Eyewitness to History: Holocaust Survivor Estelle Laughlin

Summary

Estelle Laughlin, a Holocaust survivor, shares her story to honor the millions lost, uplift with tales of courage, and warn of tyranny's corrupting influence. Born in Warsaw, she recounts life in the ghetto, resistance efforts, and the harrowing deportations. Despite suffering, she emphasizes the importance of love and the human spirit, detailing her family's survival and eventual journey to New York, where she became a teacher, embodying resilience and the joy of life.

Takeaways

• 📖 Estelle Laughlin is a Holocaust survivor and a volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, sharing her story for multiple reasons.
• 🌟 She tells her story to inspire hope through the courage and love demonstrated by people even in the worst times.
• 🙏 The narrative is a tribute to the millions of innocent people, including her family and friends, who were killed for being Jewish.
• 🚫 Estelle emphasizes the importance of remembering the consequences of accommodating tyrants and the impact on a nation's conscience and trust.
• 🌅 She was born in Warsaw, Poland, where her life changed dramatically after the German invasion at the age of ten.
• 🏚️ The Jewish community in the Warsaw Ghetto formed self-aid centers and defied Nazi rules, even in the face of death.
• 📚 Despite the risk, her father read to the family by the light of a carbide lamp, preserving culture and imagination.
• 🎭 Even in the ghetto, there was a strong emphasis on the arts and education, with theaters and the Oneg Shabbat group preserving history and culture.
• 🚂 The deportations of 1942 led to the disappearance of nearly all children from the ghetto, with Estelle being one of the 1% who survived.
• 🛡️ Resistance groups formed within the ghetto, including her father, who built bunkers and tunnels for protection and to obtain weapons.
• 💔 Estelle's father was killed in the Majdanek extermination camp, while she, her mother, and sister survived through a desperate trade to avoid the gas chambers.
• 🏭 They were sent to a slave labor camp where they worked in an ammunition factory, living in harsh conditions until their liberation by Russian forces in 1945.
• 🎉 After liberation, they faced homelessness, poverty, and a lack of support, eventually making their way to New York in 1947.
• 📈 Estelle and her sister overcame their limited formal education to become a teacher and a professor, respectively, inspired by their experiences in the ghetto.
• 🌱 The story concludes with a message of the importance of love and joy in life, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Q & A

Who is Estelle Laughlin and what is her role at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum?

Estelle Laughlin is a Holocaust survivor and a volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She shares her story to inspire, honor the victims, and educate about the consequences of accommodating to tyranny.

Why does Estelle Laughlin tell her story?

Estelle Laughlin tells her story for several reasons: to inspire through the display of courage and love during the Holocaust, to honor the millions of innocent people killed, and to serve as a reminder of the consequences of accommodating to tyrants.

What significant event occurred in Estelle's life when she was ten years old?

When Estelle turned ten, Germany invaded Warsaw, Poland, where she was born, drastically changing her life as she knew it.

How did the Jewish community in the Warsaw ghetto resist during the Holocaust?

The Jewish community in the Warsaw ghetto resisted by forming a self-aid center to help the neediest, defying the ban on owning books, celebrating holidays in secret, and establishing the Oneg Shabbat group to preserve history, art, and music.

What was the significance of the Oneg Shabbat group in the Warsaw ghetto?

The Oneg Shabbat group was significant because it aimed to preserve the written history, art, and music that depicted life in the ghetto, with the intention of nourishing future generations.

What was the impact of the deportations that began in July 1942 on the Jewish population in the Warsaw ghetto?

The deportations that began in July 1942 led to the disappearance of approximately 99% of the children in the Warsaw ghetto, leaving Estelle among the 1% who were left behind.

Why did Estelle's father read to his family in secret during the Holocaust?

Estelle's father read to his family in secret as an act of defiance and to bring to life remote worlds, providing a sense of normalcy and connection to culture amidst the horrors of the Holocaust.

What was the role of the armed groups that began to form in the Warsaw ghetto?

The armed groups in the Warsaw ghetto, including the resistance that Estelle's father was a part of, built a network of bunkers and tunnels for hiding and movement to obtain weapons, and they fought against the Nazi forces.

How did Estelle and her family survive the initial deportation to the Majdanek extermination camp?

Estelle, her mother, and her sister survived the initial deportation by making a pact to trade places with two other women on the list for the crematorium, which ultimately led to them being sent to a slave labor camp instead.

What was the condition of Estelle and her family upon their liberation by the Russian forces in January 1945?

Upon liberation, Estelle and her family were homeless, penniless, stateless, and unwanted. They had no home to return to, no money, and no one to turn to for aid, and they were covered with lice and mange.

How did Estelle and her sister manage to pursue higher education despite their limited formal schooling during the Holocaust?

Estelle and her sister managed to pursue higher education by entering college after working in a garment factory. Their determination to strive came from their experiences in the ghetto, and both eventually became professionals in their fields.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Holocaust Survivor's Testimony

Estelle Laughlin introduces herself as a Holocaust survivor and a volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She shares her story to inspire, honor the victims, and to warn against the dangers of complacency in the face of tyranny. Born in Warsaw, her peaceful life was shattered by the German invasion, leading to the establishment of a ghetto and the brutal conditions within it. Despite the hardships, the Jewish community found ways to resist and maintain their dignity through education and cultural preservation, even in the face of death.

05:01

📚 Education and Resistance in the Ghetto

Estelle recounts the importance of education and the arts in the Warsaw ghetto, where teachers taught children to hold on to their imagination and trust in love. The Oneg Shabbat group worked to preserve history, art, and music for future generations. The summer of 1942 marked the beginning of the deportations, which saw the disappearance of nearly all the children in the ghetto. Estelle, one of the 1% who remained, describes the formation of armed resistance groups, including her father's involvement, and their efforts to build bunkers and tunnels for survival and to obtain weapons.

10:02

🔥 The Ghetto Uprising and Deportation

Estelle describes the Warsaw ghetto uprising and the subsequent invasion by the Nazis, resulting in the destruction of homes and the deportation of the remaining inhabitants. She and her family were deported to Majdanek extermination camp, where her father was killed. Estelle, her mother, and her sister managed to avoid the gas chambers through a desperate trade with other prisoners. They were then sent to a slave labor camp, where they worked in an ammunition factory under harsh conditions, isolated from the world and unaware of the progress of the war.

15:02

🏆 Liberation and the Path to a New Life

Estelle shares the story of her liberation by the Russian forces in 1945, followed by the overwhelming sense of euphoria and helplessness. With no home or support, they wandered through Eastern Europe to West Germany, eventually making their way to New York in 1947. Despite having little formal education, Estelle and her sister pursued higher education and successful careers. Estelle emphasizes the importance of living life joyfully and thanks the audience for listening to her story of survival, love, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Keywords

💡Holocaust

The Holocaust refers to the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II. In the video, Estelle Laughlin recounts her experiences as a Holocaust survivor, emphasizing the importance of remembering the atrocities to prevent them from recurring. The Holocaust serves as the central context for her story, shaping her message about the dangers of tyranny and the resilience of the human spirit.

💡Warsaw Ghetto

The Warsaw Ghetto was a section of Warsaw, Poland, where Jews were forcibly confined by the Nazis during World War II. Estelle Laughlin describes the harsh conditions within the ghetto, including starvation, overcrowding, and the constant threat of death. The Warsaw Ghetto is depicted as a place of both immense suffering and incredible resilience, where Jewish communities found ways to resist and preserve their culture despite the horrors surrounding them.

💡Resistance

Resistance in the context of the Holocaust refers to the efforts by Jewish and other persecuted groups to oppose Nazi oppression. Estelle’s father was a member of the resistance, and she speaks of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, where poorly equipped and starving Jews fought against the well-armed Nazi forces. Resistance in the video symbolizes the courage and determination to fight for survival and dignity, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

💡Deportation

Deportation during the Holocaust involved the forced removal of Jews from ghettos and other locations to concentration camps and extermination camps. Estelle Laughlin describes the infamous deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka, where many Jews, including nearly all the children, were sent to their deaths. Deportation is portrayed as a methodical process of genocide, carried out with modern efficiency but driven by primitive hatred.

💡Majdanek

Majdanek was a Nazi concentration and extermination camp in Poland where Estelle's father was killed. The camp represents the extreme brutality of the Holocaust, where prisoners faced inhumane conditions, forced labor, and mass executions. Majdanek is a symbol of the dehumanization and loss experienced by the victims, as well as a reminder of the cruelty of the Nazi regime.

💡Liberation

Liberation in this context refers to the freeing of concentration camp survivors by Allied forces at the end of World War II. Estelle Laughlin recounts her liberation in January 1945 by Russian forces, describing it as a moment of euphoria mixed with fear and uncertainty. Liberation is portrayed as a pivotal moment that brought an end to years of unimaginable suffering, though it also marked the beginning of a challenging journey to rebuild life.

💡Survival

Survival is a central theme of Estelle Laughlin's story, emphasizing the extraordinary lengths to which individuals went to stay alive during the Holocaust. Despite the horrific conditions and constant threat of death, Estelle and her family managed to survive through a combination of resilience, resourcefulness, and sheer determination. Survival, in this narrative, also extends beyond physical endurance to include the preservation of humanity, culture, and hope.

💡Humanity

Humanity, as discussed by Estelle Laughlin, refers to the capacity for compassion, love, and moral integrity, even in the darkest times. She emphasizes that the Holocaust not only showcased the depths of human cruelty but also the strength of the human spirit. The preservation of humanity through acts of kindness, resistance, and cultural defiance in the ghetto serves as a powerful message about the importance of love and ethical conduct in the face of evil.

💡Oneg Shabbat

The Oneg Shabbat was a secret group in the Warsaw Ghetto that documented life under Nazi oppression, preserving written history, art, and music for future generations. Estelle mentions this group to highlight the Jewish community's determination to resist cultural eradication and to ensure that the truth of their experiences would survive. The Oneg Shabbat is a symbol of intellectual and cultural resistance, prioritizing the nourishment of the soul even when basic survival was at stake.

💡Remembrance

Remembrance is a crucial aspect of Estelle Laughlin's narrative, as she tells her story to ensure that the atrocities of the Holocaust are never forgotten. She believes that remembering the past is essential to preventing future tyranny and to honoring the victims who were unable to protect themselves. Remembrance serves as a call to action, urging future generations to learn from history and to stand against injustice in all forms.

Highlights

Estelle Laughlin shares her story as a Holocaust survivor to uplift, honor, and remind of the consequences of accommodating tyrants.

Born in Warsaw, her peaceful life changed drastically after the German invasion.

The Warsaw Ghetto was a center of resistance, with a self-aid center and secret educational activities.

Despite the danger, Estelle's father read to his family by carbide lamp, preserving culture and imagination.

The Oneg Shabbat group preserved ghetto life history in secret, with some documents later discovered.

Deportations in 1942 led to the disappearance of 99% of children, Estelle being among the 1% who remained.

Armed resistance groups formed, including Estelle's father, to build bunkers and tunnels for hiding and movement.

The Warsaw Ghetto uprising was an act of defiance against overwhelming Nazi forces.

Estelle's family was captured and sent to Majdanek extermination camp, where her father was killed.

A desperate trade to save her sister led Estelle and her mother to be sent to a slave labor camp instead of the gas chamber.

Survivors were liberated by Russian forces in 1945, but faced homelessness, penury, and statelessness.

Estelle and her sister immigrated to New York, worked in a garment factory, and eventually both became educators.

Estelle emphasizes the importance of living life joyfully as a means of making survival meaningful.

The story concludes with a message of gratitude for being heard and a reminder of the enduring human spirit.

Transcripts

ESTELLE LAUGHLIN: My name is Estelle Laughlin.

I am a Holocaust survivor and volunteer at

the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

I tell my story for several reasons.

I tell my story with the hope that you'll be uplifted by the courage

and love that shine through people, even in the worst times.

I tell my story to honor the millions of innocent people,

including my family and friends,

and nearly everyone I knew and loved who were

killed because they were Jewish without

means to protect themselves and without

the support of others to protect them.

But mostly, I tell my story with the hope

that it will serve as a reminder of

the consequences to us and to humanity when

we accommodate ourselves to tyrants;

how it corrupts the conscience of a nation;

what it does to love and trust.

The purpose is not to curse the darkness of the past,

but to illuminate the future.

I was born in Warsaw, Poland.

Warsaw was the center of my universe and glows in my selective memory,

in golden radiance of lilac trees against open blue skies,

rich sounds of good neighbors, kindness, trust and love.

I had just turned ten when Germany invaded Warsaw.

Immediately, my life changed beyond recognition.

My once peaceful street was soon patrolled by foreign soldiers.

They shouted hatred and contempt and snapped

whips in our streets and homes.

They isolated us in a tiny ghetto, built a thick wall around us.

They filled the ghetto with Jewish people

driven out of surrounding areas.

Most came on foot, without a penny in their pockets,

sometimes without shoes on their feet.

Most died in the street of cold and starvation.

People covered the bodies of dead children with

posters saying, "Our Children Must Live.

Children Are the Holiest Things."

Yet in this inferno, people found heroic ways to resist.

Immediately, the Jewish community marshalled forces and formed

a far-reaching self-aid center to help the neediest among us.

To own a book was an act of defiance punishable with death.

Yet, many defied.

My father had a stash of his favorite books

by Yiddish authors, by Sholem Aleichem and Sholem Asch

and Isaac Peretz.

Nights, windows blinded with dark covers to keep our existence secret,

in a small room illuminated by a carbide lamp-

we had no electricity

-my father read to us, bringing to life remote worlds.

Guns hovering over our heads did not stop us from celebrating holidays.

We pulled the window shades down and celebrated.

We even had theaters.

Imagine theaters when there was no bread.

A remarkable Warsaw ghetto historian and writer,

Chaim Kaplan, said, "It is strange,

when we don't seem to need it at all,

we need poetry more than we need bread." That is true.

The soul, too, must be nourished.

I think our ability to think and to create is our godliness.

All over the ghetto heroic

unemployed teachers met with hungry children in cold

rooms and taught them to hold on to their

imagination and trust in love.

There was a very important group in the ghetto called the Oneg Shabbat.

They met with the purpose of preserving written history,

art, and music that depicted the life in the ghetto

for the purpose of nourishing future generations.

They hid the written documents in metal containers and buried it.

Fortunate for the following generation,

two out of three containers were found.

In July 1942, the month of my 13th birthday,

things became even more gruesome.

That was the start of the infamous deportation.

The deportations proceeded with 20th century know-how,

and Stone Age values.

Between July and September 1942,

approximately 99% of the children vanished.

I was among the 1% left behind.

Can you imagine a world without the sound of children?

Without grandmothers or grandfathers?

We never heard from the people who were deported

but a few managed to come back under the cover

of night and told us about the horrific train rides

to Treblinka where our people were gassed.

I cannot imagine how anyone who loves their children

and wives and mothers can do such heinous acts.

This is why I'm sharing this story, so difficult to talk about-

and I believe this is why you chose to listen to it

-because we have to be reminded that human

beings are capable of great evil.

And therefore, we must remember - ever so much - the importance of love.

Armed groups began to form.

My father was a member of the resistance.

The fighters began to build a network of bunkers to

hide in case of a bombardment or for entrenchment.

They dug tunnels for movement to obtain

weapons from the Polish underground.

They also used the sewers a great deal-

that was one way of moving around without being seen.

Events erupted with the entrance of Nazi soldiers into the ghetto.

Tanks and armored cars rolled down the street.

We lifted the secret trapdoor entrance to our bunker,

stepped down a ladder, and pulled the trapdoor shut.

I felt banished.

The ceiling pressed down on me; the damp walls closed in on me.

The blinking of the carbide light was our substitute for the sun;

the ticking of the clock was our only link with the outside universe

to let us know when dawn was rising and night was falling.

How I missed the open horizon, the blue crispness of day.

While we were in the bunker, fighting erupted in the streets.

Again, a 20th century army, armed from head to toe.

Against tanks and warplanes stood poorly outfitted,

inexperienced, starving band of ghetto warriors.

It is noteworthy that the Warsaw ghetto fighters battled

longer than it took France or Poland to capitulate.

At some point the trapdoor to the bunker exploded,

and in one horrifying instant a horde of barbarians were upon us.

They chased us out into the streets

and marched us to the deportation station.

I want you to know that we did not march

like a swarm of nameless people.

We were people with dreams and pride.

Some amongst us carried guns, perhaps only an hour ago.

The ground beneath us trembled, the air thundered with detonations.

Homes crumbled to our feet.

Bomber planes circled overhead dropping incendiary bombs.

Flames, enormous tongues of flames, licked the sky

and painted it in otherworldly colors of iridescence.

They loaded us onto freight trains and sped us to Majdanek

extermination camp where the thorns of electrified

barbed-wire fences marked the end of our horizon,

and the crematorium stood clear in sight.

My kind, noble, heroic father was gassed in Majdanek.

My mother, sister, and I escaped being gassed

by making a strange trade which was based

on the fact that we had a pact that if one of us dies,

all the three of us will die.

One day my sister's name appeared on the list.

Everyone assumed that the people on the list

were designated for the crematorium.

So we did the obvious thing, my mother and I traded with two

women on the list who hoped to see another sunrise. When

the names were called, the three of us stepped forward,

absolutely sure that we were aimed to go to the gas chambers.

As it turned out, they loaded us onto freight trains,

and sped us to a slave labor camp

where we worked in an ammunition factory.

We were also enclosed by electrified barbed

wire fences and completely isolated.

We lived in virtual darkness, cut off from the world

and everything that was taking place there.

It was impossible to believe that only a few rabbit hops away from us,

people sailed on silver lakes and children sat around

dinner tables with families as children should.

We had no clue if the allies were winning or losing.

Then, a miracle.

One night, we were awakened by a rumble

of planes and a barrage of detonation.

We raised our heads from our bare bunk planks

and asked each other, "Could it be?

After all these years?" This was January 1945.

We were invaded in September 1939.

We were liberated that morning by the Russian forces.

Our feelings of euphoria is beyond words.

So was the depth of our fears and helplessness.

We had no home to return to, not a penny in our pocket

and no one to return to and no one to turn to.

There was absolutely no aid available in Poland.

We were on our own.

We rushed out of the gate, so afraid the Germans might push back.

This was the front battle line.

The ground was covered with ice and snow.

All we had on was a loose caftan, wooden clogs.

No underwear, no socks, no scarfs, no sweaters, no coat.

We were covered with lice and mange.

We were horrid to look at.

We were homeless, penniless, stateless, and unwanted.

We wandered through Poland and Czechoslovakia to West

Germany where the American forces were stationed.

From there, we made our way to New York in August 1947,

two years after liberation.

My sister and I started out working in a garment factory,

I was sewing buttons.

Eventually, we both entered college

despite the fact that I had only three years of formal schooling

and my sister had five years,

plus a couple of years of underground ghetto tutoring.

My sister became a professor of comparative literature and I, a teacher.

Our inspiration to strive came from the darkest places, the ghetto.

Not all survivors were able to begin life again.

My mother was one of them.

I survived with love of humanity and joy for life.

Life should be lived joyfully.

Without that, survival would hardly be meaningful.

Thank you so much for listening.