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Above Left: Standing-Alex Kor and Rina Kor; seated-Michael "Mickey" Kor and Eva Kor.
Above Right: Eva Mozes Kor. 

Second-Generation Survivor: Alex Kor

Second Generation Survivor trip to Auschwitz, January 2005

Alex Kor, son of C.A.N.D.L.E.S. founder Eva Mozes Kor, went on a group trip to Auschwitz in January of 2005 for the 60th Observance of the Liberation of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

On Monday, Jan. 24th, my mother (Eva Mozes Kor) and approximately 33 others  (including a BBC reporter, a BBC cameraman, two film makers from Chicago, a Channel 2, NBC/WTWO reporter, several high school and college students, teachers, and "yours truly") boarded a LOT /Polish Airline plane bound for Krakow, Poland.  Over the next nine and a half hours, the anticipation of the upcoming trip did not allow me to sleep.  Although I have been to Auschwitz in 1985 and again in 1995, each trip has been unique and presented certain challenges.  There were three other survivors on the flight and my mother managed to chat with all three. 

Around 12 Noon (e.g. local Poland time) on Tuesday, Jan. 25th, we landed in Krakow.  In the baggage claim area, a 5’7" grey haired man in his 60s stood with an ORBIS sign  (e.g. travel agency).  I asked him if he was waiting for the  “Eva Kor party" from USA and he said 'Yes" he was the tour guide for our group and his name was Ludwig.  He reminded me of a Polish, 5'7", Vincent Price look-a-like figure.  After our group boarded the coach-bus, we left the Krakow airport and made the 45-60 minute trip to Auschwitz II.  As we were approaching the camps, Ludwig announced that we would have to  "pick up" the Auschwitz museum tour guide.  My mom said that she could be the tour guide (e.g. based upon her experiences). Nonetheless, we picked up the Auschwitz Museum tour guide and stopped at Auschwitz II.  Our first destination was the famous guard tower at the front of the camp.  My mom and the tour guide provided general information about the camp then we proceeded to the selection platform. The selection platform is the area where Dr. Mengele either sent new arrivals to the gas chamber or to live. This is also the location where my mother (and her twin) were pulled out of her mother’s arms.  Typically, when my mother tells this story; she always cries and when my mother cries, I do as well.  After my mother recalled her horrific story, many photos were taken and the group then moved onto the girl’s side of the camp.  We saw the barracks where my mother was processed  (e.g. given her Auschwitz number) then went into an actual barracks.  It should be mentioned that the snow and the cold weather really makes one think how difficult it was to survive. Obviously, our group was very well dressed and still very cold. I often ask my mother, ”How could you survive the cold weather and the snow without proper clothing?”  She typically tells me that she does not know.  It is my assumption that she had to  "block out” the cold weather. At this point, we walked  (in 6“ of snow) to the area of the camp where the Mengele Twins lived (e.g. It no longer exists as the Nazi’s burned it down.). From here, we walked to the back of the camp, to the ruins of the crematorium. At this time, my mother gave an interview to BBC News.  Ludwig stayed to listen to every word of the interview. The remainder of the group walked  (e.g. about one-half mile) to the bus. When Ludwig returned to the bus with my mother, he seemed to be a  "different person". He said, "Alex, your mother is amazing. How can she even think about forgiving?"  As we started our journey to our Krakow hotel, he took the tour bus microphone and told the group about his discovery.  He started referring to my mother as, "Lady Eva"; the members of our trip enjoyed his humor. That night, we checked into the hotel, went to dinner and got ready for the second day.

Day  #2 - Jan. 26th (Wednesday)

We ate breakfast  @ 8:00 AM and left the hotel  @ 9:00 AM.  During our one-hour trip to Auschwitz I, Ludwig was in "rare form”.  His knowledge of Eastern European history in combination with his occasional singing and jokes made the trip very enjoyable.  He continued to refer to my mother, as “Lady Eva” and I became known as "Doctor Alex”. We arrived at Auschwitz I and immediately saw an 18-minute film  (Russian liberation tape that shows my mother’s actual liberation on Jan. 27, 1945).  At the conclusion of the film, there was NOT a dry eye in the small theater. It really put in perspective what had happened here some 60 years ago.  At this time, we began to tour a few of the barracks (which have been converted into museums). About 10:30 AM, my mother and I left the group to join the   BBC cameraman and reporter.  For about 60 minutes, my mother and I walked the grounds and discussed  (on a microphone) the happenings during my mother’s stay in 1944 and 1945.   Just prior to lunch, my mother  "bumped into” a child of survivor who has overheard my mother speak. He stated that he is still not  "dealing well”.  At 12 Noon, we ate lunch. My mother was interviewed by SKY News  (from the UK) and by BBC Radio, then, the group with my mother and the Auschwitz Museum tour guide went to the Gas Chamber at Auschwitz I. At this site, my mother asked a member of our group  (e.g. a high school student from Germany) what her thoughts were regarding her trip. In front of our entire group, she related that she felt very ashamed of her native country" and was sorry for what had happened. My mother then told her that she should NOT feel ashamed and was very proud to be in her company. I wholeheartedly agree with my mother. At this time, each member of our group lit a candle for a family member  (or for the occasion) and a display of about 40 candles lined one of the ovens. The KADDISH  (Jewish prayer for the Dead) was chanted. Then, a  "Passing of the Torch Ceremony” took place. This was actually my idea and I felt that some type of ceremony needed to formally  "pass on” the responsibility of telling the stories and lessons (e.g. learned from the Holocaust) to my generation and future generations. I believe that this is my role. All members who participated later signed the document.  As we were leaving the Gas Chamber, something quite unique and special happened.  We were gathering to re-enact my mother's liberation march between the barbed wire, a Ukrainian survivor who spoke no English joined our group. Via Ludwig, we found out that he also has forgiven the Nazi’s.  In addition, he wanted to dance with my mother  (between the barbed wire).  He walked with a bad limp but one could see the joy in his spirit and the fact that he was happy to be free.  The remainder of the group was very tired and VERY COLD. So, via Ludwig and the bus, they returned to the hotel in Krakow (e.g. which took 2 hours instead of one because of the traffic  & snow). My mother and I went with the BBC reporter and cameraman to Auschwitz II to the scene of the  "selection platform” for additional filming.

Day #3 - Jan. 27th (Thursday)

This is the day of the anniversary celebration and we were told that traffic would be a major problem in Krakow and in Auschwitz. So, after eating breakfast, a portion of our group went with Ludwig and a Krakow guide to tour the Jewish section of Krakow. In so doing, we went to the Schindler factor  (from "Schindler’s List") and stuck our head in a Jewish restaurant where the former Speaker of the Knesset (AKA.... Speaker of the House) was eating and briefly chatted with us. Also, we learned that the pre-WWI Jewish population of Krakow was 65,000 and now in 2005 it is only 200  (e.g. THIS IS NOT A TYPO) confirmed Jews in Krakow.

At about 10:30 AM, our group divided in 3 (e.g. going by train, not going to Auschwitz and going via the  "Press Bus") and went to Auschwitz II.  Compared to Tuesday, Jan.  25th, the traffic and number of media was much worse.  Upon getting credentials and entering the camp, we went to our designated areas. I found my mother in the section of survivors (e.g. there were about 2,000 Auschwitz survivors present) and joined her there.  From about 2:30 PM until 5:00 PM, we mainly sat and listened to one speaker after another speaker. Unfortunately, I have NEVER been so cold and I simply cannot comprehend how my mother and the others survived in similar conditions 60 years ago. Wrapped in blankets and coats, and drinking  "anything warm”, we listened to the Polish, German, and French speakers.  I only recall one English-speaking orator. Within 2-3 hours, I thought that I was getting frostbite so I started to walk between my mother and the remainder of the group checking on people (and trying to stay warm). At the time, it seemed that most of the survivors seemed to be doing OK. But Feb.1st, my mother was told that several survivors were in hospitals in Eastern Europe suffering pneumonia and other ailments from being exposed to the cold for so long. In a lot of ways, it seemed that  (unfortunately) the 2,000 survivors were being used  (for an audience) and the presentations were not planned with their well being as the top priority.  At about 5:15 PM, our group was getting cold and tired. So, we made our way to the Press Bus.  I had volunteered my mother to do a  "Live BBC interview".  Unfortunately, the BBC continued to wait and analyze the ceremony, so she did not get interviewed. In effect, she left the press area and I walked her to the bus. After allowing the "heads of state” to leave, our bus left Auschwitz II. Because, all of the smaller streets and highways were blocked, we had a very swift and uneventful trip to our hotel in Krakow.  Tired, but much warmer, we ate dinner and looked forward to our journey to Warsaw on Friday, Jan. 28th.

Day  #4 - Jan. 28th (Friday)

 At about 9:45 AM, we boarded our bus and started our 3-4 hour bus ride to Warsaw. Ludwig again provided excellent entertainment. At one point, he asked me, "Dr. Alex, do you want me to keep on talking on the microphone?"  "Of course, I do Ludwig", I replied. So, for a better part of 3-4 hours, he provided us with a very humorous, but exact history of Poland and Eastern Europe.  Midway, through our trip to Warsaw, we stopped at a McDonald’s. (e.g. yes, the burgers tasted the same as they do in the U.S.A.).  Once we arrived in Warsaw, we checked into our beautiful hotel. The two filmmakers from Chicago, my mother and I went to another hotel to meet the organizers of the Eustory (see: http://www.eustory.org/) Conference that we were all attending that night. The remainder of the group went on a tour with Ludwig.  At about 5:30 PM, we met for dinner at our hotel and left  @ 6:40 PM for the Eustory Conference. Eustory is a Polish –German organization that brings college/ university students from over 20 countries together to discuss international conflicts. And, tonight’s topic was forgiveness. The film  ("Forgiving Dr.  Mengele) by the two Chicago filmmakers which is the story of my mother’s life and how she arrived at forgiving Dr. Mengele was to be shown  (e.g. NOT 100 % completed) tonight.  Upon arriving at the Institute of Journalism, there were about 200 people waiting on us.  An unknown gentleman provided some opening remarks and introduced the film.  From the opening scene, I was riveted and "broke down” several times. Most people think that I get emotional because of the nature of the subject matter or that seeing the death and despair causes me problems. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. From the time I was a little boy, I have heard ALL of my parents’ stories and never was, in any way, adversely affected.  But, I truly did NOT think that the rest of the world would be impressed with my parents’ remarkable history. So, what brings me to tears is the audience’s response to events in my life, my sister’s life, and my parents’ lives that are accurately portrayed in this not-yet completed film. At the conclusion of the film a panel discussion consisting of the two filmmakers, my mother, myself, and an academic historian discussed the origin of the film, the idea of forgiveness, and then took questions from the audience.  Incidentally, Ludwig told me that he would stay for only a portion of the film, because he had a 90-minute commute to his home.  At the end of the panel discussion (e.g. 2 hours after the film started), Ludwig was still in the audience. A reception followed where I presented my mother with flowers in celebration of her upcoming birthday (e.g. Jan.  31st).  We then walked back to our hotel and got ready for our trip back to the USA in the AM.

Day  #5 - Jan. 29th (Saturday) -

We boarded our bus  @ 9:30 AM and made our way to the airport.  Once at the airport, we all bid farewell to our great tour guide, Ludwig. The only thing significant that occurred at the airport was that the WTWO reporter took the liberty to interview a few of us in the terminal. In the midst of interviewing my mother, two security officers stopped the taping and attempted to take the tape. Once  "order was restored and cooler heads prevailed", we waited for our upcoming 10-hour flight back to Chicago

Reflections:  

I hope that my detailed account was not lengthy.  But, as you can see, we were kept busy. I do not know how other children of survivors feel after they leave Auschwitz. But, this was my third trip. In  1985, I made my first journey to Auschwitz with about 30 Mengele Twins and some of their children. It was unique because it was my first time that I went to the place where my mother had last seen her parents. But, in a lot of ways, I felt that I had already been to Auschwitz. Because of all of the stories that I had heard as a child, it seemed that I had an innate sense of what to expect. Then, in 1995, we went to Auschwitz with Dr. Munch and his family. Because, my Aunt Miriam (e.g. mother’s twin) had died in 1993 and because the Mengele Twins from Israel did not agree with be-friending a former Nazi Doctor, there was NOT much interaction between our group and those from Israel.  Obviously, Dr. Munch’s participation ignited my mom’s search for emotional freedom and thus forgiveness. And, now, in 2005, our group   consisted of people from  "all walks of life” including students, teachers, a podiatrist from Chicago, retirees, etc.  Moreover, this unique group and their incredible interest in my mother and her story reinforced to me that important lessons can and should be learned from the Holocaust. To ignore the past is wrong.  To attempt to learn from this terrible chapter of history is in no way justifying the Holocaust  (e.g. which I   heard recently on PBS's   series  "Auschwitz:  inside the Nazi State"). This negative attitude should NOT be passed on to future generations. Rather, as my parents taught me, one should always  "look on the bright side" and try to make a  "positive” out of every  "negative".  Thus, I always leave Auschwitz with my head  "held high" and look forward to my next trip back.

The "Return to Aushwitz" DVD is available at the C.A.N.D.L.E.S. Museum for a cost of $20.00.