Holocaust Survivor Tells of Nazi Terror
It's a powerful experience to read about the Holocaust or watch a documentary replete with the still stunning images of one of the darkest periods in human history. It's quite another matter entirely to meet and interact with a survivor of the Nazi terror.
Some Huntington High School students came face-to-face with history when Irving Roth recently visited to discuss his experiences at the Auschwitz death camp and Buchenwald concentration camp.
Mr. Roth spoke with English teacher Victoria Lombardi's students and teacher Gina Colica's Holocaust literature senior elective class. About 100 students gathered in the School Heritage Museum for the fascinating presentation.
Growing up in Czechoslovakia, Mr. Roth lived through Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland and the occupation and division of the remainder of the country. The Nazi's sought to destroy Czech nationality by murdering thousands of innocent civilians in cold blood and herding many more into death camps for eventual gassing or starvation.
Mr. Roth, who co-authored the 2004 book, "Bondi's Brother," discussed the trials and tribulations he and his family endured, including his being sent to Auschwitz and how he was marched to Buchenwald late in the war and eventually liberated by American troops.
"The students read excerpts from Mr. Roth's book, 'Bondi's Brother,' before he came to visit," Ms. Lombardi said. The teacher said it was a "great opportunity" for the students to be able to "meet the author and hear his firsthand account" of the personal tragedies associated with World War II.
The book has been described as "an unforgettable story of brotherly love and loss in the Holocaust." One reviewer said that "Irving Roth continues to live his life in honor of those who died, and he uses the pain of his past to eliminate the suffering of others today."
Now 81-years old, Mr. Roth arrived in the United States on February 11, 1947 as a 17-year old. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-54 and later enjoyed a career as an electrical engineer. He and his wife are the parents of two sons and the proud grandparents of four.
Near the end of his presentation at Huntington High School, Mr. Roth asked the teenagers to pass along his story to others and to always remember to learn from the mistakes of the past. Students jotted down the points of Mr. Roth's story that they found especially thought-provoking and meaningful.
Junior Haley Brown was one of those deeply moved by Mr. Roth's visit. "He made his story more relatable to us by being light-hearted and telling us not to take anything for granted," she said.
Prior to departing, Mr. Roth was asked to sign every copy of "Bondi's Brother" at Huntington High School "so we will always have a very personal and special reminder of his visit," Ms. Lomabardi said. "The students from both classes were moved by his words."