Yankel Fonarev
"I am a very sick man; I have had three strokes and have diabetes. Everyone must fight for peace in the future. There should be no war, only peace."
Date of birth
09/23/1931
Where were you born?
Name of father, occupation
Gershl Fonarev,
Plumber
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Fayga,
Homemaker
When the Germans came to Dvinsk, they shot everyone who was Jewish. My family lived near the railroad station. A cattle train was leaving the station, my mother, half-brother, and I hid in a cattle car that was heading to the Ural Mountains. We later went to Kulbashev and Tashkent.
My father was in the Russian army. He was shot and killed in action by the German army in 1943.
Where were you in hiding?
In villages, Ural Mountains, Kulbashev, Tashkent
Occupation after the war
Made shoe models
When and where were you married?
1961, in Dvinsk
Spouse
Frieda Fonarev,
Chemistry Teacher
Children
Alla and Gregory
What do you think helped you to survive?
That we were able to flee to Tashkent, mother worked, it was a warm place, native people helped.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
I am a very sick man; I have had three strokes and have diabetes. Everyone must fight for peace in the future. There should be no war, only peace.
Interviewer:
Charles Silow
Interview date:
04/04/2011
Experiences
Survivor's map
