In the Shadow of Majdanek. Hiding in Full Sight . : A Holocaust Survival Story

by Irene R. Skolnick

Once a Jew was trapped under Nazi occupation there were only four ways one could hope to with luck one could survive the camps, one could be hidden by a courageous gentile, one could escape and live in the forest with partisans, or one could change one’s identity, pretend to be Catholic and blend into the ambient population. This is what mother decided would be our best chance at survival. This was not an easy undertaking. To blend into the Polish community it was essential not to look Jewish; not to sound Jewish; to know a fair amount about Catholicism; and be able to think on your feet when unexpected events occurred. Above all one needed to be lucky. With counterfeit documents we changed our name and moved to Lublin, the site of Majdanek, the second largest concentration camp in Poland. At that time I was five years old and my brother was seven. We had to learn new names and to never reveal our past. No sooner we got settled that members of my father’s family descended on us seeking shelter. In a small, primitive house we hid up to eight members of my father’s family.

Genres: Holocaust, History, Memoir

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 3, 2017

Reviews

[Chucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking! I’m amazed at what they had to endure to survive & at their stamina & determination to do so. That her father would haunt gestapo headquarters almost daily in order to provide coverage for not only family as well as friends & sometimes those not so friendly is a testament to his courage & intestinal fortitude. I could never ever possibly imagine the fear he endured & had to conquer simply to do what must be done. And to know most of this occurred literally in the shadows of one of the worst concentration/extermination camps.

[Lynn Mcgilvray-saltzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing take of the perseverance, chutzpah and extraordinary luck required to survive during the Holocaust.

I have read many hundreds of Holocaust Memoirs and novels based on fact. No one survived without constant almost inhuman effort, incredible luck and the help of others. Every survivor 's story adds new facts including New methods of survival and ingenuity as well amazing coping skills.
A must read.

But, the manner in which the Author 's faced death for himself and his family over and over again in order to help others was amazing. For a Jewish man with false papers to march into SS Headquarters again and again to help others almost defies
Credulity.

[Lorraine lepel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Majdanek

A full account of living under Nazi rule and
how they had to keep moving in order to live. They must have had such stress and fear all the time. These parents were so brave.

[Jeanette D Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever people

If I am honest I found this book a little boring,however, the ingenuity of the family is to be admired. To survive the horrors to create a new generation is nothing short of a miricle

[fiona campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow majdanek

Excellent book. I did not stop reading until the end. Realistic non romantic description of events which have occurred just before my life time

[stephanie Rutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I enjoyed the fast pace of this book . The bravery of the father to care for his extended family

[wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving and thought provoking

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A powerful Holocaust survival story from Irene's family who posed as Polish Aryans after escaping the Lvov ghetto.

[Lisajoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully insightfull

Thank you for sharing your family's survival story. It is so sad and tear provoking, and I recommend it highly.