Emerich Grinbaum
Name at birth
Emerich Grinbaum
Where were you born?
Where did you grow up?
Munkacs, Czechoslovakia
Name of father, occupation
Photographer
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Homemaker
Immediate family (names, birth order)
Father, mother, Emerich, younger brother
How many in entire extended family?
At least 30 people in extended family
Who survived the Holocaust?
Father, brother, self
Mr. Grinbaum was born in Munkacs, Czechoslovakia in 1930. After the Hungarian annexation of Munkacs in 1938, Emerich, along with his father, mother and brother experienced increased anti-Semitism under the Hungarians. In 1944, Germany invaded Hungary and the Grinbaum family was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Emerich's mother was gassed upon arrival and after less than a week in Birkenau, Emerich, his father and brother were shipped to a labor camp just outside of Warsaw, Poland. In August, 1944, the three were sent to Dachau. In Dachau, Emerich's father became ill and was sent to the camp hospital. During this period, Emerich and his brother were sent to one of Dachau's satellite camps, Allach. In Allach, Emerich worked on several labor Kommandos, including the BMW factory and as a potato peeler in the camp kitchen. While in Allach, Mr. Grinbaum's father was reunited with him and his brother and placed in a block for elderly people. In April 1945, the three were placed aboard and train and shipped to an unknown destination. While en route, the Germans abandoned the train and the three walked to a nearby village where they were liberated by the American Army. After liberation, they returned to Munkacs, now under Soviet rule as part of the Ukraine. Mr. Grinbaum studied medicine under the Soviets. He emigrated to the United States in the 1960s.
Where did you go after being liberated?
Back to Munkacs
When did you come to the United States?
In the 1960s
Where did you settle?
Detroit, Michigan
How is it that you came to Michigan?
Had family here
Occupation after the war
Doctor
When and where were you married?
Married in 1960
Interviewer:
Sid Bolkosky, Voice Vision Michigan Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive University of Michigan Dearborn
Interview date:
10/03/2000
To learn more about this survivor, please visit:
The Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive, University of Michigan
https://holocaust.umd.umich.edu/grinbaum/
https://holocaust.umd.umich.edu/grinbaum/