My name is Sam Goldofsky. I was born in Bedzin, Poland, on March 1, 1928. They call me at birth Shlomo. We were a family of five. My sister, my brother and myself. We went to synagogue. We had an active, vibrant community. It was a beautiful life. I believe that character is being built until a certain age. My character was built – I had a wonderful family.
When the Germans came in September 1939, we tried to run away. The Germans were with tanks coming right in front of us so we came back to our town. Then all the trouble started.
Eventually we were taken away from the house and sent to a ghetto called Kamionka. I think it was the end of 1942. We were pushed into one room. In summer 1943, the ghetto was liquidated.
We arrived in a place. We didn’t know it was Auschwitz. There were dogs, Germans with machine guns, and prisoners in striped uniforms. When we came in, we saw a sign arbeit macht frei. We saw a gate, yelling, screaming, and commotion. We were sent into Birkenau.
I was made a runner in Auschwitz-Birkenau. I would run from camp to camp with information. For this Ireceived more bread. With whatever I had, I would share with my brother, Isaac.
We were transferred to Auschwitz III, my brother and myself. It was January-February 1944. A French-Jew kapo,
Zeppel, took me and my brother and said: “You go in the kitchen to peel potatoes.” I had it alittle better, at least I could eat raw carrots and I can bring out food hidden in my pants. I would shove in potatoes, carrots, spinach and bring out to the prisoners. One time, I was caught by the Lagerführer. Heasked me to whom I carry this food. I said for myself. I knew I’m going to be dead already, what’s the difference? Why should I take with me some other people? I was stripped, hit 30 times and I passed out.I found myself on a bed somehow, then I was called into Alois Frey’s personal quarters and made into his butler. I still don’t know why he did it, maybe there’s some respect. Who knows? He gave
me a name, Otto. That name remained with me all the time. Even now when I meet somebody from there, hecalls me Otto.
One day, we were called out in the morning. We saw a hanging platform and it had four ropes hangingdown. At the same time, there was four boys. They put them in the gallows. We had to come close tothe gallows. And they announced in a threatening voice that because they were trying to run away fromhere, they are being sentenced to death by hanging. One of the [boys], nice guy, he told us: “Don’tforget us. Take Nekamah- take revenge against them.” And he spit on the face of one of the guards. Thatwas a terrible thing to see. Can’t explain the emotions at that time.
They started marching us out of Auschwitz III. We marched through Poland. There was one brutalcriminal, a kapo. He caught a boy from France and cut his throat in front of everybody. I’m supposed tobe next. But I saved myself. I had some privileges. As he came to cut my throat, I had a big fight with himand he couldn’t cut my throat. I really beat him up.I don’t like to be showed off [as a survivor].
I always cover my number – I don’t want people to be sorryfor me.
My name is Sam Goldofsky. I was born in Bedzin, Poland, on March 1, 1928. They call me at birth Shlomo. We were a family of five. My sister, my brother and myself. We went to synagogue. We had an active, vibrant community. It was a beautiful life. I believe that character is being built until a certain age. My character was built – I had a wonderful family.
When the Germans came in September 1939, we tried to run away. The Germans were with tanks coming right in front of us so we came back to our town. Then all the trouble started.
Eventually we were taken away from the house and sent to a ghetto called Kamionka. I think it was the end of 1942. We were pushed into one room. In summer 1943, the ghetto was liquidated.
We arrived in a place. We didn’t know it was Auschwitz. There were dogs, Germans with machine guns, and prisoners in striped uniforms. When we came in, we saw a sign arbeit macht frei. We saw a gate, yelling, screaming, and commotion. We were sent into Birkenau.
I was made a runner in Auschwitz-Birkenau. I would run from camp to camp with information. For this Ireceived more bread. With whatever I had, I would share with my brother, Isaac.
We were transferred to Auschwitz III, my brother and myself. It was January-February 1944. A French-Jew kapo,
Zeppel, took me and my brother and said: “You go in the kitchen to peel potatoes.” I had it alittle better, at least I could eat raw carrots and I can bring out food hidden in my pants. I would shove in potatoes, carrots, spinach and bring out to the prisoners. One time, I was caught by the Lagerführer. Heasked me to whom I carry this food. I said for myself. I knew I’m going to be dead already, what’s the difference? Why should I take with me some other people? I was stripped, hit 30 times and I passed out.I found myself on a bed somehow, then I was called into Alois Frey’s personal quarters and made into his butler. I still don’t know why he did it, maybe there’s some respect. Who knows? He gave
me a name, Otto. That name remained with me all the time. Even now when I meet somebody from there, hecalls me Otto.
One day, we were called out in the morning. We saw a hanging platform and it had four ropes hangingdown. At the same time, there was four boys. They put them in the gallows. We had to come close tothe gallows. And they announced in a threatening voice that because they were trying to run away fromhere, they are being sentenced to death by hanging. One of the [boys], nice guy, he told us: “Don’tforget us. Take Nekamah- take revenge against them.” And he spit on the face of one of the guards. Thatwas a terrible thing to see. Can’t explain the emotions at that time.
They started marching us out of Auschwitz III. We marched through Poland. There was one brutalcriminal, a kapo. He caught a boy from France and cut his throat in front of everybody. I’m supposed tobe next. But I saved myself. I had some privileges. As he came to cut my throat, I had a big fight with himand he couldn’t cut my throat. I really beat him up.I don’t like to be showed off [as a survivor].
I always cover my number – I don’t want people to be sorryfor me.