Holocaust survivor Martin Lowenberg was a child in Germany when he was tortured, lost his parents and siblings to gas chambers and was forced to work in labor camps.
On Monday, he shared his story to an audience that packed into the Oscar E. Remick Heritage Center at Alma College.
He was introduced by Joanne Gilbert, the Chair of Communication and New Media Studies. She staged a production called “Up from the Ashes: Michigan Holocaust Survivors Share Their Stories” in 2006 which is scripted from six interviews that she conducted.
“We see things as we are,” she said. “Our unique perspective informed by both our DNA and our life experiences is the lens through which we view the world.”
She met Lowenberg in 2005 when she interviewed him for the stage show. His story while describing the various horrors stayed with her because he was able to keep his sense of humor.
“To maintain his optimism and resilience was truly remarkable,” she said. “He is committed to educating others. He’s committed to ensuring that we never forget this horrific history. I have been fortunate to have called him a friend for a dozen years.”
Lowenberg spoke for an hour, sharing his stories of the concentration camps and schools he attended throughout his childhood.
Born in Schenklengsfeld, Germany on January 21, 1928 he was the fifth of seven children raised by an officer in the German army and a seamstress.
When he was five years old, his house was burned down by a drunk man who was dared to burn down a Jewish house while at a local bar.
“Not only did they burn it,” he said. “They looted it. We lost everything. Luckily some people helped us and took us all in.”
In third grade, Lowenberg recalls being falsely accused of disrespecting Hitler by his teacher at the time.
“I was accused of sticking my tongue at a picture of Hitler,” he said. “The teacher had me beaten and tortured by the other students.”
He lost his parents and twin siblings to a gas chamber in Auschwitz at the age of 9. At each concentration camp, people were evaluated for work. Any person that was deemed sick, old, or simply unable to work were taken away to be executed.
“Hate is the worst word in the dictionary,” Lowenberg said. “When I see that word I see four other words. Horror, Atrocity, Torture and Elimination. Why would people do this to other people?”
It was nearly impossible for Jewish people to leave their countries in Europe. Only money and relatives that sent for them kept some safe. To be identified as Jewish, people were given identification that was marked with a “J”. Also, men were given the middle name “Israel” while women had “Sara” added to theirs.
“If you were stopped in the street you had to provide identification,” he said. “You were liable to be kicked and spat on right there in the street.”
He was transferred from Kassel, Germany to Riga, Latvia by boxcar. The car was so full that he had to stand for four days straight. After arriving, he had to walk five more miles to the nearest camp.
“When we arrived, 3,000 Latvian Jews were executed,” he said. “Our camp leaders said ‘We had to make room for you all’. Also, everyone had their head shaved. The women were also included.”
He recalled women having to pull a whole boxcar down the tracks while men stacked empty cannons in the bowels of ships. These various tasks were assigned by camp leaders while only feeding the workers soup.
“The soup was made from beets and carrots,” Lowenberg said. “We didn’t get any meat because it was given to the dogs. The dogs had to be fed, so they can chase us if we tried to escape.”
On May 2, 1945 he was liberated while in Sweden. It would be 18 months before he was reunited with his sister, Eva. They both moved to the United States in 1946. He landed in Grand Rapids while his sister lives in New Jersey.
“Six million Jewish people were killed,” he said. “Along with five million others. And for what? Because of hate. Hate hurts, but love heals.”