Kestenberg Archive

16-46:IA was born in Kippenheim, Southern Germany, in December 1934, an only child to religious parents, and the last Jewish child born in the village. Her father was a successful businessman and the family were affluent. The family sold their home in 1939 and moved in with IA's grandparents in Jebenhausen. IA was not allowed to go to the village school and had to travel every day to Stuttgart. After her grandparents were deported, IA and her parents were forced to move into a Jewish quarter and her parents had to work in forced labor brigades. They were deported to Theresienstadt in 1942. At first IA was placed in a children's room but she ran away to be with her parents. IA then became ill with scarlet fever and remained in the hospital wing for a long time during which she could not see her parents. IA and her parents remained in Theresienstadt until they were liberated by the Russians in May 1945. Throughout IA managed to keep hold of her doll. The family returned to Jebenhausen and lived in a room in her grandparents' former home. IA began to attend school and her father re-started his business. After nine months the family moved to the United States. IA was separated from her parents while they worked. IA then became ill with TB and was hospitalized for almost two years. ; Although she had missed so many years of school, once recovered IA was able to finish high school in three years. IA was a pre-med student majoring in chemistry, although her college years were punctuated by physical and mental breakdowns. After finishing college IA felt that she could not take the pressure of medical school. She moved to San Francisco and worked as a micro-analyst in a laboratory. She had a string of failed relationships and was rejected by a number of men because of her history. At age 33 IA travelled to Europe, visiting Theresienstadt, and resolved to return to medical school. She began her studies in Heidelberg but shortly after felt that she could not live in Germany and returned to America. IA feels that in doing so she gave up her dream. Since her return she has been involved in a complicated relationship with a doctor who is also a Holocaust survivor. He suffers from many issues and has not been able to commit to her. She would still like to find someone to share her life with. She also feels that she has wasted much of her life. Since her hospitalization as a girl IA has written poems and songs. She is now heavily involved in commemorating the Holocaust, through her writing and by giving lectures. ; 14-16: IA was born in December 1934, in a small village, which was located in Baden, Germany. The family was in the textile business and can trace back 10 generations in Germany. The community was closely knit and orthodox. In 1939, sometime before Kristallnacht, her grandmother was killed while shopping. Then in November 9-10, the Jewish community was demolished and stores purged. The family then moved in with grandparents in their village. Jews were not allowed on public transportation, so attending the only Jewish school in the area was difficult. At the age of 6 years only, IA lodged alone in Stuttgart in order to study. IA had a very difficult time and returned to stay with her parents. In 1942 the entire school was transported to Riga, never to return. In that same year all Jews were ordered to move into the Jewish quarter. Meanwhile, her father wrote to the Gestapo pleading for special rights as a German WW I veteran. Instead of being transported to Riga, the family was sent together to Theresienstadt was an old dingy, moist building. IA was hospitalized there, for 5 months, within a quarantined compound. She was not allowed visitors nor saw her parents during this time. However, she made friends with other young girls and was under the care of Jewish nurses. Meanwhile, IA's mother worked as a nurse in another unit. There, she was entitled to a ration card, clothes and food of the dead. The family was detained in Terezin for 3 years. She recalls always being hungry, standing 3 times a day in lines and searching for food. In 1943, 40,000 prisoners were herded into a big field, surrounded by soldiers, for a mass murder. ; British radio leaked information and the executions were avoided. Toward the end of the war, the remaining prisoners of the other camps joined Terezin. These people were in even worse condition. Liberation was May 8, 1945. The family spent the last days hiding in a cellar at the edge of the camp. After the war, being 11-13 years old, she was hospitalized after suffering of TB.