Member-only story

Auschwitz: The Death March and My Fight for Freedom

Mason Powell

·11k Followers· Follow

Published in Survivor: Auschwitz The Death March And My Fight For Freedom

6 min read

386 View Claps

40 Respond

Save

Listen

Survivor: Auschwitz, the Death March and My Fight for Freedom

by Sam Pivnik

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4911 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	321 pages

I was born in a small village in Poland in 1925. My childhood was happy and carefree, filled with the laughter of my friends and the love of my family. But everything changed in 1939, when the Nazis invaded Poland and began their reign of terror.

In 1942, my family was rounded up and sent to Auschwitz, the infamous concentration camp. We were crammed into cattle cars like animals, and the journey was long and torturous. When we finally arrived at Auschwitz, we were greeted by the stench of death and the sight of emaciated prisoners.

I was separated from my family and sent to the women's camp. I was assigned to work in the munitions factory, where I was forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions. The food was scarce, and the beatings were constant.

In January 1945, the Soviet army was closing in on Auschwitz. The Nazis knew they were losing the war, and they decided to evacuate the camp. They forced the prisoners to march west, in what became known as the death march.

The death march was a nightmare. We marched for days and nights, in the freezing cold and snow. We were given little food or water, and many of the prisoners died along the way. I watched in horror as my friends and fellow prisoners collapsed and died around me.

I managed to survive the death march, but I was weak and sick. I was liberated by the Soviet army in May 1945. I weighed only 70 pounds, and I was covered in sores and lice.

After the war, I returned to my hometown, but everything had changed. My family was gone, and my home was destroyed. I was alone and lost.

But I refused to give up. I rebuilt my life and dedicated myself to fighting for freedom and justice. I founded the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, and I have spent my life educating people about the horrors of the Holocaust.

I have also worked tirelessly to promote peace and understanding in the world. I believe that we must never forget the lessons of the Holocaust, and we must always fight against hatred and intolerance.

I am now 95 years old, and I have lived a long and full life. I have witnessed the best and worst of humanity, but I have never lost my faith in the power of hope.

I am a survivor of Auschwitz, and I am here to tell my story. I will never forget the horrors that I have witnessed, and I will never stop fighting for freedom and justice.

A Group Of Prisoners Marching In A Death March During The Holocaust. Survivor: Auschwitz The Death March And My Fight For Freedom

Lessons from Auschwitz

The Holocaust was a tragedy that should never be forgotten. We must learn from the mistakes of the past so that we can prevent such atrocities from happening again.

Here are some of the lessons that we can learn from Auschwitz:

Hatred and intolerance are dangerous. The Holocaust began with the Nazis' hatred of Jews, but it quickly spread to other groups, including Roma, homosexuals, and disabled people.
We must stand up to bullies. The Nazis were able to seize power in Germany because too many people were afraid to speak out against them. We must never be afraid to speak out against hatred and intolerance, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
We must never give up hope. Even in the darkest of times, we must never give up hope. The prisoners of Auschwitz endured unimaginable suffering, but they never gave up hope of liberation.

How We Can Fight for Freedom and Justice

There are many ways that we can fight for freedom and justice. Here are a few ideas:

Educate ourselves and others about the Holocaust. The more people who know about the Holocaust, the less likely it is to happen again.
Speak out against hatred and intolerance. Don't be afraid to speak out against racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of bigotry.
Support organizations that are fighting for freedom and justice. There are many organizations that are working to make the world a more just and equitable place. Support their work with your time, money, or voice.

The Holocaust was a tragedy, but it also taught us valuable lessons about the dangers of hatred and intolerance. We must never forget the victims of the Holocaust, and we must always fight for freedom and justice.

Survivor: Auschwitz, the Death March and My Fight for Freedom

by Sam Pivnik

4.7 out of 5