Irene Schwartz
" I’m not sure how to answer this question. Although I was lucky to survive, my life was never the same. I suffered the loss of my baby daughter, my husband, my mother and my little sister. I lived through hellish conditions. I was starved and forced to work at hard manual labor that left my legs in bad condition. For what reason? I am very bitter and the world has always seemed to be a dark place since then. Of course I could say that everyone needs to learn to respect... (continued below)"
Name at birth
Irene Gruenberger
Date of birth
10/04/1921
Where were you born?
Where did you grow up?
Disnoshorvat, Hungary
Name of father, occupation
Armin Gruenberger,
Coal mine owner
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Elizabeth Buck Gruenberger,
Homemaker
Immediate family (names, birth order)
Four sisters: Vera Gruenberger Weiser, Eva Gruenberger Weiss, Agnes Gruenberger Margalit, and Katrina Gruenberger; First husband: Joseph Halbauer, daughter Gabriella Julia Halbauer.
How many in entire extended family?
50
Who survived the Holocaust?
My father, myself and my three oldest sisters
I was the oldest of five girls; four of us survived. My mother and youngest sister died in the gas chambers. I married at age 19 and my husband was taken away to a forced labor camp when I was 6 months pregnant. I never saw him again. He was only 26 years old when he died. They worked him to death.
When my daughter was about 18 months old, we were taken to Auschwitz. When I was waiting in line holding my daughter to determine whether we would go to the gas chamber or to forced labor, an SS guard came and asked me who was the mother of my child.
I said that I was the mother. The guard said “no,” and took my daughter out of my arms and gave her to another woman. I was allowed to live, but my daughter and the other woman were sent to the gas chamber.
Name of Ghetto(s)
Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)
Where did you go after being liberated?
Back to Hungary
When did you come to the United States?
We came to Canada in 1948. Could not get into US due to quotas
Where did you settle?
At first, my father and I came to Windsor, Ontario Canada. One sister had already married and settled in Detroit. My two other sisters settled in Israel.
How is it that you came to Michigan?
I met my husband and he brought me to Michigan where he lived.
Occupation after the war
Seamstress
When and where were you married?
I married in 1950 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Spouse
Marius Michael Schwartz,
Butcher
Children
Linda Schwartz Winkelman, CPA; Thomas Schwartz, Electrician
Grandchildren
Three
What do you think helped you to survive?
I took a lot of chances. For example, when the SS woman asked for a volunteer to make clothing for her, I volunteered. I didn’t know how to sew at that time, but I learned very quickly. My sister was with me and told me that I was crazy; she said I would be killed. I told her that if I didn’t make myself useful, I would be killed. The SS woman was very good to me under the circumstances and helped me and my sisters to survive.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
I’m not sure how to answer this question. Although I was lucky to survive, my life was never the same. I suffered the loss of my baby daughter, my husband, my mother and my little sister. I lived through hellish conditions. I was starved and forced to work at hard manual labor that left my legs in bad condition. For what reason? I am very bitter and the world has always seemed to be a dark place since then. Of course I could say that everyone needs to learn to respect each other, treat each other kindly and tolerate our differences, but that doesn’t seem to do justice to what I went through and the losses that I suffered.
Interviewer:
Charles Silow
Interview date:
01/14/2011
Experiences
Survivor's map
