Gary Lenzner
"NEVER FORGET! KEEP TELLING THE STORIES! FIGHT ANTI-ANTISEMITISM AND HATE TOWARDS ANY RACE OR RELIGION!"
Name at birth
Gerhard Lenzner
Date of birth
07/23/1926
Where did you grow up?
Berlin, Germany
Name of father, occupation
Wolf or Adolph Lenzner,
tailor
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Herta (Kirsch) Lenzner,
homemaker
Immediate family (names, birth order)
Johanna Kirsch – November 22, 1928, Charlotte Falenski – August 4, 1930, Werner Falenski – January 19, 1932
How many in entire extended family?
Clara (Klar) Kirsch – Grandmoter, Marcus Kirsch – Grandfather, Martin Kirsch – Great Uncle, Gertrud Kirsch – Great Aunt, Ruth Kirsch – Cousin, Louis Kirsch – Great Uncle Leopold Kirsch – Great Uncle Adolph Kirsch – Great Uncle Alfred Kirsch – Great Uncle Henrietta Kirsch –Great Aunt Siegfried Klar – Great Uncle Bertha Klar – Great Aunt Hannah Klar – Great Aunt Dora Klar – Great Aunt
Who survived the Holocaust?
All immediate family survived, six extended family – only two, Louis Kirsch and Henrietta Kirsch survived out of fourteen
My story is on youtube.com – Search - Soaring Survivor;
August 1941-October 1942 – Forced to work at Siemens – Berlin
December 1942-September 1943 – Went into hiding in Berlin (until arrested)
September 1943 – October 1943 – Was prisoner at police headquarters in Berlin
October 1943 – November 1943 – Holding camp (under-guard)
Iranische Str. - Berlin (Waiting for transport to Auschwitz)
Iranische Str. - Berlin (Waiting for transport to Auschwitz)
November 1943 – February 1945 –Auschwitz III, I.G. Farben, Buna Monowitz – Poland
February 1945 – March 1945 – Buchenwald, Germany
March 1945 – April 1945 – Forced Labor Camp – Speichingen –Near small town of Wurzach Im Algau, Bavaria, Germany
April 1945 Escaped on Death March heading back towards Buchenwald
Hide in farmer’s barn with other prisoners until we heard tanks and found out they were American tanks. We were liberated on the side of the road by General Patton and his troops
Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)
Where were you in hiding?
In the beginning, I was hiding in Berlin, Germany
What DP Camp were you after the war?
Yes, in Stuttgart, Germany – Degerloch Jahnstr 70
Where did you go after being liberated?
Back to Berlin to find family
When did you come to the United States?
Arrived in New York, New York, USA from Bremen, Germany on June 24, 1946. Name of ship was – Marine Perch
Where did you settle?
Detroit, Michigan
How is it that you came to Michigan?
Great Aunt and Uncle sponsored me, Henrietta and Willie Argo
Occupation after the war
Joined US Army for 3 years then started own business - specialized repairs for laundry and dry cleaning equipment
When and where were you married?
September 17, 1950 at bride’s home in Detroit, Michigan
Spouse
Caroline (Server) Lenzner, Born 7/9/1929 ,
Bookkeeper for our specialized repair business
Children
Michael Allen Lenzner, pharmacist; Rhonda Gail Lenzner, party and event planner
Grandchildren
Bryan Wasserman, Carly Wasserman, Cassandra (Lenzner), Bair, Zachary Lenzner, Katie Lenzner, Bradley Lenzner, Melissa (Lenzner) Henderson, Amy (Lenzner) Gartner; Great-Grandchildren: Ethan Wasserman, Caleb Wasserman, Shira Wasserman, Lily Bair, Paisley Bair, Elijah Lenzner, Aubrielle Lenzner, Bella Lenzner, Ben Henderson, Beth Henderson, Ian Gartner, Marshal Gartner, Sommer Gartner: Whenever a new child was born, he would say “If Hitler could see me now!”
What do you think helped you to survive?
Street Smarts – Always trying to dodge the Nazis, I kept thinking, I can’t let evil or Hitler win. Brave and kind people helped me along the way, risking their lives, so I would pay it forward and help people in the camps when I could.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
NEVER FORGET! KEEP TELLING THE STORIES!
FIGHT ANTI-ANTISEMITISM AND HATE TOWARDS
ANY RACE OR RELIGION!
Interviewer:
Daughter – Rhonda (Lenzner) Wasserman
Interview date:
06/14/2022
