Alexander Ferson (Fersztenfeld)

Born 1918, Będzin, Poland

It was Friday evening in the first week of the war.

Jewish people were gathering at the synagogue.

Just as they had done for centuries.

The Germans were now in the town.

They surrounded the area of the main synagogue.

With the congregation inside the Germans locked the door... 

...and set the synagogue alight.

Fifty Jews were burned to death.

Now we knew what to expect.

The Germans were clever.

They established extermination camps in Poland.

They knew most Poles would not object.

Many outside of Europe didn't know what was going on.

But the Poles knew what was happening.

Trains full of Jews would roll in and smoke would fill the area.

Along with the smell of burning Jewish flesh.

I never lost hope that Germany would lose the war.

They didn’t break my spirit.