Holocaust survivor Mano Hollenreiner reflects on his childhood memories of his familyâs brave resistance against the Nazi SS in Auschwitz in 1944. At just 10 years old, he witnessed his father and other Sinti and Roma prisoners prepare to fight against the impending threat of being sent to the gas chambers. Faced with horrific conditions, they armed themselves with makeshift weapons and successfully resisted initial attempts to transport them, highlighting the fearlessness and unity among those determined to survive. Ultimately, this act of resistance saved many from imminent death, showcasing remarkable courage during unbearable times.
"They had been in the military, they weren't afraid. Together, they defended themselves against imminent transportation to the gas chambers in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp."
"Even as a child, you understood that they got the message, that this time the people would fight back. The guards knew that a few of them might lose their lives in the attempt to squash the resistance."
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