Kestenberg Archive

RB was born in 1930 in Topolcany, Czechoslovakia, the first of two children. His family was Orthodox and he attended Jewish schools. Although many Jews in the area were deported to Poland in 1942, the family remained in their home thanks to his father's work. He experienced no significant antisemitism. In 1944, German SS troops were sent to quell the Slovakian National rebellion and his family was deported. They were first sent to Sered, Slovakia and then to Auschwitz. He and his father were separated from his sister (age 9) and mother and placed in a men's camp. A few days later, he was separated from his father and transfered to a camp of 300-400 youths in the gypsy camp and then block #3. They were fed regularly but did not work and remained locked in the block, expecting to be sent to the crematoria at any time. As a result, the mood in the block was tense but with minimal conflicts. Three weeks later most of the children were gassed, leaving only 40 - 50 youths. ; He was then sent to a children's block in Birkenau, joining approximately 200 youths. Conditions and food in this block were better and they worked. At this time, he saw women being abused and killed. He worked at a construction site. In November 1944, he was transferred, with about 30 children, to D Camp in Auschwitz joining approximately 30 other youths. He worked there until January 1945 in an animal agricultural komando. While there he saw several of the children die of sicknesses. In January, they were evacuated on foot to Birkenau. Anyone who lagged behind was shot. He saw many corpses. They walked for 2 days to Gross Rosen and then transported by train to Buchenwald via Wroclaw. Of 100 youth in his train wagon, only 15 remained alive. He spent 2 days in block 57 and then taken with 12 other youths, expecting to be killed, to a children's block. On April 10, they were forced on a death march. He managed to escape in Thuringen, walked 2 days to Jena, reaching the Americans. RB remained there for a month in a camp and then returned to Czechoslovakia walking or travelling by train. He found his father's sister, her two children and her husband. He lived with his aunt until 1949. He was sick for the first month but recovered and studied for matriculation. ; He was depressed for a time but he generally describes himself as “very optimistic”. In 1949, RB married and moved to Israel and was a founding member of a kibbutz. He has three children and grandchildren. RB has not searched for his mother but since he heard rumors that his father was alive, he has looked for him several times. RB runs a business, has close ties with his children, ages 16 - 27, and has spoken with them about his experiences.