Overview

Helen Stein was born in Strasbourg on 28 December 1930, the eldest of 3 children. When war broke out, Helen and her family were evacuated to the free zone of St-Junien, near Limoges. However, in November 1942, the Germans crossed the line and the region was occupied. Helen and her siblings fled to Switzerland led by Marianne Cohn, who had already smuggled many children over the border to safety. They all had false papers and Helen became Helene Blanchet. Unfortunately, when they were almost at the Swiss border, they were arrested by the Germans. At aged 13 Helen found herself in the Prison du Pax in Annemasse, terrified and looking after her younger siblings. They expected to be killed or sent to Auschwitz. After the war, Helen and her siblings were reunited with her parents. However, none of her mother or father's relatives survived the war. In 1953 Helen married Leo Stein, a survivor from Germany who had settled in Manchester, and they had two children. Helen has never forgotten Marianne Cohn, who died rather than betray her colleagues and the children. Helen's book is dedicated to Marianne. Helen's book is part of the My Voice book collection, a stand-alone project of The Fed, the leading Jewish social care charity in Manchester, dedicated to preserving the life stories of Holocaust survivors and refugees from Nazi persecution who settled in the UK. The oral history, which is recorded and transcribed, captures their entire lives from before, during and after the war years. The books are written in the words of the survivor so that future generations can always hear their voice. The My Voice book collection is a valuable resource for Holocaust awareness and education.

Full Product Details

Author:   The Fed
Publisher:   Manchester University Press
Imprint:   Manchester University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 12.90cm , Height: 0.80cm , Length: 19.80cm
Weight:   0.145kg
ISBN:  

9781526192400

ISBN 10:   1526192403
Pages:   140
Publication Date:   29 April 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

1 My family before the war 2 Childhood memories in Strasbourg 3 Troubled times 4 Smuggling dollars in shoes 5 Kristallnacht 6 Evacuation 7 Life in the unoccupied zone 8 Deportations and occupation of the free zone 9 Two miracles 10 My parents wanted to save us 11 The journey 12 Imprisonment and interrogation in Annemasse 13 Liberated and reunited 14 How my parents survived 15 What happened to the rest of my family? 16 Life in Strasbourg after the war 17 Meeting and marrying Leo 18 Married life 19 Saying thank you to Mr Racine 20 My children and grandchildren 21 Studying and retirement 22 My parents and siblings 23 My message to future generations Glossary Appendix: Marianne Cohn I Shall Betray Tomorrow My Voice volunteers About The Fed -- .

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Author Information

The Fed is Manchester's leading social care charity serving the Jewish community. In June of 2021, The Fed were awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service for the My Voice Project, the highest possible accolade for a voluntary sector group.

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