Kestenberg Archive

CZ was born in 1925 in Krinitsa. When the town was occupied by the Germans in 1939 he and one of his brothers were taken to a labor camp where he worked with chemicals. His chest was burnt by the chemicals and only fully healed in 1949. His brother was killed in the camp and CZ found himself suddenly alone. CZ remained in this camp until the end of 1944 when he was taken to Buchenwald. There his life was easier than in the labor camp and CZ made friends with other young men. CZ became ill and was in the infirmary when the Americans arrived. He was sent to recuperate at a nearby Hachsharah school known as "Kibbutz Buchenwald". In September 1945 CZ left for Palestine. He kept silent about his experiences because he found that people could not understand and constantly asked why he did not fight back. CZ was sent to Kfar Ruppin but found it very difficult to keep up with the physical labor. He later left and went to Netzer Sereni, which was founded by a group of young men from Buchenwald who had stayed together. He learned to be a book keeper and when he later left the Kibbutz and moved to Haifa he found work at the municipality. CZ has one son and one daughter. His son drowned tragically five years before the interview. After this CZ left his job and went to see a psychiatrist. CZ never spoke to his children about his experiences. His daughter lives far away and he misses her and his grandchildren. CZ meets up with old friends from Buchenwald. He was among the founders of Haifa University. He still believes that one of his brothers may have survived