Gedale Elbaum

"Never give in to appeasement. Guard against anti-Semitism."

Name at birth
Gedaliah Elbaum
Date of birth
01/01/1919
Where were you born?
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, then 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, David, Dora Jackler
Grandchildren
Eitan and Noam Jackler; Jeremy, Kevin, and Gregory Elbaum; and Danielle, Shira, and Matthew Wolkowicz
What do you think helped you to survive?
I was deported to Siberia (Gulag). Joined the Russian-Polish Army.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
Never give in to appeasement. Guard against anti-Semitism.

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