24. Forgiving But Never Forgetting: Part 2 of my Conversation with Holocaust Survivor Eva Schloss

In this episode, Eva offers more insights and details about the horrors of camp life at Auschwitz. She shares about some chance encounters she had with her father and also her luck in obtaining a job in “Canada”… the location where the stolen belongings like clothing, jewelry, food, and money were taken from the Jews as they were initially processed into the camp.There is also a story where Eva’s mom is selected for the gas chamber after several months in the camp as she has grown thin and weak from the lack of food and terrible living conditions at the camp. Eva puts a plan into effect and scrambles to find her cousin from Prague who might be able to influence the Germans to spare her mother’s life.Eva also discusses the liberation from the Auschwitz by the Russians and the absolute chaos that set on the camp as many of the Jews were forced into “death marches” by the remaining German guards. She loses contact with her father and doesn’t learn of her dad and brother’s fate until several months later.Her experiences on the transports through places like Poland, Russia, Romania, Italy, and France and the isolation and uncertainty she faced while making her way back to Amsterdam is also discussed.When Eva and her mom finally arrive back in Holland in late spring of 1945, they have no money and no place to go. They begin a search for Eva’s brother and father, and when they learn of their fate… Eva becomes severely depressed and considers suicide in the early months of 1946.In the final segment of this conversation, Eva talks about the difficult decision to reclaim her Austrian citizenship and ultimately forgive the Germans for what they did to her, her friends, and her family. It is a hopeful and poignant story in the midst of so much heartache, pain, and suffering. PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources-         Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services. -         Email:[email protected] Please follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.