Gerda Weissmann Klein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerda Weissmann Klein
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Klein in 2011
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| Born | Gerda Weissmann May 8, 1924 Bielsko, Poland |
| Died | April 3, 2022 (aged 97) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, human rights activist |
| Notable works |
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| Spouse |
Kurt Klein
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Gerda Weissmann Klein (born May 8, 1924 – died April 3, 2022) was a writer and activist. She was born in Poland and later became an American citizen.
Gerda wrote a book about her experiences during the Holocaust. It was called All but My Life (1957). This book was made into a short film in 1995, named One Survivor Remembers. The film won an Academy Award and an Emmy Award. It was also chosen for the National Film Registry.
In 1946, Gerda married Kurt Klein (1920–2002). Both Gerda and Kurt spent much of their lives teaching about the Holocaust. They also worked to promote kindness and helping others. Gerda Weissmann Klein started an organization called Citizenship Counts. It teaches people about being a good American citizen. She also helped lead the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Her story is part of a permanent exhibit there.
On February 15, 2011, Gerda Klein received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can get in the United States.
Contents
Gerda's Early Life
Gerda Weissmann was born on May 8, 1924. Her parents were Julius and Helene Weissmann. She had an older brother named Arthur. Their family lived in Bielsko, Poland.
Gerda went to Notre Dame Gymnasium in Bielsko. But in 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This changed everything for her family. Both of her parents and her brother Arthur were killed during the Holocaust.
Life During World War II
When Gerda was 15, German soldiers took over her home in Poland. Her family had a chance to leave, but they stayed. Gerda's father had a heart attack. Doctors said he should not be moved.
In 1942, Gerda's father was sent to a death camp. He was murdered there. Soon after, Gerda and her mother were forced to leave their home. Her mother was sent to a death camp. Gerda was strong enough to work, so she was sent to a labor camp.
Gerda tried to jump out of the truck to be with her mother. But a man named Moshe Merin put her back. He told her, "You are too young to die." This saved her life.
Being Freed from the Camps
In May 1945, Gerda was freed by American soldiers. This happened in Volary, Czechoslovakia. One of the soldiers was Lieutenant Kurt Klein. He was born in Germany. Kurt had moved to the United States in 1937 to escape the Nazis. His own parents were killed in a concentration camp.
When Kurt met Gerda, she was almost 21 years old. But she looked very weak and had white hair. She weighed only 68 pounds and wore old rags. Gerda told Kurt she was Jewish. Kurt was also Jewish and felt a strong connection to her.
Gerda and Kurt fell in love. They got engaged in September 1945. It took a year for them to get married. Kurt had to go back to the U.S. and then return to Europe. They finally married in Paris in 1946.
Life After the War
After the war, the Kleins moved to Buffalo, New York. They had three children there. Kurt ran a printing business. Gerda became a writer. She wrote a newspaper column for The Buffalo News for 17 years.
The film One Survivor Remembers (1995) was based on Gerda's book. It was made by Kary Antholis and distributed by HBO Films. The film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).
Gerda Weissmann Klein wrote several books. She also wrote children's stories. One of her children's stories was The Windsor Caper (2013). It was a weekly story in The Buffalo News in the 1980s. It was about two American girls who had an adventure at Windsor Castle in England. Gerda said this was her only work that was "not rooted in pain."
Gerda and Kurt lived in Buffalo for many years. In 1985, Kurt retired. They moved to Phoenix to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Gerda died in Phoenix on April 3, 2022. She was 97 years old.
Awards and Special Honors
Presidential Medal of Freedom
On February 15, 2011, President Barack Obama gave Gerda Weissmann Klein a special award. It was the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States.
President Obama said that the people receiving the medal "reveal the best of who we are." He then shared a message from Gerda Weissmann Klein. She said, "If you think there is no way out, remember, never ever give up."
Other Special Recognition
In January 2006, Gerda Weissmann Klein was the main speaker at the United Nations' first International Holocaust Remembrance Day. She spoke to many students. She also traveled the world to share her message of kindness and hope. She met with many world leaders.
In 1996, Gerda received the Lion of Judah award in Jerusalem. In 1975, she received an honorary doctorate from Rosary Hill College.
In 1997, President Bill Clinton asked Gerda to join the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Governing Council. In 2007, the museum gave her its highest honor. In 2021, she was added to the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame.
Films About Gerda
- 1995: One Survivor Remembers
- 1996: 60 Minutes: "One Survivor Remembers" CBS
- 2005: About Face: The Story of the Jewish Refugee Soldiers of World War II
Images for kids
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Gerda Weissmann as a young girl.
See also
In Spanish: Gerda Weissmann Klein para niños
