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Media Essay

Thomas Buergenthal: Family Photographs

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life after the Holocaust

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again.

Thomas's journey brought him to the United States.

Thomas at age 13 months with his father, Mundek Buergenthal. [LCID: buerg23] — Thomas at age 13 months with his father, Mundek Buergenthal. Czechoslovakia, June 1935.
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Thomas's parents, Mundek and Gerda (b. 1912). Czechoslovakia, 1933 or 1934. [LCID: buerg24] — Thomas Buergenthal's parents, Mundek and Gerda (b. 1912). Czechoslovakia, 1933 or 1934.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Three-year-old Thomas during a stay at a hotel in Czechoslovakia, 1937. [LCID: buerg20] — Three-year-old Thomas Buergenthal during a stay at a hotel in Czechoslovakia, 1937.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Three-year-old Thomas with his parents, Mundek and Gerda. [LCID: buerg22] — Three-year-old Thomas Buergenthal with his parents, Mundek and Gerda. Czechoslovakia, June 1937.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas in his toy car, 1936. [LCID: buerg21] — Photograph of a young Thomas Buergenthal posing in his toy car as his mother sits alongside. 1936.
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Thomas (left), 6 months after liberation, with a soldier who realized that Thomas was Jewish and took him to an orphanage, ca. [LCID: buerg18] — Thomas (left), 6 months after liberation, with a soldier who realized that Thomas was Jewish and took him to an orphanage, ca. 1945. Thomas was eventually reunited with his mother.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas with his mother, Gerda, in Goettingen, Germany, 1950. [LCID: buerg15] — Thomas Buergenthal with his mother, Gerda, in Goettingen, Germany, 1950.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas with his mother, Gerda, before Thomas's departure for the United States. [LCID: buerg16] — Thomas Buergenthal with his mother, Gerda, before Thomas's departure for the United States. Bad Neuheim, Germany, summer 1951.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas (standing, right), then known as "Tommy," with relatives shortly after arriving in the United States. [LCID: buerg17] — Thomas (standing, right), then known as "Tommy," with relatives shortly after arriving in the United States. New Jersey, ca. 1952.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas as a student at New York University, 1957-1960. [LCID: buerg14] — Thomas Buergenthal as a student at New York University, 1957–60.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas as a law student, 1959-1960. [LCID: buerg12] — Thomas Buergenthal as a law student, 1959–60.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas with his first wife, Dorothy, at the Zeta Tau Alpha Spring Formal, 1957. [LCID: buerg10] — Thomas with his first wife, Dorothy, at the Zeta Tau Alpha Spring Formal, 1957.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Judge Thomas Buergenthal, member of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, San Jose, Costa Rica, 1980. [LCID: buerg28] — Judge Thomas Buergenthal, member of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, San Jose, Costa Rica, 1980.
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1984 photo of Thomas's mother, Gerda, at age 72. [LCID: buerg27] — Photograph taken in 1984 of Thomas Buergenthal's mother, Gerda, then in her early 70s.
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Judge Thomas Buergenthal (front row, right) with other members of the Inter-American Court of Justice in San Jose, Costa Rica. [LCID: buerg7] — Judge Thomas Buergenthal (front row, right) with other members of the Inter-American Court of Justice in San Jose, Costa Rica. Thomas served from 1979–91 and was president from 1985-1987. San Jose, Costa Rica, 1980.
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From left to right: former US President Jimmy Carter, Judge Thomas Buergenthal, former UN ambassador Andrew Young. [LCID: buerg3] — From left to right: former US President Jimmy Carter, Judge Thomas Buergenthal, former UN ambassador Andrew Young. Judge Buergenthal was the director of the human rights program for the Carter Center from 1986–89.
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Thomas at Auschwitz in 1995, fifty years to the day after his forced march out of the camp as a child. [LCID: buerg5] — Thomas Buergenthal at Auschwitz in 1995, fifty years to the day after his forced march out of the camp as a child. Poland, 1995.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas with his first grandchild, Eliza. 1996. [LCID: buerg8] — Thomas with Eliza, one of his grandchildren. 1996.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Thomas's three sons, Robert, John (holding daughter Eliza), and Alan. [LCID: buerg9] — Thomas Buergenthal's three sons, Robert, John (holding daughter Eliza), and Alan. 1996.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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Judge Thomas Buergenthal (top row, fifth from left) and other members of the United Nations Human Rights Committee. [LCID: buerg6] — Judge Thomas Buergenthal (top row, fifth from left) and other members of the United Nations Human Rights Committee. 1995.
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Judge Thomas Buergenthal, formal portrait for the International Court of Justice in the Hague. [LCID: buerg1] — Judge Thomas Buergenthal, formal portrait for the International Court of Justice in the Hague. ca. 2003.
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Photograph of Thomas with his wife, Peggy. [LCID: buerg32] — Photograph of Thomas with his wife, Peggy.

With the end of World War II and collapse of the Nazi regime, survivors of the Holocaust faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. With little in the way of financial resources and few, if any, surviving family members, most eventually emigrated from Europe to start their lives again. Between 1945 and 1952, more than 80,000 Holocaust survivors immigrated to the United States. Thomas was one of them.
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We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies, Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, the Claims Conference, EVZ, and BMF for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of donor acknowledgement.