The Holocaust Journey and Survival

of my Parents, Samuel Hornung & Ella (Zaks) Hornung

Ella Zaks Samuel Hornung
Both my Parents
were Jewish Polish
citizens

Ella (Mom) born

1917 in Radomsko

Sam (Dad) born 1911

in Oswiecim…
An early memory of Mom

growing up in Detroit…

Here is an Me
example of
my Mom’s
handwriting
on a letter
she wrote…
An early memory of growing up in Detroit…
Dad

Me,
again

Similar tattooed numbers to those

on Dad’s arm, 177395
Before World War 2, my Dad
was married to Regina. Their
twin sons, Henryk and Szaja
Wigdor were born 31 Jan
1940.
On 29 March 1941, they were
forced out of their home to
live in Sosnowiec Ghetto.
Then on 1 April 1944 Dad and
his family were sent to
Auschwitz Death Camp...
In April 1941, Mom was
forced by the Nazis to live at
Czestochowa Ghetto.
From Oct 1942, for the next
two years, she was a slave
labourer at the Hanag
munitions factory.
In Dec 1944, Mom was sent to
Ravensbrueck
Concentration Camp to do
hard labour…
How did they
survive the
Holocaust?
Where and how
did they meet?
Here are their
stories, of
Resilience and
Rescue
Rescue
Mom was rescued from
Ravensbrueck Concentration
Camp on 28 April, 1945 by the
Swedish Red Cross, during
the largest rescue operation
of Concentration Camp
Prisoners known as “The
White Buses”.
Initiated by Folke
Bernadotte, the Swedish Vice
President, who negotiated
the release of about 31,000 That’s me next to a “White Bus” on display at the Yad
prisoners. Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem…
Resilience
Mom arrived in Sweden on
3 May, 1945 and settled in
Norrköping with a “foster
family” where she
recovered from her ordeal
and also worked as a nanny
and at a confection factory.
Mom stayed in Sweden for
four years as a displaced
person, yearning to
emigrate and live in USA…
Resilience
Dad was a barber. Back then in
Poland, barbers treated people
with certain ailments similar to
doctors and nurses today.
Dad also spoke German. Because
he was a barber and spoke
German Dad was saved from the
gas chamber and given work at
Auschwitz that required his
specific skills.
Rescue
Dad was liberated from Auschwitz by
the invading Soviet forces on 27 April
1945.
My Dad was involved as a witness at
the war trials held at Auschwitz.
He told me that he only spoke the
truth at the trials, that he would not
lie or embellish the truth to punish
the Nazi guards and collaborators
more than they deserved, the way
others did…
Mom was told that the quota
for Polish refugees to USA
was “oversubscribed”.
HIAS Relief Agency looked
for an American Sponsor so
Mom could be allowed to
emigrate to USA.
Theodore Wise, a distant
cousin, was found in Detroit
and paid for her visa and
travel costs…
And after four years
as a Displaced
Person, my Dad was
accepted to go to the
USA. His Sister-in-
Law, Hanka Fisk,
was now married
and living in
Detroit, offered to
be his Sponsor…
Hanka was Regina’s
sister, Dad’s wife
and mother of their
two boys. APPROVED! Dad is on his way to Detroit!
Mom left Sweden for Detroit on 21
June 1949 traveled on the Here’s Dad playing cards on the
Swedish-American Ship Line's, deck of the USA ship, the
the "Gripsholm" “General Stewart”. He sailed on
Mom arrived in the Detroit on 1 2 Oct 1949 out of Bremmerhaven,
July 1949... Germany.
My Dad’s Father’s name wasDad Jozef
lostMordechai Hornung and his Mother’s name
his Parents,
was Amalia Neuhoff. They owned a chicken
brothers, his wifeand
andfish shop in Oswiecim. Before
World War 2 started, my Dad wastwo
their married
boys…to Regina. Their twin sons, enryk and
Wigdor were born on 31 Jan 1940. On 29 March 1941, Dad and his family were
forced to go live in Sosnowiec Ghetto. Their family home and business were
stolen by the Nazis. Dad wasMom lost and
a Barber her Parents andShop was also stolen by the
his Barber
Nazis. …on 1 April 1944 myherDadonly
andbrother…
his family were sent to Auschwitz Death
Camp.
My Mom’s Father’s name was Jozef Zaks and her Mother’s name was Bejla
Their lives were changed
Moszkowicz. They owned a tins-smith shop in nearby Piotrkow. Mom also had a
forever…
brother called Tuvia, who was 12 years older than her. My Mom had 7 years of
Polish public school education then trained to become a dressmaker… In April
Here’s what
1941, the family home and business werehappened
stolen by the Nazis. Mom was forced to
live at Czestochowa Ghetto.next…
Mom was forced to give up her chosen profession
and work at the local munitions factory for the Nazis. In April 1944, my Mom was
sent to Ravensbrueck Concentration Camp and forced to do hard labour.
This is where
Hanka enters the
picture…
Sammy,
go say
“hello”…
‘cause you
are going
to marry
her!
…they started new lives
and a family together.
My Parents hardly ever
spoke about their
Survival, focussing on
raising four kids in a
Jewish home.
Though they lived as
free people, protected
by laws, having the
same rights as others,
they were different to
even other Holocaust
Survivors...
Mom and Dad’s New Family, in Detroit, USA
 Here we are, a few Survivors and their children, thanks to
Theodore Wise, Hanka Fisk and her husband Ben’s support.

Sammy,
go say
“hello”…!
I have over 200 documents verifying my Parents’ Holocaust
experience was real and cannot be denied.

Document.
Town of Birth

No. / page

Nr/strona
MAIDEN Dat e of

d okum.
Town o f Birth (Ge rman names in Place of Residence Residence dokument - t he Jews who. II.Pol.Rev

B - monczak
A - hornung
SURNAME NAME Given Names Birth
Sort SYG lp miejsce column H miejsce Ghetto from the field aft er IIIpol.Rev. Schrodel
nazwisko nazwisko imię dat a conver te d to

Found

Found
urodzenia zamieszkania zam. w getcie wer e located over
panieńskie urodzenia Polish Name s)

der Juden, welche aus dem Bereich II.Pol.Rev.nach

A dem IIIpol.Rev. Schrodel ubersiedelt wurden
8996 6371 5.4 88 HORNUNG Samuel 15.06.1911 Auschwitz Oświęcim Breslauerstr. 80 Grabenzeile 29
der Juden, welche aus dem Bereich II.Pol.Rev.nach
A dem IIIpol.Rev. Schrodel ubersiedelt wurden
8917 6371 5.1 9 HORNUNG Regina 15.08.1914 Kleszczów Kleszczów Breslauerstr. 80/42 Sandzeile 1
der Juden, welche aus dem Bereich II.Pol.Rev.nach
A
8918 6371 5.1 10 HORNUNG Henryk 31.01.1940 Auschwitz Oświęcim Breslauerstr. 80/42 Sandzeile 1 dem IIIpol.Rev. Schrodel ubersiedelt wurden
der Juden, welche aus dem Bereich II.Pol.Rev.nach
A dem IIIpol.Rev. Schrodel ubersiedelt wurden
8919 6371 5.1 11 HORNUNG Szaja W igdor 31.01.1940 Auschwitz Oświęcim Breslauerstr. 80/42 Sandzeile 1

Docum ent.
No. / page
Town of Birth

Nr/str ona
MAIDEN Date of

dokum.
B - m on czak
Town of Birth (Ger man names in Residence dokument - the Jews who. II.Pol.Rev

A - h ornun g
SURNAME NAME Given Names Birth Place of Residence
Sort SYG lp miejsce co lumn H Ghetto from the field after IIIpol.Rev. Schrodel
nazwisko nazwisko imię data miejsce z amieszkania

Foun d

Fo und
urodzenia converted to zam. w getcie were located over
panieńskie urodzenia Polish Names)
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
A dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
8670 6371 4.2 46 HORNUNG Ferdinand 5.08.1903 Auschwitz Oświęcim War engasse 1 Steinzeile 6
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
A
8896 6371 4.11 272 HORNUNG Markus 25.04.1916 Auschwitz Oświęcim Weichselstr. 14a Gr abenzeile 29 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A
8996 6371 5.4 88 HORNUNG Samuel 15.06.1911 Auschwitz Oświęcim Breslauerstr. 80 Gr abenzeile 29 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A
8917 6371 5.1 9 HORNUNG Regina 15.08.1914 Kleszcz ów Kleszczów Breslauerstr. 80/42 Sandzeile 1 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A
8918 6371 5.1 10 HORNUNG Henryk 31.01.1940 Auschwitz Oświęcim Breslauerstr. 80/42 Sandzeile 1 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
8919 6371 5.1 11 HORNUNG Sz aja Wigdor 31.01.1940 Auschwitz Oświęcim Breslauerstr. 80/42 Sandzeile 1
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A
8920 6371 5.1 12 HORNUNG Dawid 12.09.1888 Auschwitz Oświęcim Schoppinitzer 1 Ziegenweg 9 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A
8921 6371 5.1 13 HORNUNG Chaja 27.10.1899 Fristak Fristak Schoppinitzer 1 Ziegenweg 9 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A
8922 6371 5.1 14 HORNUNG Anna 2.10.1927 Auschwitz Oświęcim Schoppinitzer 1 Ziegenweg 9 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II. Pol. Rev.nach
A
8923 6371 5.1 15 HORNUNG Moses 4.10.1930 Auschwitz Oświęcim Schoppinitzer 1 Ziegenweg 9 dem II Ipol. Rev. Sc hrodel ubers iedelt wurden
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10496 6371 16.5 118 MONCIK Josef 25.01.1906 Bendsburg Będzin Böhmische 3 Hühnerweg 5 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10497 6371 16.5 119 MONCIK Estera 1.06.1908 Sosnowitz Sosnowiec Böhmische 3 Hühnerweg 5 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10498 6371 16.5 120 MONCIK Aron 8.06.1930 Sosnowitz Sosnowiec Böhmische 3 Hühnerweg 5 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10499 6371 16.5 121 MONCIK Gabryel 13.07.1935 Sosnowitz Sosnowiec Böhmische 3 Hühnerweg 5 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10500 6371 16.5 122 MONCIK Wolf 8.09.1909 Bendsburg Będzin Tuchgasse 3 Zeilenweg 40 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10501 6371 16.5 123 MONCIK Kedla 10.09.1909 Chmielniki Chmielniki Tuchgasse 3 Zeilenweg 40 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10502 6371 16.5 124 MONCIK Frajda 6.09.1936 Sosnowitz Sosnowiec Tuchgasse 3 Zeilenweg 40 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10503 6371 16.5 125 MONCIK Hinda 10.08.1938 Sosnowitz Sosnowiec Tuchgasse 3 Zeilenweg 40 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10666 6371 16.11 288 MONDZIOCH Moszek Hersz 20.02.1901 Pilica Pilic a Zobtengasse 8 Si edlerzeile ? dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
10667 6371 16.11 289 MONDZIOCH Gitla Leja 20.03.1904 Ilkenau Olkusz Zobtengasse 8 Si edlerzeile ?
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10788 6371 16.16 409 MONDZIOCH Estera 13.07.1869 Wolbrom Wolbrom Modrowgasse 42 Si edlerzeile dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10789 6371 16.16 410 MONDZIOCH Cyna 08.1904? Wolbrom Wolbrom Modrowgasse 42 Si edlerzeile dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, wel che aus dem Bereic h I.P ol.Rev. nach
B
10790 6371 16.16 411 MONDZIOCH Marjem 15.05.1914 Wolbrom Wolbrom Modrowgasse 42 Si edlerzeile dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II Pol. Rev.nach
B
11403 6371 20.3 73 MONCZYK Chaim Dawi d 13.10.1896 Sławków Sławków Galgonstr 15 Hühnerweg 11 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II Pol. Rev.nach
B
11404 6371 20.3 74 MONCZYK Blima 24.08.1884 Bendsburg Będzin Galgonstr 15 Hühnerweg 11 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II Pol. Rev.nach
B
11405 6371 20.3 75 MONCZYK Erna 9.11.1923 Hamburg Hamburg, GermanyGalgonstr 15 Hühnerweg 11 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
der Juden, welc he aus dem B ereich II Pol. Rev.nach
B
11456 6371 20.5 126 MONCZYK Chana 5.06.1924 Kleszczów Kleszczów Breslauer 50 Gr abenzeile 29 dem IIIpol. Rev. /S chrodel/ ubersiedelt wurden.
A lphabetis ches Verzeic hnis der A nmeldungen der
B
13870 6372 I.42 1010 MONCIK Icek Hersz 4.12.1881 Modrow Modrow Schlosstr.5 kol. Schrodel 2 judischen der S tadt B endzi n vom
A lphabetis ches Verzeic hnis der A nmeldungen der
B
13871 6372 I.42 1011 MONCIK Aron 21.07.1919 Bendsburg Będzin Schlosstr.5 kol. Schrodel 2 judischen der S tadt B endzi n vom
A lphabetis ches Verzeic hnis der A nmeldungen der
B
13872 6372 I.42 1012 MONCIK Frajndla 10.02.1923 Bendsburg Będzin Schlosstr.5 kol. Schrodel 2 judischen der S tadt B endzi n vom
A lphabetis ches Verzeic hnis der A nmeldungen der
B
13873 6372 I.42 1013 MONCIK Itla 13.06.1881 Włoszczowa Włoszczowa Wallstr. 9/11 kol. Schrodel 2 judischen der S tadt B endzi n vom
A lphabetis ches Verzeic hnis der A nmeldungen der
B
14360 6372 I.63 1500 WARSZAWSKI Szmul 7.02.1905 Nowy Korczyn Nowy Kor czyn Hospital 9 kol. Schrodel 2 judischen der S tadt B endzi n vom
A lphabetis ches Verzeic hnis der A nmeldungen der
B
14361 6372 I.63 1501 WARSZAWSKI MOŃCZYK Perla 25.01.1906 Bendsburg Będzin Hospital 9 kol. Schrodel 2 judischen der S tadt B endzi n vom
 Protecting our Freedom now, and into the Future
Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 was
adopted by the United Nations in response to the
Holocaust. The Declaration states that all people are
equally entitled to these rights, that no one can take away
your rights....

THANK YOU for joining us today in

remembering the Holocaust and honouring
the Survivor stories told here today.
Your attendance reflects your personal www.holocaustcentre.org.nz
commitment to protect peoples’ rights for a
more just and tolerant future for all.