Ida Moskovitz
"There should be peace in the world; it should never ever happen again. The younger generation must work very hard so something like this never, never ever happens again."
Name at birth
Ida Mehler
Date of birth
12/11/1926
Where did you grow up?
Chrzanow, Poland
Name of father, occupation
Moishe Mehler,
Shoemaker
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Rozalie Szmulewicz,
Homemaker
Immediate family (names, birth order)
Parents, Ida, Sara, Yisroul, Yosele, and a baby 'Chasela''
How many in entire extended family?
We had a very large extended family
Who survived the Holocaust?
Only myself and my aunt, Hudja Szmulewicz
The Germans took my mother away first, I was left all alone to take care of my baby brother and the other children. My father would go away to the countryside looking for food. The hunger was there already.
Then they took me, they used to grab people off of the streets, an Obvava in Polish. They took me to Gabersdorf concentration camp. I worked there for five years in the Spinnerei (weaving) factory. My aunt Hudja was with me.
When we were liberated, my aunt and I went back home. There was no one there, no one survived. My aunt knew German and we went to a town Tratenauer, near Gabersdorf, where we worked in a kitchen. This way we would be able to have food.
My aunt was pregnant and couldn’t leave on the transport going to Israel or to USA. She didn’t want to get messed up.
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To learn more about this survivor, please visit
The Holocaust Memorial Center Oral History Collection
Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)
What DP Camp were you after the war?
Yes, in Germany.
When did you come to the United States?
1949
Where did you settle?
My husband and I came to New York and then later to Detroit
When and where were you married?
1946 in DP camp in Germany
Spouse
Ben Moskovitz,
Shoemaker then Baker; owner of Star Bakery
Children
Morry, physician Esther, bakery business Brenda, infertility physician
Grandchildren
Seven: Brittany, Courtney, Lindsay, Aaron, Joshua, Addy, and David
What do you think helped you to survive?
I just wanted to have children like I had my sisters and brothers.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
There should be peace in the world; it should never ever happen again. The younger generation must work very hard so something like this never, never ever happens again.
Interviewer:
Charles Silow
Interview date:
04/05/2011
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