Gedale Elbaum
"Never give in to appeasement. Guard against anti-Semitism."
Name at birth
Gedaliah Elbaum
Date of birth
04/17/1919
Name of father, occupation
David Elbaum,
Painter and businessman
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Passa,
Homemaker
How many in entire extended family?
200
Who survived the Holocaust?
Baruch (brother), Samuel L. Guterman (uncle) and Gedale (me)
Where were you in hiding?
Eastern Poland under Russian occupation. After Germany attacked Russia lived in Afghanistan.
Where were you in the Former Soviet Union?
Deported to Siberia(Gulag). Joined the Russian-Polish Army. Developed close relations with Russian officers by making boots for them. Helped carry out reprisals against Nazis as war ended. Russian officers attended my wedding in Lublin in 1946.
Where did you go after being liberated?
Lived in DP camp Heidenheim, Germany. Worked as United Nations police officer from 1946-1951
When did you come to the United States?
1951
Where did you settle?
Canton, Ohio (1951), then Detroit, MI (1951-2000)
Occupation after the war
Painter, Shoemaker
When and where were you married?
1946 in Lubin
Spouse
Luba,
Homemaker
Children
Faye Wolkowicz, works for a doctor; David, dermatologist; Dora Jackler, JCC Health Club
Grandchildren
Eitan and Noam Jackler; Jeremy, Kevin, and Gregory Elbaum; and Danielle, Shira, and Matthew Wolkowicz
What do you think helped you to survive?
Growing up in Poland during The Great Depression honed my survival skills.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
Never give in to appeasement. Guard against anti-Semitism.
Interviewer:
Charles Silow
Interview date:
04/01/2011
Experiences
Survivor's map
