LONDON — At the tender age of 13, Manfred Goldberg found himself at a Nazi labor camp in Latvia, facing the grim reality of the Holocaust. Stripped and vulnerable, he was approached by a man who whispered a crucial piece of advice: “If he asks your age, say you are 17.” This advice proved pivotal; it saved his life by ensuring he was directed to the group of prisoners that the Nazis deemed capable of labor, sparing him from the fate that awaited younger detainees. Reflecting on this encounter, Goldberg likened the man to an angel, a savior whose identity remains unknown to him.
As the world marked the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, the importance of such personal stories took center stage. This occasion serves not just as a memorial for the millions of Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust, but also highlights the narrowing circle of survivors capable of recounting their experiences. Facing an alarming rise in Holocaust denial and antisemitic sentiments, Goldberg emphasized his commitment to share his story for as long as he can. At 94 years old, he continues to be a poignant voice in the ongoing battle against ignorance and hate.
Goldberg’s journey began in Kassel, Germany, a city where he was just a toddler when the Nazis rose to power in 1933. His awareness of the regime’s oppressive changes intensified once he entered a Jewish primary school. There, he encountered hostility from the Hitler Youth, an organization that, under the guise of camaraderie similar to the Boy Scouts, propagated antisemitism. “They would often lie in wait for us, ready to attack or insult us,” recalled Goldberg, who learned early on to evade conflict.
The situation worsened as the Nazis systematically stripped Jews of their rights, ultimately targeting Goldberg’s father for deportation. His mother, Rosa, desperately sought help, eventually traveling to the British Embassy in Berlin, hoping to secure a visa for her family. Her persistence led her to Frank Foley, a British agent, who helped many Jews escape Nazi persecution. He provided Goldberg’s father with an emergency visa and promised more were forthcoming for the rest of the family. However, the Nazi invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, disrupted their escape plans, fracturing the family unit.
As the war escalated, the Nazi regime implemented increasingly severe anti-Jewish measures. Jews were forced to wear yellow stars, restricting their access to food supplies. In a desperate attempt for survival, Goldberg’s mother instructed him to use his bookbag to conceal the identifying marker while he purchased bread from a non-Jewish bakery. This act, which now seems perilous in hindsight, illustrated the dire circumstances they faced. The tension escalated further in 1942, when the Nazis initiated “The Final Solution.”
When the SS raided their apartment, the family had only ten minutes to prepare before being transported to Riga, Latvia. This moment marked the beginning of a harrowing ordeal for Goldberg as he endured the horrors of multiple concentration camps over the next few years. Identified simply as prisoner No. 56478, Manfred was separated from his younger brother Herman and sent to work camps. The separation was traumatic; he never saw his brother again.
As the war’s tides shifted, prisoners were relocated as the Nazis attempted to prevent them from falling into Allied hands. Goldberg’s journey took him to Stutthof, where deadly conditions awaited him. However, the worst was yet to come. The inmates faced forced marches and deprivation, culminating in a harrowing escape attempt on barges, which ultimately led to their liberation by British forces. The moment the guards abandoned them was filled with jubilation, marking a profound turning point in Goldberg’s life.
After the war, Goldberg was reunited with his father in England and built a new life as an engineer, marrying and raising four children. For decades, he remained silent about his past, hoping to protect his family from the shadows of the Holocaust. However, encouraged by his wife and community, he gradually began to share his experiences, asserting the importance of testimony. “Silence never helps the oppressed,” he noted gravely.
Today, Manfred Goldberg’s home serves as a shrine to his family, adorned with images of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, signifying triumph over adversity. Yet, a poignant reminder of his lost brother Herman hangs by the door, ensuring that the memory of those who did not survive remains vivid. In honoring his past, Goldberg transforms pain into purpose, becoming a vital witness to history’s dark chapters.
