Fritzie's father immigrated to the United States, but by the time he could bring his family over, war had begun and Fritzie's mother feared attacks on transatlantic shipping. Fritzie, her mother, and two brothers were eventually sent to Auschwitz. Her mother and brothers died. Fritzie survived by pretending to be older than her age and thus a stronger worker. On a death march from Auschwitz, Fritzie ran into a forest, where she was later liberated.
We became quote "Jewish" overnight. My mother had to sit down with us and tell us the facts of life. Tell us why we were not allowed to go to school anymore. Tell us that the country was invaded by a man called Hitler, who was a bad man. We did not know about the killings at that time, at least I didn't. But we were told that there were certain rules we needed to follow from now on and one was not to go to public school. I recall the laws being set down one by one. Not being able to go to a grocery store, except during certain hours. Not being able to work our farms anymore. Not being able to walk into a bakery anymore, except during certain hours. Not to go into a park and sit on a bench, unless it said "for Jews only." The wearing of the yellow star. And the hours we were allowed to be out and the allow...hours we were asked to be back in the house. And those were the first that I personally felt.
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