Heinz Rosenberg

Heinz Rosenberg

Born: September 15, 1921

Goettingen, Germany


1933-39: In 1933 the Nazis took power in Germany. A year later Heinz's family's factory was seized. Three SA men came to their house. An officer set a gun on the table and calmly informed his father that if they did not leave in a week, "You and your furniture will be thrown out the window." Within a month they moved to Hamburg. Nazi edicts prohibited Heinz from going to school, so he worked several jobs. He was also recruited by the Nazis as a forced laborer.

1940-44: In 1941 Heinz was forced with his family to sign a paper stating that, as a Jew, he was being deported as an enemy of the state. They were told they'd be going to work in the east. Many felt that it wouldn't be so bad, and they'd return home soon. They boarded a train and after four days arrived in Minsk, Soviet Union. Leaving the train, Heinz saw guards throwing loaves of bread into open cattle cars full of Soviet POWs. As the starving men fought over the food, German guards shot at them. Heinz then realized they were never going to return.


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