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All But My Life
Gerda Weissmann

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2.“There by the brook, thinking and crying softly, I bade farewell to my childhood. Then I walked toward the house, not the front entrance, but the side where the bedrooms faced. I did not care whether I was caught or not, I had to see my beloved home once more!” Ch. 10 pg. 75

Gerda and the rest of her family have been ordered to leave their home in 1942. The Germans forced the Jews to move to the ghetto near the railroad terminal. In this quote, Gerda is trying to take in the last moments of her childhood home. She knows that this will most likely be the last time she ever swings on her back swing and picks flowers in the garden. These are some of the last moments before her life changes forever.

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3.“Papa and Mama wanted me to eat all of the orange, but finally they each accepted a section. Later I learned from the Kollander’s that Mama had given a valuable ring to obtain the orange. It was the last birthday gift I was ever to get from my parents.” Ch. 12 pg 82

This quote shows the significance an orange was to a young Jewish girl being forced to live in the ghetto with her family. The fact that her mother traded a valuable ring for an orange shows the horrible conditions the Jews were forced to live in. It is amazing how meaningful a piece of fruit was to a young girl on her birthday. Knowing that she shared pieces of the orange with her parents shows how much she loved and appreciated them. So many people take for granted the gifts they are given from their parents.

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Gerda and Kurt Klein describe liberation

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In this short video, Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein and her husband, Kurt Klein, share their experiences of liberation and meeting for the first time. Gerda was born to a Jewish middle-class family in Bielsko, Poland. In 1942, she was deported to work in a textile mill in Bolkenhain, Silesia.

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5. “And there, through the night, through the stars, through the sky, through the leaves on the trees, through the magic of life itself, I felt my cry answered. Wherever Kurt was his thought was mine. I let the joy that rose to my heart take possession of my being.” Part 3 Ch. 4 pg 246

This quote shows the love Gerda has for Kurt. Even though she survived horrible things in the camps, she is still able to love. She finally feels genuine joy and happiness again. This quote shows the love Gerda has for Kurt. Even though she survived horrible things in the camps, she is still able to love. She finally feels genuine joy and happiness again.

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1. “I want your promise now’, he said. ‘I promise you Papa,’ and in years to come, when death seemed the only solution, I remembered that promise as my most sacred vow.” Ch. 5 pg. 32

This quote is significant to the story because Gerda is still living at home with her family. They have recently heard of a family who committed suicide together. Gerda starts to wonder if this would be a good solution for her family as they are unsure of how long they will all be together and living at home. I think this quote was critical to Gerda’s will to live in the concentration camps throughout the story. Gerda made a promise to her father and she stuck to it.

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4.“As I look back now, trying to recall my feelings during those first hours, I actually think there were none. My mind was so dull, my nerves so worn from waiting, that only an emotionless vacuum remained.” Part 3 Ch. 1 pg 213

This quote is significant because it shows the trauma Gerda has endured throughout the years. Even though her and many of the other women were saved, they were still very unsure of what was going on. Also, their bodies were so ill that they may not have been able to process what was really going on. It took some time for Gerda to understand that she was truly safe and that the war was over.

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Gerda Weissmann is the Author of All But My Life and she was born May 8, 1924 in bielsko Poland. Gerda and her husband became advocates of Holocaust education and human rights, dedicating most of their lives to promoting tolerance and community service

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Gerda Weissmann and President Barack Obama

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Gerda Weissmann and President Barack Obama

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Here is Gerda Weismann, the fifteenth citizen to receive the Medal of Freedom. The Medal of Freedom is said to be the highest civilian honor. Gerda Weismann was awarded the medal on February 15, 2011. Gerda is a strong holocaust survivor.

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Holocaust Survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein

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Holocaust Survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein on winning the Medal of Freedom from President Barrack Obama. Produced by Deirdre Hamill/The Arizona Republic