Sonia Orbuch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonia Orbuch
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| Born |
Sarah Shainwald
May 24, 1925 |
| Died | September 30, 2018 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Other names | Sonia Shainwald Orbuch |
| Known for | Jewish resistance fighter during the Second World War |
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Notable work
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Here, There Are No Sarahs (2009) |
Sonia Orbuch (born Sarah Shainwald, May 24, 1925 – September 30, 2018) was an amazing American teacher. She taught people about the Holocaust, a terrible time in history. During World War II, Sonia was a brave Jewish resistance fighter in eastern Poland.
Sonia and her family had to hide in the forests of Poland during the war. She joined a group of Soviet partisans, who were fighters against the Germans. They changed her name to Sonia so she would be safer if captured. After the war, she met her future husband. They had a daughter in a refugee camp in Germany. Later, her family moved to the United States.
Sonia spent many years sharing her story. She spoke to many people about her experiences. In 2009, she wrote a book about her life. It was called Here, There Are No Sarahs: A Woman's Courageous Fight Against the Nazis and Her Bittersweet Fulfillment of the American Dream.
Sonia's Early Life
Sarah Shainwald was born on May 24, 1925. She grew up in a town called Luboml. This town was in Poland back then. Today, it is part of Ukraine. Most people in Luboml were Jewish.
Fighting in World War II
World War II began in 1939 when Sonia was 14 years old. Her hometown came under Soviet control. Two years later, German forces attacked. They forced Jewish people in Luboml into a Jewish ghetto. About 8,000 Jewish people were trapped. They tried to protect themselves, escape, or hide.
Sonia wanted to join her brother's fighting group. But she could not because she was a girl. So, she hid in the forest with her parents and uncle. This was during the cold winter of 1942 to 1943. They were always moving, hungry, cold, and had lice.
A group of Soviet fighters let Sonia and her family join them. Sonia's uncle knew the area well. The fighters changed Sarah's name to Sonia. This was to make her sound more Russian. They lived in a camp in the forest. Sonia and her family helped the fighters. They did acts of sabotage and resistance against the Germans. In 1944, Sonia joined the Red Army.
During their time hiding, Sonia's mother died. She got sick with typhus. Sonia helped wounded people. She did this even though she had no medical training.
Life After the War
By May 1945, the war ended. Sonia went back to Luboml. She worked in a post office there. That same year, she married Isaak Orbuch. He was a former Polish soldier. They met in Chelm right after the war. Only about 50 Jewish people from her town survived. Before the war, there were 8,000.
Sonia and Isaak moved to a refugee camp. It was in Zeilsheim, Germany. Their daughter was born there. In February 1949, the family moved to New York in the United States. Sonia later had a son named Paul. The family then moved to Northern California.
Sonia shared her experiences in many public talks. In 2009, she published her book. It was called Here, There Are No Sarahs. She talked about how Jewish people fought back. She said, "Not everyone could fight in the forest and survive. My brother did not survive, my uncle did not survive." But she felt that "every person in the ghetto fought in their own way."
Sonia Orbuch passed away on September 30, 2018. Her story was remembered around the world.
