Holocaust Survivor Shares Experiences

By Emma Tippetts

Published: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 in The Utah Statesman

 

Marion Blumenthal Lazan, a survivor of the Holocaust, describes her story as "what Anne Frank might have told, had she survived. It is a message of perseverance, determination, faith and hope."

 

Lazan was warmly received by a crowd of several hundred students and members of the community. Her story began with a historical outline of the events leading up to the war.

 

She described the how anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany grew quickly from verbal attacks to outright violence, culminating with Kristallnacht, the day Jews were first sent to concentration camps, on Nov. 9, 1938.

 

Shortly thereafter, the Blumenthals were able to escape to Holland, but it wasn't long until their refuge there was also under Nazi control. They spent the next six and a half years in Nazi-run camps, the worst of which was Bergen-Belsen.

 

"I was a very frightened 9-year-old in Bergen-Belsen. I remember seeing a wagon rolling through our camp. I thought it was filled with firewood," she said, "but I soon realized what was in the wagon: bodies, thrown one on top of the other. Death was an everyday occurrence. Bodies could not be removed fast enough. The odor, the filth, the continuous horror of being surrounded by death is absolutely indescribable."

 

Some in the audience teared up during the most moving parts of the presentation, such as how her family still continued to cling together and remember virtues such as kindness, even in the worst conditions.

 

"At first we would get a small crust of bread every day. But soon, that changed to only once a week. Birthday presents to each other became that small crust of bread that we got once a week," Lazan said.

 

Often, her shocking descriptions were spoken with a very matter-of-fact tone. At one point, she described their lack of food in this manner: "After some months, our stomachs shrunk and hunger was no longer painful. Men and teenagers suffered the most. The women, specifically the mothers, lasted the longest. Their strong will helped them survive."

 

In April of 1948, Marion, her older brother, and her mother were finally able to come to America. They moved to Peoria, Ill., where through hard work and long hours of study, Marion graduated fifth in her class of 267. Two months after graduation, she married Nathaniel Lazan. They recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.

 

"Despite all the things that happened to me as a child, my life is now full and rewarding," she said.

 

Lazan said she decided to start speaking publicly in 1979 as part of her hope that young people will never let anything like the Holocaust happen again.

 

"The story of the Holocaust must be taught, must be studied and must be kept alive," she said.

 

Lazan emphasized tolerance and respect for other religions, ethnic origins and beliefs.

 

Catherine Casper, a senior studying psychology and animal science shared her thoughts on Lazan's talk. "Seeing her in person and knowing that she had actually lived in a concentration camp and witnessed such a monumental event such as the Holocaust was amazing."

 

Lazan has co-authored a book entitled Four Perfect Pebbles. The book contains many other details of her childhood experiences in the concentration camp.

 

For more information on Marion Lazan, visit her Web site. www.fourperfectpebbles.com