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  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
  • Chapter 17
  • Chapter 18
  • Chapter 19
  • Chapter 20
  • Chapter 21
  • Chapter 22
  • Chapter 23
  • Chapter 24
  • Chapter 25
  • Chapter 26

 

Zareby Koscliene

THE EXPERIENCE OF ZAROMBER IN FRANCE
DURING THE GERMAN OCCUPATION

By Pinkhas Shlafmitz

Emigration from Zaromb to Paris began in the 1920's, though it is hard to say exactly when the first Zaromber set foot on French soil.  The first to flee to Paris was Zilke Fredman who came in 1920.  Avreme Migdal came in 1925.  Soon more Zaromber arrived.  The "Landsmanshaft" of Zaromber in Paris was formed in 1937.  Our goal was to have some unity among the Zaromber who lived separated from each other in the large city and rarely saw each other.  We wanted to get together from time to time, to feel closer, to discuss what was on our minds, to reminisce about our common past and to seek concrete ways of helping ourselves.

Before the war broke out, there were 25-30 Zaromber families living in Paris.  At this opportunity, I want to give the names of the first organizers of the "Landsmanshaft." They were Abraham Migdal, Pinkhas Shlafmitz, Mendl Bolender, Sholem Migdal and Motl Rodzhinsky.  The chairman was Eisenberg, Dinah Itcheles' brother.

At the start of the war, a number of Zaromber served in the French army, some of them as volunteers.  Mayer Raykhman, Israel Migdal, Shmuel Mankute, and Motl Ruzhansky were taken prisoner by the Germans.

Most of the Zaromber Jews of Paris were deported to the death camps where they perished with the millions of other Jews.  We wish to remember the names of these martyrs: Preyde Rokhelkatz, and Yankev-Moyshe's daughter, the Warsaw shoemaker's son and his wife.  By a miracle, their 13 year-old son survived.  Esther Migdalls husband Hershl, Yolke's son-in-law, was deported but a child of theirs survived.  Zilke Fredman, Khayim Yankells son, perished but his wife and young daughter survived.  Zalmen Fredman and his wife perished but a young daughter survived.  Dinah Tomkevitch, Khayim-Yankells daughter, Brener, "Lomen" Khayim's son-in-law, Moyshe Migdall's wife, Eisenberg, Dina-Itcha Yolke's brother, and his wife and 86 year-old mother.

By some miracle, a few returned from the concentration camps.  They were Avreml Migdal, Leybl Eisen, Izak Tsher Vonagura, Mendl Tshervonagura, and Pinkhas Shlafmitz (myself) who spent almost 2 years in a concentration camp, but escaped from there and joined a partisan group.  Also, Sholen Miadal, who was arrested twice, but by some fortunate circumstance succeeded in staying alive.

After the liberation, the few remaining Zaromber survivors, the exhausted, broken remnants of whole families, got together.  We found we had not lost our courage and have continued our work.  Our main concern now is the distribution of aid which we receive from our American "landsleit" for the orphans, the widows and those who were left without a roof over their heads.