Alica Weiszfeiler (*1933)

Alica Weiszfeiler (2022)

Alica Weiszfeiler, née Goldman, was born 28.11.1933 in Moravská Ostrava. Her family was of Jewish origin and immigrated from Slovakia.

Before the declaration of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, she was forced to emigrate back to Slovakia. There was growing strength of anti-Semitism, so awaited her uncertain times. Her father decided that he and his family would move to Kežmarok because it was becoming increasingly difficult for Jews to live in Bratislava. The family was later forced to hide in Kežmarok to avoid being transported to concentration camps. However, Alice Weiszfeiler’s father and brother were caught and put in prison. Eventually, Alice and her mother ended up there as well, and the family did not escape the transports later on. She ended up in front of the crematoria of Auswitz-Birkenau, where the Nazis separated the family. Alice and her mother went on to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Before liberation, they found themselves in appalling living conditions at Bergen Belsen, where the Nazis left them hungry and thirsty. Many prisoners died in the camp. The camp was liberated by British troops. At that time there were about 60 thousand prisoners. The British set up a camp for the sick, and Alice’s mother was placed there. However, she died of typhus. Alice found herself in an orphanage. At that time, many children were being sent for adoption to local families in Sweden. But little Alice refused because she wanted to go back to Slovakia. She was convinced that she would meet her father and brother. She first made her way to Prague, where her uncle found her in an orphanage, and then quickly wandered to Kežmarok. Alice’s father remarried and Alice was given a half-sister. Later he moved to Israel and Alice went to study in Belgium. After her studies, she found herself in Israel where she started a new life and eventually married Alfred Weiszfeiler. To her family were born 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The full story of the witness can be found in the online archive Memory of Nations.