HINDA CHILEWICZ (HELEN LUKSENBURG)
Hinda was born in 1926 in Sosnowiec, Poland, and was one of three children. Her family were middle-class, and she grew up in a Jewish community.
On September 1st, 1939, German troops invaded Poland, marking the beginning of the second World War. Hinda was only 13 years old at the time. Three days after the invasion, Sosnowiec was occupied by Nazis. Another five days later, the Great Synagogue was lit on fire.
In 1942, Nazi authorities began sending Jews to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, and in 1943 any Jews left in Sosnowiec were forced into ghettos.Hinda was one of these 'lucky' Jews, but after only a few days she was sent to a forced labor camp. In 1945, the prisoners of her camp were evacuated as the Soviet army approached.
Hinda survived the death march to Ravensbruck concentration camp, and was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945.
When she returned to her home town, she discovered that her brother had died on a death march, and that the rest of her family had been deported to Auschwitz and killed.
In 1947, she married Welek Luksenburg, a fellow inmate from the labor camp.
On September 1st, 1939, German troops invaded Poland, marking the beginning of the second World War. Hinda was only 13 years old at the time. Three days after the invasion, Sosnowiec was occupied by Nazis. Another five days later, the Great Synagogue was lit on fire.
In 1942, Nazi authorities began sending Jews to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, and in 1943 any Jews left in Sosnowiec were forced into ghettos.Hinda was one of these 'lucky' Jews, but after only a few days she was sent to a forced labor camp. In 1945, the prisoners of her camp were evacuated as the Soviet army approached.
Hinda survived the death march to Ravensbruck concentration camp, and was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945.
When she returned to her home town, she discovered that her brother had died on a death march, and that the rest of her family had been deported to Auschwitz and killed.
In 1947, she married Welek Luksenburg, a fellow inmate from the labor camp.
1 Portrait of Hinda Chilewicz. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Copyright of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.