Rabka - A Survivor’s Personal Story

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Rabka: A Survivor’s Personal Story

In 1940, when Mark Goldfinger was 9, the SS set up an academy for training killers near his hometown of Rabka, Poland. This is the amazing account of what he saw and how he survived. (Many viewers may find details described to be extremely disturbing. Viewer discretion advised.)

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Topics:	Poland, Holocaust Survivors, Holocaust

By Mark Goldfinger

Mark Goldfinger was born in 1930 in Krakow, Poland, and spent the war in the Plaszow concentration camp, shown in Schindler’s List, and was subsequently sent in cattle trucks to Buchenwald, until he was liberated in 1945. His mother was killed in the Krakow ghetto by the Nazis. After liberation, Mark was taken to England through the Red Cross where he has lived ever since. He has been one of the few survivors who have met the son of a known Nazi war criminal who lived not far from his home in England.

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5 Comments

y usa May 4, 2016

My grandparents lived in Rabke and I would like to contact Mr. Goldfinger. Please contact me via the editor. Reply

JR Nowak-Kanewski Miami Beach, FL July 4, 2015

My paternal grandfather came to America before the First World War from Rabka, I have been back to Krakow and hope some day to visit Rabka, this talk by Mr. Goldfinger about his growing up in a place which has seen so much is an inspiration. My hope is to meet the families of other survivors of the War and to here their stories. Reply

Renee winchendon, ma. January 1, 2012

Rabka Mr. Goldfinger is surprized that people in America know the Holocaust happened but do not know many details. Gracious! The stories that we have heard, that we do know are so appalling....to hunger for more is like asking to sip rattlesnake poison. I just read a fiction by Tatiana de Rosney called Sarah's Key about the historical fact of the French police rounding up Jewish citizens and taking them to La Place des Martyrs Juif du Velodrome d'Hiver: a point of demarcation to prison camps. Had never heard of it and neither have most French people! As Americans, we don't go looking up the details of our own ugly points in our history; the treatment of the Indians and their land and buffalo.....the internment of the Japanese people after Pearl Harbor. The slavery of the Negro AND THE FACT THAT WE TURNED AWAY A SHIP FULL OF JEWISH REFUGEES AT THE END OF WW II. Not that any of these things should be forgotten but each is so shameful and so sad; nevertheless, I'm glad I heard this. Reply

Yossie Metairie, LA July 21, 2011

Thank you Mr. Goldfinger Very moving and thank you for sharing. I will share this with my community. Reply

Denise Rootenberg Toronto, Canada July 19, 2011

What a riveting, mesmerising story Mr. Goldfinger, I applaud you and your courage. Thank you for bringing to light yet another heinous crime committed by the Nazis. Reply