Holocaust, Nazi Germany survivor shares life story

by Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/29/2014 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Members of Team Seymour and the local community filled Heritage Hall to pay tribute and recognize Holocaust Remembrance Day during an event on base, April 28, which featured a Holocaust survivor who shared his journey from oppression to freedom. The event also had a museum arrangement displaying important documents, photos and pieces of literature central to the Holocaust experience.

Alfred Schnog talked about daily experiences living under a Nazi regime, his parents' resilience in protecting their family, and the uncertain train ride from Germany to Holland, which led to his family's eventual freedom.

"Growing up in that environment, I didn't know anything else," he said. "We accepted what it was. As children, we wanted to take part in the things going on--things we were excluded from. There was nothing different about growing up in Germany that there was about growing up in America, except for the hate from many of the German people."

Schnog described how as a child his family was standing in a small town square; one side of the railroad was Holland, the other side was Germany. They were on the verge of crossing the border to their new home in Amsterdam when they were stopped to undergo a Nazi customs inspection.

"There were two Nazis in uniforms," Schnog explained. "They looked at our father and said, 'You and your wife can go, but your children, we are going to take them to a camp nearby, and when you come back you can collect them.' When my identical twin-brother and I heard that, we were upset. We started to cry and scream, 'No, we don't want to go. We want to be with our parents.' We yelled it out loud and made quite a commotion. So my mother pulled out a paring knife and looked those two in the eyes and said, 'Our children are coming with us, and if you attempt to stop us, I'm going to cut their throats right here and then I will cut mine.'"

Schnog said he didn't think for a moment that she would actually carry out her threat. He said he was more concerned about being separated from his parents.

"The Nazis took a minute to think and then said, 'Take your brats and get out of here.' I would like to think it was my mother who saved us that day," Schnog said. "If not for her, we would have wound up somewhere dead in Germany."

But Schnog and his family found their way to Amsterdam, where they enrolled in school and learned the Dutch language.

One day the family received a fortuitous telephone call from the American consulate. The console official told Schnog's family they would be given a visa to travel to the U.S.

"We had won the lottery, and that lottery was worth more to me as I look back than any other I could've won, even for a billion dollars. There's nothing that can compare to coming to the United States," Schnog said. "It was so important to us at that time. And today, I appreciate it more than ever."

Schnog added how important it is to get his story out to people around the world.

"It's out of gratitude and remembrance for the family I've lost in Germany in those concentration camps," said Schnog. "Giving them the honor of telling their story and having it heard here in America is very important. It enables me to give back so that we don't forget the things that have happened in the past."

Master Sgt. Jennifer Walton, 4th Fighter Wing equal opportunity NCO in-charge and event coordinator, said the event is intended to remember both the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

"It is important we glean from the tragedies to never repeat them again. Today we remember not only the sacrifices, but also the victories, resilience and strength of the Jewish community," Walton said.

Members in the audience said it was quite an experience to hear first-hand the horrors Schnog and his family faced living in Germany during that time.

"[This was] an extraordinary event," said Roy Heidicker, 4th Fighter Wing historian. "To actually hear the personal story of a child and his experiences are amazing. It really brings it home and makes us appreciate how horrible the Holocaust was."

Schnog said that members of his family, together with many Jewish people were transported to concentration camps where they lost their lives.

"I was one of the really fortunate ones," Schnog said. "To be able to get out of Germany and escape by the skin of my teeth, just as the doors closed behind me. And I am forever grateful for that."