Sam Offen

"To the future generations who will be our new leaders, I would like to convey this message: It is imperative that you listen to survivors’ inhuman experiences and you will learn that in addition to 6 million Jews, the German Nazis also murdered 5 million Christians! For your own sake and for the sake of all humanity, you must always be vigilant of a future Hitler, thus preventing another Holocaust. "

Name at birth

Shloime Zalman Offen

Date of birth

08/07/1921

Where were you born?

Cracow, Poland

Where did you grow up?

Cracow, Poland

Name of father, occupation

Jakob, Shoemaker and salesman

Maiden name of mother, occupation

Ruchme Gitel Schiffer, Homemaker

How many in entire extended family?

Who survived the Holocaust?

Myself and two brothers

Name of Ghetto(s)

Cracow (Krakow)

Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)

Gusen / Krakow Plaszow / Mauthausen

Occupation after the war

Furrier

Spouse

Hyla Lesser, Social Worker

Children

Jerry, engineer Gail, advertising executive

What do you think helped you to survive?

I always was and still am a perpetual optimist. I yearned to outlive my cruel Nazi oppressors. I am well aware that there were millions of other victims with similar aspirations who unfortunately, perished at their hands. I also believe that I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, and surely G-d helped me to survive.

What message would you like to leave for future generations?

To the future generations who will be our new leaders, I would like to convey this message: It is imperative that you listen to survivors’ inhuman experiences and you will learn that in addition to 6 million Jews, the German Nazis also murdered 5 million Christians! For your own sake and for the sake of all humanity, you must always be vigilant of a future Hitler, thus preventing another Holocaust.