Confined to the Ghetto 1944

I was there.

In 1944 Jews were ordered to carry a six-pointed yellow star on their outer garment. Soon they were also forced to move into a ghetto that was put up on the outskirts of the town. One month later they were assembled at the railway station for deportation.

Walking down the streets of Sighet Livia started to say goodbye to her hometown. Onboard the cattle car she was tasked with checking which direction the train took. The next day she noticed the train had arrived in occupied Poland.

Livia Fränkel (1927), Romania/Hungary

Livia Fränkel (1927), Romania/Hungary

Consider here the time before Livia was forced into the ghetto and the time she spent in the ghetto

Everything in a Backpack

Livia talks about how she and her family spent their weeks before they were forced into the ghetto.

1) Listen to Livia as she talks about how she and her family spent their weeks before they were forced into the ghetto. Answer the questions.

  • 1a. How did Livia feel when she first saw soldiers on the streets of Sighet?

  • 1b. Livia’s life was about to change drastically. How did she and her family find out about the new regulations for the Jewish inhabitants?

  • 1c. What was the first regulation that was enforced and how did Livia and her family react?

Life in the Ghetto

Livia talks about the move into the ghetto.

2) Listen to Livia as she talks about the move into the ghetto. Answer the questions.

  • 2a. What is most striking about the events Livia is telling us about? Explain why.

  • 2b. What was the next order the Jews in the ghetto received and what discussions took place in the family when they heard this order?

The Deportation from the Ghetto

Livia talks about the deportation from Sighet.

3) Listen to Livia as she talks about the liquidation of the ghetto and the deportation from Sighet. Answer the question.

  • 3a. How was the deportation organized and what task had Livia during transportation?

German Occupation and Ghettoization of Sighet

Slideshow.

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