Survivor Testimony: Escaping the Auschwitz Gas Chambers - Rachel Gleitman

Rachel (Rae) Gleitman was born in Muncacs Czechoslovakia in 1923. In 1939, the Germans sent her brother to labor brigade at the battlefront. She and the rest of her family were forced onto cattle cars and deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In January 1945, as the Soviets approached Auschwitz, she and other prisoners were sent on a death march. She and a dozen young women escaped from the march. Ms. Gleitman first returned to her hometown, then to Prague and finally to a displaced persons (DP) camp in Germany. She taught Hebrew in the DP camp and married. Ms. Gleitman is featured in the documentary, "Paperclips." She spoke about escaping the Auschwitz Gas Chambers at the HMTC conference, "Generations," which took place on June 8, 2014 at Hofstra University.

[tazman]

Rachel Gleitman passed away on the 8th August, 2020 aged 96. RIP.

[tenofivelips]

About 15 yrs ago I was behind a woman at the grocery store. When she extended her arm to pay I saw the numbers on her wrist. That sight hit me like a brick wall. What a horror she must have been through as a child.

[urgdaddy]

She says, 'Their eyes look like black holes'. That is definition of evil. She is so right. Bless her heart.

[elisamcgowan]

I have watched a number of these testimonies, and I always end up in awe of these brave folks.

[Succeshero-ywrl]

I AM DEEPLY ASHAMED FOR WHAT HAPPENED! BLESSINGS FROM THE NETHERLANDS

[Wolfietherrat]

I was born in 1962. Unimaginable these horrific things happened less than 20 years before. Thank you and God Bless all WWII veterans.

[sexykitten]

It breaks my heart to think of how few Holocaust survivors are still alive.
How special it would be to be able to talk to someone who lived through what was surely the closest thing to Hell on Earth.
Give it another decade and all of these strong people will be gone.
Listen to them while they are still here to share their stories.💔

[joncoish]

I can’t even imagine what it must’ve been like being at a concentration camp, I would’ve just crumbled mentally. These people who survived are just so strong to have persevered!

[urgdaddy]

A wonderful, articulate and brave woman. Rest in peace you beautiful woman and sharing your story. We need to hear all of these stories.

[cherylsmith]

Thank you for your story. I can hear your feelings in your voice. I was not born until 1946 but I know about these atrocities. My dad fought for you in that war.

[marys]

Mrs. Gleitman, you're one of the bravest, strongest people I've ever encountered. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I promise I will never forget.

[lisalavence]

What a beautiful lady you are. So eloquent and gracious.
God Bless you.
Your sharing helps us all to know a little bit about the horrors that you went through.
Never again.
NEVER
XX

[kathleenconte]

I genuinely hope that this story is written in a book. Introduced to school curriculums worldwide.
Noone should forget so history is not repeated.

[rsmithajd]

My great grandma meet Himmler in 1940 and asked him why you gas our people...he just looked at her with his evil eyes and said "siege heil" as loud as thunder and she said her hair turned instantly grey but when it was her turn to be sent to the gas chambers in 1945 at Dachau she remembered that meeting and said to the SS siege heil as loud as she could and I think the SS man thought maybe he made a mistake and she was really a Nazi and let her go...granny gives me strength every time I see her

[tammyleath]

Listen to their stories and remember the pain they must feel. It’s up to us to never allow this to ever happen again. Pay attention to what is going on whether it’s our government or just injustice in your neighborhood. This can never happen again if we can come together and take a stand.

[mackenziem]

What an amazing, strong, awe inspiring woman

[mariafernandez]

What an unbreakable spirit! Leadership, courage and the fortuitous malfunction of the gas chamber . . .! Thank you for your fighting spirit and fortitude to speak and tell the world about your experience. Israel lives!

[vantbo]

Bless all of them. NEVER let the government dis-arm you or take you anywhere

[bcheaded]

I have just seen this today and I swear these comments are unbelievable

[jennytaylor]

The only way to honour this lady, and honour the dead is to continue to learn from the last war, and never forget that it could easily happen again.