a little bit fell down and they took it. We were thirsty, we were hungry.

On April 26th, Hitler's birthday, they bombed Berlin and we who were in danger were happy to hear the bombing. On the 2nd May at night the Germans escaped. Some people came to us and said "You are free". "Free, that's impossible". We should have been happy, but on this night everyone understood what had happened to his family on this day. Until this day he was in danger but now you would hear only weeping and crying and why did I stay alive and not my child and not my mother and not my family?

When we came back to Krakow we found nobody.

I came to Israel after one year; on the 2nd May I was in the Negev.

You know I am one of the survivors. My voice is the voice of thousands of people who've suffered as I have suffered.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

About Paul Calvert

Paul Calvert is from Carlisle in Cumbria working as a Journalist in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He is also a radio presenter with a documentary show.

View all articles by Paul Calvert

	Showing page 4 of 4 1 2 3 4

Reader Comments

Posted by Leslie Klein in South Dakota @ 18:34 on Feb 7 2013

Well before I knew God, and I was only 12 or 13 I found an old book in my uncle's house on the Holocaust. This impacted me greatly and I cried and cried and then decided I would cry a tear for all those killed in the Holocaust. That day opened my eyes to the world and God planted a seed that would grow every time I saw someone being treated wrong. And now God puts person's in my path that may need some help and I can not resist trying to help, even the angriest person I may meet. Not by me but in God's strength and for his glory.

[reply] [report abuse]

Posted by Shirley Smith in Fremont, OH @ 08:32 on Aug 22 2012

Every Holocaust survivor's story is stirring, but when I read of those who were children at the time I am just in awe at how they survived the horrors they were exposed to and lived with daily for years. It can only be the love and power of the God of Israel for His own that can explain how Ester and others not only survived, but have been mentally healthy enough, to share their stories with us. Thank you, Ester Manheim and Paul Calvert for allowing us readers an opportunity to reflect on those who so tragically lost their lives and to ponder the Power far greater than Hitler's Who kept the glimmers of hope alive in every survivor.

[reply] [report abuse]

Posted by stanley in new jersey @ 14:58 on Jul 9 2009

i fell sorry 4 u.

[reply] [report abuse]

Posted by Peter in Sheffield @ 13:27 on Jun 23 2009

This is a chilling reminder that we must never forget

[reply] [report abuse]

The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.