Simon Gutman facts for kids

Simon Gutman (born July 20, 1923 – died October 5, 2020) was a brave man who survived the Holocaust. He was born in Poland and later became a French citizen.

Simon Gutman's Life Story

Early Life and Family

Simon Gutman was born in Warsaw, Poland, on July 20, 1923. When he was six years old, in 1929, he moved to France with his family. Simon had six brothers and sisters. His father, David, worked very hard as a tailor in Paris, often for 15 hours a day. Some of Simon's siblings were born in Warsaw, while others were born after the family moved to Paris. The family lived at 24 Rue Vilin in Paris. Interestingly, a famous writer named Georges Perec also lived in the same building.

Surviving the Holocaust

During World War II, Simon Gutman and his family faced terrible times. They were among the millions of Jewish people targeted during the Holocaust, a horrific event where many were persecuted and murdered. Simon was sent to Auschwitz on March 27, 1942. This was in the very first group of people sent from France to this camp.

Sadly, almost all of Simon's family members were also sent to concentration camps. His brothers, Mordka and Szrul, and his sisters, Chana, Isaac, Bella, and Yvette, were all deported to Auschwitz in different groups over time. His mother, Cyma, and possibly his sister Bella, were sent to Sobibor extermination camp in March 1943, where they died.

Simon stayed at Auschwitz until October 1944. After that, he was moved to several other camps, including Natzweiler-Struthof, Hailfingen, Dautmergen, and Altshausen.

Escape and Freedom

As World War II was ending, Simon managed to escape during what was known as a "death march." These were forced marches where prisoners were made to walk long distances, often in terrible conditions. On April 5, 1945, Simon met up with the French 2nd Armored Division in Germany, and he was finally free.

When Simon returned to France, he found that only his father had survived. The rest of his family had been killed in the concentration camps.

Life After the War

After the war, Simon Gutman rebuilt his life. He had two children, Jean-Sylvain and Irène. By the time he passed away, he was a grandfather to eight grandchildren. In 1992, he shared his story in a documentary called Premier convoi (which means "First Convoy"). Simon Gutman lived a long life and died on October 5, 2020, at the age of 97. His story is an important reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of remembering history.