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The True Story of One Family's Journey from War-Torn Austria to the Ghettos of Poland

Allen Ginsberg

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Published in Ten Green Bottles: The True Story Of One Family S Journey From War Torn Austria To The Ghettos Of Shanghai

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In the heart of Europe, where the horrors of the Holocaust unfolded, there is a story of resilience and survival that deserves to be told. This is the story of the Gold family, who fled their home in Austria after the Nazi annexation in 1938 and embarked on a harrowing journey that would ultimately lead them to the ghettos of Poland.

Ten Green Bottles: The True Story of One Family's Journey from War-torn Austria to the Ghettos of Shanghai

by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	555 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	316 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Escape from Austria

The Gold family lived in Vienna, Austria, where Max, the father, was a successful businessman and Regina, the mother, was a devoted homemaker. They had two children, Eric, who was 10 years old, and Miriam, who was 7. When the Nazis annexed Austria in March 1938, the Golds' world came crashing down.

Max's business was confiscated, and the family was forced to wear the yellow Star of David, which identified them as Jews. They were subjected to constant harassment and intimidation, and it became clear that they had to flee for their lives.

With the help of a sympathetic Austrian friend, the Golds obtained visas to England. They packed their meager belongings and boarded a train bound for the Swiss border. As they approached the border, they were stopped by Nazi guards who demanded their passports. The Golds' friend frantically tore up their visas and hid the pieces in his pockets.

The guards searched the family thoroughly but found nothing. Miraculously, they were allowed to cross the border into Switzerland, where they were granted asylum.

Life in Switzerland

The Golds spent the next few years in Switzerland, living in a refugee camp. They were grateful to be safe, but they longed to be reunited with their extended family, who had fled to Poland.

In 1941, the Golds received a letter from their relatives in Poland, saying that they had been forced to move into a ghetto. The ghettos were overcrowded and unsanitary, and the conditions were horrific. The Golds knew they had to do everything they could to help their loved ones.

A Perilous Journey

With the help of the Polish underground, the Golds arranged for their relatives to be smuggled out of the ghetto. They were given false identities and boarded a train bound for Switzerland. However, the train was stopped by Nazi soldiers, and the Golds' relatives were arrested.

The Golds were devastated, but they refused to give up hope. They continued to work with the Polish underground, and eventually, they were able to help another group of their relatives escape from the ghetto.

This time, the escape was successful. The Golds' relatives arrived in Switzerland, safe and sound.

The Ghettos of Poland

In 1942, the Golds received another letter from their relatives in Poland. This time, the news was grim. The Nazis had begun rounding up the Jews in the ghettos and sending them to death camps.

The Golds were horrified. They knew they had to do something, but what? They couldn't go to Poland themselves, as they would be arrested as enemy aliens.

Instead, they decided to send money and supplies to their relatives in the ghetto. They also contacted the International Red Cross and other organizations, begging them to help the Jews in Poland.

A Tragic End

Despite the Golds' efforts, they were unable to save their relatives from the Nazis. In 1944, the ghetto where their relatives were living was liquidated, and the remaining Jews were sent to Auschwitz death camp.

The Golds never saw their relatives again.

A Legacy of Hope

The Gold family's story is a tragedy, but it is also a story of hope and resilience. Despite the horrors they endured, they never gave up on their loved ones or their faith in humanity.

After the war, the Golds immigrated to the United States, where they rebuilt their lives and raised a family. They never forgot their lost relatives, and they dedicated their lives to fighting against hatred and intolerance.

The Gold family's story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. It is a story that should be told and retold, so that we never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and the importance of fighting for what is right.

Ten Green Bottles: The True Story of One Family's Journey from War-torn Austria to the Ghettos of Shanghai

by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan

4.4 out of 5