Holocaust Survivor Stories
Get to know the life stories of more than 20 Holocaust survivors from different countries. They were persecuted under National Socialism for various reasons and were able to save their lives by fleeing their homeland.
On this page, we introduce you to some of these courageous people. If you have any suggestions or would like to get further information, please don’t hesitate to send us an email. We are constantly updating the page.
Berlin, Germany
Charlotte Charlaque
Born 1892, Jewish, transgender woman, works as a receptionist at Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute for Sexual Science. Escapes to Czechoslovakia in 1934, 1939 further to Prague and 1942 to New York.
Sources: Self-testimonies & newspapers
Photo: Národní archiv, Prague. Collection Police Directorate 1941-1951
Radzyń, Poland
Gustawa Tänzer
Born 1923, Jewish, is 16 years old when the German troops invaded Poland. Obtains forged passport with a Polish-Christian identity and uses it to escape to Munich in 1943 as a voluntary worker.
Sources: Letter to her grandson & other Self-testimonies
Photo: Private (in possession of the family)
Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Alfred Bader
Born 1924, son of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. Evacuated to Great Britain at the end of 1938 with the first Kindertransport (Children’s Transport) from Vienna.
Sources: Diary of Alfred Bader, 16 years old
Photo: Queen’s University Archives, Alfred Bader fonds
Hanna Kuh
Born 1913, Jewish, escapes to Great Britain in October 1938 where she was able to work as a domestic servant. She is the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust.
Sources: Letters with family and friends
Photo: Österreichische Exilbibliothek, Sammlung Hanna Kuh