Abram Winogron
" The world was still; no one did anything. If the United States had gone to war in 1939, more Jews would be alive. Roosevelt waited until 1941 and Hitler killed. The Red Cross, the Pope, did not do anything. Never forget, never be silent, and make sure this never happens again."
Name at birth
Adas Winogron
Date of birth
12/01/1924
Where did you grow up?
Sosnowiec, Poland
Name of father, occupation
Josef Winogron,
Pharmacist
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Anna Wasserman,
Homemaker
Immediate family (names, birth order)
Parents and two children: Abram and Lusia
How many in entire extended family?
About 30
Who survived the Holocaust?
Only two cousins and myself
I went to same school as my wife did. When the school moved to Bedzin, I took a streetcar to continue to attend school there. For three years, I went to a gymnasium, like a high school. I applied to become a physician. I was premed, but I was rejected because I was a Jew.
One of my mother’s brothers was a pharmacist; the other was a university professor.
One of my mother’s brothers was a pharmacist; the other was a university professor.
Name of Ghetto(s)
Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)
What DP Camp were you after the war?
Salzheim near Frankfurt, Germany
Where did you go after being liberated?
I went back to Sosnowiec to look for my family.
When did you come to the United States?
1949
Where did you settle?
Flint, Michigan
How is it that you came to Michigan?
I told them I was an auto mechanic so they sent me to Flint to work in the auto factories.
Occupation after the war
Auto mechanic for General Motors, Flint, Michigan
When and where were you married?
On March 12, 1946, we were married in the Displaced Person’s (DP) camp in Frankfort Germany.
Spouse
Ruzia Juszkiewicz,
Worked for General Motors on the line for the AC spark-plug division for a little while, then a homemaker.
Children
Ruth Organek (deceased, see photograph) and Debbie Licavoli
Grandchildren
Grandchildren: Jacob Organek, Danielle Bernstein, Matthew Licavoli, Stefanie Licavoli; Great Grandchildren: Rylan Organek, Ross Bernstein, Mason Bernstein, Kensie Organek, Lexi Licavoli
What do you think helped you to survive?
I was lucky and I was determined to live and be back with my family.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
The world was still; no one did anything. If the United States had gone to war in 1939, more Jews would be alive. Roosevelt waited until 1941 and Hitler killed. The Red Cross, the Pope, did not do anything.
Never forget, never be silent, and make sure this never happens again.
Experiences
Survivor's map
