I was sent to a labor camp when Germany took over in March, 1940 with about eight others from my town as well. We thought we were unlucky but those not sent ended up at Auschwitz. This was the Sixth Labor Battalion. There is a book about it. In 1982 we had a reunion in Israel. There were survivors from twelve different countries.
Some of the German labor camp supervisors were former German prisoners who had been let out. We built railroad tracks toward the Eastern front. We got up at 5 AM, had very little breakfast, worked until 6 PM, and had no dinner. We lived in a military barracks. It had a leaky roof and had thirty people crowded in the room.
In March, 1942 we were taken back to our town. I worked with my father. He was replaced by a Christian as owner though my father really had to run the business, as the Christian knew nothing. My father was taken away in 1944 to Auschwitz. There was a 6 AM to 6 PM curfew for Jews in our town. I was hidden in an attic by a Christian friend of my father's. Others also would hide me.
In August, 1944, Russians were parachuted into the area to organize Partisans and I joined them in fighting. We lived in the woods. One day I was in a square and saw my sister Hedy who had gotten Christian papers but we could not talk with each other. I also had Christian papers but was halted and interrogated by a German officer. I told him I did not speak German even though I did. He asked me what I did and I said I worked for a man named Martin Knap. They then opened the door and brought in Martin Knap. I thought I was dead. He said that I did work for him. Another person was brought in and said my papers were authentic. They both lied for me even though it would have meant their lives. At the end I had to raise my hand in the Nazi salute of "Heil Hitler." The partisans’ military commander was the brilliant Major Kunetzov. The Russians were kind and even though we had little to eat we always had vodka.