This section features the true experiences of Holocaust Survivors we see and visit today. This is to fulfill their requests,
“Remember us! Tell others of our experiences so we are not forgotten!”
~ Valentina ~
Before the war began Valentina lived with her family in Vinitza in Golpa. When the war started her father left for the front lines to fight. The Nazi Army arrived and the family was forced into a ghetto. Valentina’s mother was the local teacher so the people of the village helped her by bringing food to the fenceline.
As the war advanced the German soldiers were sent to fight and were replaced by Romanian soldiers. At this point they were all moved to a larger ghetto but then bombing raids began. During one of the raids Valentina’s 4 month old sister was wounded and died. Her mother did not tell her right away, instead saying she was wounded and in a hospital.
Valentina’s mother was very beautiful so her grandmother would always put dirt on her mother’s face and in her hair, and have her dress in rags. She had a job cooking for the Nazi army but they were afraid she would be attractive to the soldiers. Cooking for them was difficult as it was in a very large pot and making their meals. She often got burned from it. The rest of them all had to work in the fields, even Valentina. During this time they all lived in a stable with almost no roof.
After the war her father came home. He immediately began fixing the roof on the stable so they could stay there. Valentina had not seen him for five years and had great difficulty getting use to him and because of the uniform. It took months before she let him touch her.
