Alter Wiener speaking to former South Salem principal Lara Tiffin and current South Salem teacher JoyAnna Forsythe. Photo courtesy of Lyn Mellon.
For 14 years, Alter Wiener visited Salem-Keizer district high schools and hosted an assembly for ninth graders. During these visits, he tells his story as a survivor of the Holocaust. Six years ago, in December of 2018, he passed due to a car accident, but his story lives on and continues to inspire students.
Alter’s Childhood
Alter grew up in Chrzanów, Poland, with his father, stepmother and two brothers. He lived in a comparatively wealthy household and attended public school six days a week. His family had deep roots in their religion and often prayed and studied the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses.
The Turning Point
The self-proclaimed “turning point” of Alter’s life was when German soldiers brutally murdered his father. In 1939, the German army invaded Poland, causing most of the residents of Chrzanów to flee. Alter, accompanied by his stepmother and two brothers, fled in a horse-drawn carriage. His father, who had to provide provisions for the Polish army, was left in Chrzanów. Once they returned, his father was missing and later found dead and partially decayed in a pit, along with 36 other victims.
Over time, the German army began to take control of Poland. They slowly restricted Jews from doing certain things and required them to wear armbands with a blue Star of David (which later became a yellow Star of David). Alter was banned from attending school and the Third Reich destroyed their synagogues. Alter’s brother, Shmuel, was taken from his home by the Nazis. In June 1942, Alter was forcefully taken from his home, leaving behind his stepmother and little brother. He never had the chance to say goodbye.
Blechhammer
After suffering the inhumane conditions of the cattle cars, Alter arrived in Blechhammer, Germany. On his second day there, Alter discovered his older brother, Smhuel was alive. The inmates had to sleep in small barracks, packed together, and they did not have the proper tools to maintain good hygiene. The food was scarce and bland, with the main ingredient of the bread being sawdust. Often, Alter could see other groups marching, each adorning a triangle of their representative color.
“Every Jew was a victim, but not all victims were Jews. This was not a mere manifestation of anti-Semitism; it was a manifestation of anti-humanism.” -Alter Wiener said in“From a Name to a Number.”
Brande
In October 1942, Alter was transferred to Brande, a small camp that held an estimated 800 Jews. During this time, the authorities forced him to work on a major German highway. The trek back and forth in the cold caused him to suffer from frostbite, from which two of his toes never fully recovered. After two months, he was again transferred to a different camp called Gross Masselwitz.
“I do not think I could have lasted longer in that ephemeral hell, called Brande.” -Alter Wiener said in“From a Name to a Number.”
Gross Masselwitz
In Gross Masselwitz, Alter was placed in a textile factory with other German workers. Although they were not permitted to speak to the detainees, a German woman left Alter a sandwich every day. Two pieces of white bread, and a slice of cheese. This act gave Alter hope and strength physically and mentally. He says in his book, “From a Name to a Number”, that this German lady’s actions stayed with him. He said she shapes his personality and way of thinking and the memory of her reminds him to stray from stereotypical thinking.
Waldenburg
After passing through another camp, Alter arrived in Waldenburg. In this camp, his name was officially erased and then known by the five-digit number, 64735. In March 1945, Alter’s weakness prevented him from working, and the authorities sentenced him to be liquidated. He was transferred to yet another camp, where he stood in line for disinfection, only to later learn that those who underwent disinfection were simply gassed. As he waited, a Nazi approached him and shouted at him to get out of line, saying he would “still work and expire at work.”
Liberation
On May 9, 1945, a Russian tank arrived at the gates of the camp. Despite not understanding the Russian language, the prisoners knew the Germans had lost and they had been freed. Alter recalled many of the liberators enacting revenge, but he knew that he could never have hurt anybody even if he had the strength. He recalled his father’s slogan, “Hate hatred, and shun violence!” and a verse from the Torah: Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge.”
“I was grateful that the Germans did not succeed during the Holocaust in debasing my inherited values which were instilled in me during the formative years of my life. The Nazis damaged my constitution but could not break it.” -Alter Wiener said in “From a Name to a Number.”
Returning Home
After his liberation, Alter returned to his hometown, Chrzanów, only to be rejected entry to his former home. With a small group of survivors, Alter began his journey to the promised land of Palestine. He served in the Israeli military after it was officially proclaimed a state. Eventually, he fell in love and married a woman named Esther. In 1956, Alter and his wife had their first child, Mordechai, and four years later he and his family departed for the United States of America. From then on, despite facing the challenges life presents, Alter lived the rest of his years free.
Lessons to be Learned
Alter Wiener’s story has inspired hundreds of people and will continue to inspire many more. Whether through his book, “From A Name To A Number”, or through stories others tell. He left us with many lessons to learn.
“Be better, not bitter. Be grateful for what you have. Don’t let the bad things that happen to you, change who you are.”
