Holocaust survivor Leslie Kleinman tells his harrowing tale

Leslie Kleinman was born in 1929 into an Orthodox Jewish family, and lived in a small village called Ambud in Romania.

He was one of the 1,000 child survivors, known as “The Boys”, who were invited by the British government to come to the UK after the Holocaust.

The 90-year-old from Westcliff, explained: “I was only 14 when it all started, at a time where there were no phones, TV or radio, just horses and carriages.

“The first thing I remember is 1940 when Romania was taken over by Hungary – none of us realised how much worse things would get.

“When Germany invaded Hungary in 1944, father was told he had to go to Russia to help dig trenches on the Eastern Front.

“What I found out after the war, is that he was actually taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau. We never saw him again.

“Later that year, me and my four brothers and four sisters were forced to leave home and go to the ghetto. We stayed there for a month, before we too were taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

“I will never forget how disgusting that train journey was. Over 100 people were crammed into this small carriage with just one bucket to use as a toilet. We were in there for three days, with people constantly crying and praying for help.

“None of us knew what was going to happen. Everyone was so dirty after, and we were told we were being taken for a shower. We all went willingly, not realising it was a gas chamber.

“As I was marching towards the chamber, I was pulled out of line and away from the rest of my family. I lied and told the camp staff I was 17, so was selected for work. My family all went straight to the chamber, with the exception of one of them, and died there.”

Mr Kleinman shared his story in a moving talk at the Mill Arts and Events Centre, on Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh, on Friday. This was followed by a presentation from FitzWimarc sixth form students on lessons from Auschwitz.

He continued: “In 1945 I was sent on a 500 mile death march to Sachsenhausen in -26 degrees. I remember the only way I could survive was to pick up blankets which people had left behind.

“From then I was sent onto Flossenbürg concentration camp before going on a second death march to Dachau concentration camp. While I was in the forest about ten miles away from Dachau, all of the Nazis disappeared and I was liberated by American troops.

“One of the soldiers arranged for me to be sent to an American hospital. I was then sent to a monastery for six months, where I found out that my sister, who had been selected for work at Auschwitz-Birkenau, had died after liberation.

“I settled in Canada for a while. After that I came to England and I’ve been here ever since. I now have a wife and two children.”

Events will be taking place across South Essex in honour of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Today at noon, a commemorative tree will be planted by Southend mayor John Lamb. This will take place at Belton Way East, Leigh.

Tomorrow, Basildon mayor David Burton-Sampson will give a speech at St Martins Church, and a memorial wreath to remember Holocaust victims will be displayed.

On Sunday, a service of commemoration was held at the Civic Centre, Southend, where a talk from holocaust survivor Susan Pollack, MBE, took place.

Susan was born in 1930 in the village of Felsögód, near Budapest in Hungary, the last country in Europe to transport Jews.

More than 6 million Jews were murdered, mostly in Auschwitz where Susan and her family had also been sent, and suffered incomprehensible consequences. She was recently awarded an MBE and the freedom of the city.

Throughout January four exhibitions were also held at the Forum Gallery, Elmer Square, Southend, illustrating different aspects of the Holocaust and acts of genocide.

Councillor Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend Council, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a nationally recognised day, and we hope many people will join us as we pay tribute to remember loved ones and families who suffered during the Holocaust, as well as other more recent genocides across the world.”