November 25, 1913Suplac, Romania

Born in Suplac, Romania

Born in Suplac, Romania

Youngest of three children.

May 5, 1944

Ghetto formed at Oradea

Ghetto formed at Oradea

On May 5, 1944 the order goes to all 33,000 Jews in Oradea to get into the Ghetto.  Emil had been visiting Eva and is trapped in the ghetto at this time.

May 20, 1944

Married while in ghetto

Married while in ghetto

After resisting Emil’s courtship and proposal of a civil marriage, Eva and Emil marry in a religious ceremony in the ghetto.  They receive the Rabbi’s Office as a private room for the nights.

May 27, 1944

Deportation to Auschwitz

Deportation to Auschwitz

75 people on the boxcar including Emil and Eva along with much of Eva’s extended family: brother. parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousings.

May 30,1944

Arrival at Auschwitz

They arrived at Auschwitz during the night and waited for morning to disembark.  Upon disembarkation, Eva and Emil were seperated.

 

June 1944

Labor camp at Buchenwald

Emil is processed at Buchenwald camp.  His effects cards show that he arrived with nothing (or that the Germans didn’t bother filling out the form).

late 1944 - April 1945

Synthetic oil production

Synthetic oil production

Emil told his son about being slave labor in a petroleum factory that was making synthetic oil (a process of producing gas from coal).

The only sub-camp of Buchenwald that was known to be producing synthetic oil was Lützendorf.

April 11, 1945

U.S. Army liberates Buchenwald

U.S. Army liberates Buchenwald

On April 11, 1945 soldiers from the 6th Armored Division, part of the Third Army liberated the Buchenwald main camp.  Emil received food and clothing from the Americans.

April - May 1945

Biking back to Romania

Biking back to Romania

Emil stole a bike from the US Army in Buchenwald and starts bicycling back to Romania.  He travels to the Danube river and follows it to Vienna, where his bicycle is stolen from him and he needs to steal a different bicycle to continue his journey.

May 20, 1945

Eva and Emil are reunited

Eva and Emil are reunited

After a nearly 800 mile bicycle ride, Emil returns to Oradea and is reunited with Eva.

May 20, 1946

David is born

David is born

Two years after being married and one year after being reunited, David is born in Târgu Mureș.