Bertha Beitner

"There is always hope for the future. Educate your children.     I take my grandchildren to the Zekelman Holocaust Center and my grandson went on a trip with Camp Ramah to Auschwitz."

Name at birth
Bertha Meryn
Date of birth
06/06/1927
Where were you born?
Where did you grow up?
Beuthen, Germany
Name of father, occupation
Yitzchak, Merchant
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Leah Shajer, Homemaker
Immediate family (names, birth order)
Parents, three brothers, Moritz, Joseph, Max, and me
Who survived the Holocaust?
My brother Joseph and me
Name of Ghetto(s)
Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)
What DP Camp were you after the war?
Ainring, Displaced Persons Camp (DP). We stayed in the DP camp for quite a while. My husband worked for UNRRA and later in Munich he worked for the Joint Distribution Committee.
When did you come to the United States?
1949
Where did you settle?
Detroit, Michigan
How is it that you came to Michigan?
In 1949 we came to Detroit where my husband had an uncle, Abram Beitner. We met Emma and Moshe Schaver in Germany in the DP camp who knew my husband’s uncle in Detroit. Mr. Schaver owned Central Overall Supply and helped get my husband. He moved up to plant manager. My husband learned English in Europe after the war while working for UNRAA and the Joint.
Occupation after the war
Seamstress for Central Overall until my children were born
When and where were you married?
1949, Ainring DP camp in Germany.
Spouse
Jacob Beitner, Plant manager, Central Overall
Children
Linda Dagan and Norman Beitner
Grandchildren
Seven: Ronit, Eitan, Oren, Aaron, David, Jonathan, and Jennie. Five great grandchildren: Alon, Zohar, Jacob, Rose, Yakov
What do you think helped you to survive?
My youth, I was able to do a lot of work, luck, and my will to survive.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
There is always hope for the future. Educate your children.    
I take my grandchildren to the Zekelman Holocaust Center and my grandson went on a trip with Camp Ramah to Auschwitz.
Interview place:
Charles Silow
Interview date:
07/17/2008

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