Gedaliah Elbaum

Date of birth

04/17/1919

Where were you born?

Lublin, Poland

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. After Germany attacked Russia lived in 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, works for a doctor; David, dermatologist; Dora Jackler, JCC Health Club

Grandchildren

Eitan and Noam Jackler; Jeremy, Kevin, and Gregory Elbaum; and Danielle, Shira, and Matthew Wolkowicz

What do you think helped you to survive?

Growing up in Poland during The Great Depression honed my survival skills.

What message would you like to leave for future generations?

Interviewer:

Charles Silow

Interview date:

04/01/2011