Anna Heilman By Amy Holcomb Anna Heilman Before

Anna Heilman By: Amy Holcomb

Anna Heilman

Before the War • Born Hanka Wajacblum • • • December 1, 1928 In Warsaw, Poland Mother - Rebeka Wajcblum (Deaf) Father - Jakub Wajcblum (Deaf) 2 Older Sisters • Sabina (Hearing) • Esther (Hearing)

CNN

Anna, Sabina, Esther

Rebeka and Jakub Wajcblum

Before the War • Family Life: • Maid • Warka - Hearing & Jewish • Nanny • Isabella - Deaf & Christian • Family did not practice the Jewish Religion regularly • Only on Holidays

Before the War • Languages Used (by: Anna and sisters) • Russian, Polish, Sign Language • School • Went to local school • Jewish children did not have to take religion classes • They could play in the gym during this time quietly

Before the War • Father Owned a Factory • Had Deaf employees • Worked with wood to make various things • Sold goods in • Paris • World Fair (New York)

Before the War • Higher Middle class family • Enjoyed fine clothes and dining • Went on vacation often • especially health spas

Before the War • Sabina (Eldest sister) • Married her school tutor • Mieczyslaw Zielinksi • Moved out of Germany • To the Soviet Union

During the War • One day principal told them • no Jewish people allowed to attend school • Principal was crying • That school would soon close down • Father was ok with it • Wanted daughters to be safe at home • Mother was upset • Thought war should not disrupt schooling

During the War • Laws started to be passed • Over 10 must wear white band with blue Star of David • Had to be inside by 9 pm • Father not allowed to own/run his factory

During the War • Ghetto • Included the house where they lived Harvard Jewish Virtual Library

During the War • Ghetto • Little food • Father wanted to make fake place in another building across the way • 2 sisters moved paintings and things from old factory

During the War • Ghetto • While at their fake apartment • Germans came and shouted “Raus!”(Out) • 2(Anna, Esther) Girls hid in fear • Germans knocked on door / opened door • Did not see girls behind the door

During the War • Ghetto • Whole section had been liquefied • Mother did not hear the callings of Germans • She was saved too

During the War • Ghetto - Employment • Father Employed • Got pass to go into Aryan side of Poland • Worked carving gravestones for fallen solders • Mother • Stayed home cleaning & mending clothes • Esther (Estusia) • Trained/ Worked a nurse in the Jewish Hospital

During the War • Ghetto - Employment • Anna • Went to classes • Worked with Hashomer Hatzair Youth Movement • Taught Polish to the Orphans • Walked a baby in stroller for 1 hour a day

During the War • Ghetto • Father was almost taken to camp • Saved by Esther • She convinced them that he was a good worker • Anna and her Father got a job at the same place outside of the Ghetto • Not enough room for Esther • Anna would visit Esther weekly

During the War • Ghetto • Finally a boy that liked Esther gave her a pass to the other side to be with family • No idea how he received the pass for the sister • Anna would still go to Ghetto occasionally to check on the Youth Movement

During the War • Ghetto • During one of the last gatherings • • • Esther, Anna and a boy All hiding in a house House 2 doors down set on fire They could not breathe Had to jump out of the window and run to safety • Germans and Ukrainians were shooting at them

During the War • Ghetto • During total liquidation • Family was put on the trains • Most of the time 50 - 60 people per car • This time 150 - 170 people per car • Starving and Thirsty • When they arrived at their destination • 120 of original 170 alive

During the War - Majdanek CRRL

During the War - Majdanek Scrapbook Pages

During the War • Majdanek • Arrived May 1943 • Raining • Mother was sitting on floor of cattle car • 2 Girls stayed with her • Helped her off and to run • Got to the line • Lost Ester and Father • Person ordered her to let go of mother • Last time she saw her

During the War • Majdanek • • Found her sister Ordered to take off clothes Give any valuables Take a Shower • Given clothes • Bowl and Soup

During the War • Majdanek • Always asked where parents were • Prisoners said they were in camp for elderly • Work was easier there • First assignment • Latrine Kommando • Clean out the latrine • Dump it on farm land

During the War • Majdanek • Greek Jewish girls came from Auschwitz • Said they had malaria so had to come to this camp • People were now excited to go to Auschwitz to meet family

During the War - Auschwitz CCRL

During the War - Auschwitz Muesem

During the War • Auschwitz • • Received first beating right off of the train Has to go change clothes Get Hair shaved Get Tattooed on left arm • # 48150

During the War • Auschwitz • Have roll calls • Stand for hours on end

During the War • Sleep 8 to a bunk • Girls Screaming in the night • Hard to sleep • Little food • 1/5 of a loaf of bread

During the War • Auschwitz • Have to sit in the Wiese • Grassy field to be selected for work • Finally Selected to work • Have to clean out garbage • Carts very heavy • Would get beaten • Guard dogs would follow them

During the War • Auschwitz • The German Doctor came (Klein) • Ordered people to the right or left • Both Anna and Estusia to the left • Left meant to LIVE another day

During the War • Auschwitz • Given new clothes • Moved to new area • Estusia fell ill with Typhoid • After a week or two • Estusia became better • Got a good job • Allowed more food • Better food

During the War • Auschwitz • Anna fell ill • Puss and Boils all over body • Had a selection • All girls ordered to strip • She left on her stockings and slip • She was sent through • Felt bad that other girls were healthier than her

During the War • Auschwitz • Spoke about Jews in Europe • With girl who distributes bread and a secretary • Heard about the group of Slovakian Jews • They refused to become Sonderkommando • All were murdered • Anna thought them to be heroes • Thought there should be more people like them

During the War • Auschwitz • Both Anna and Estusia chosen to work in a factory • Many girls there admitted they had no experience • While marching to work people would look at them • Call them bad people • Worse than thieves or bandits

During the War • Got to the Weichsell Metall Union Werke • Gun and Munitions Factory • Sat down at a long table • Didn’t know why there was a gap between the table and the wall • Found out that the Guards would walk by and check their activities

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union • Had to measure things to make sure it was not flawed • Could not slow down • Very tiring at first • Over time became easier

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union • They would close down the factory because of bombings or air raids • Germans would run and hide in bunkers • Jewish people had to stay and hide under their chairs

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union • During one of the air raids • All of the Germans left • She walked around to see what the machines near her were doing • Met a German woman • Anna found out she was too weak to do the job • Prayed that the German would not tell

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union • Went to the male section • The Germans came back • She snuck back to her seat while a Kapo was getting into trouble

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union • Got little food • Little time to see sister who was in another part of the Factory • Her Kapo was German • Would not allow any passes for the bathroom • Where most girls would meet and share information

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union - Uprising • June or July 1944 • Started to plan an uprising • 5 or 6 girls from each block • Some men • A friend - Roza Robota had a lover in the Sonderkommando • He told her that it was almost time for them to be killed to have them replaced

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union - Uprising • Decided to steal gunpowder to give to the Sonderkommando • Estusia would put it into small cloth in the garbage • Anna would pick it up and then all 3 girls would meet in bathroom • All would put it somewhere on their body expect for Estusia who would be searched before they left work

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union - Uprising • They would then bring it back to their barracks • Give it to Roza • Roza would drop it off at the gates • ‘Her lover’ would pick it up and distribute it to the Sonderkommando

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union - Uprising • October 1944 • Commotion at Auschwitz • Sonderkommando revolted • Blew up the crematoria • All the girls were shocked

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union - Uprising • The password had not been given yet • There was a spy in the Sonderkommando • Betrayed those involved to the SS • They were immediately killed

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union - Uprising • Klara - Friend from the factory • Found with bread • Was beaten • Did not give up boyfriends name • Gave up 2 girls who were involved with the bombing • Roza • Estusia

During the War • Weischsell Metall Union - Uprising • Both girls were severely beaten • Then released on December 1 • Few days later • • Esther Wajcblum Ala Gertner Roza Robota Regina Safirzatajn (innocent - supervisor for Pulverraum) • All taken

During the War • Auschwitz • January 5, 1945 • The girls were hung for their crimes • From then on Marta(A friend) took care of Anna • Per Estusia’s dyeing wishes

Esther Wajcblum Estusia in 1937.

Roza Robota Shoah Education

Ala Gertner Wikipedia

During the War • Auschwitz • Final Evacuation • January 18, 1945 • Marched from Auschwitz to Ravensbruck to Neustadt - Glewe • Marta was the one to keep her going • Washed & Fed her

Marta and Anna

After the War • Liberated by the Russians in Neustadt • May 2, 1945 • Then given to the Americans • Went to the Ghetto • All was burned • Had nowhere to go

After the War • May 1946 • Emigrated to Palestine • Met and Married Joshua Heilman • March 7, 1947 • He left to go to School 1 week before war broke out • His sister survived Auschwitz • Rest of his family passed away

After the War • Anna went to school • Degree in Social Work • Had 2 Daughters • Ariela - 1951 • Noa - 1953

After the War • Husband Moved to US • Became Hebrew teacher • Boston • Family moved to Boston • March, 1958

After the War • Family moved to Ottawa, Canada • 1969 • Joshua • Hebrew School Principal • Translator for Government • Anna • The Children’s Aid Society • Bilingual French/ English Social worker

After the War • May 1993 • Went to Poland to see Death Camps • Found Parents grave • Said a prayer for them • Explained to students what happened there

After the War • January 1994 • Sister - Saba • Found the nanny Isabella • Isabella had been living in Germany • Flew to Germany • Isbaella started to sign Reunion of Isabella (left) and Anna, 30 January 1994. • Anna no longer understood • Felt like she had found her mother again

Works Cited • Anna Heilman • http: //www. annaheilman. net/ • CNN • http: //www. cnn. com/WORLD/europe/9906/13/pop e. 01/poland. warsaw. sandomierz. jpg • CRRL • http: //www. crrl. com. fr/Ressources/Camps/photos/ majdanek. gif • http: //www. crrl. com. fr/Ressources/Camps/photos/ auschwitz. gif

Works Cited • Scrapbook Pages • http: //www. scrapbookpages. com/Poland/M ajdanek/Old. Photos/Majdanek%20 barracks. jpg • Auschwitz Museum • http: //www. auschwitzmuzeum. oswiecim. pl/html/eng/start/index. php

Works Cited • Jewish Virtual Library • http: //www. jewishvirtuallibrary. org/jsource /Holocaust/warghetmap. html • Harvard • ttp: //pinker. wjh. harvard. edu/photos/polan d_and_ukraine/pages/Warsaw%20 ghetto %20 only%20 remaining%20 building. htm

Works Cited • Shoah Education • http: //www. shoaheducation. com/resistanc e. html • All About • http: //www. allaboutretreats. com/centers/n ortheast. html • Wikipedia • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ala_Gertner

Works Cited • Canadian Libraries • http: //www. nrcan. gc. ca/libraries/05_e. html • University Of Calgary • http: //www. ucalgary. ca/infoserve/Vol 8. 7/n ever_far_away. html