No matter how many years pass, my memories of the Holocaust will never fade

patil were an ordinary family, and our worlds were torn apart by ordinary men Susan Pollac

- SUSAN POLLACK

" Seventy-eight years have now passed since liberation, but no matter how much time passes, the memory of my experiences in the Holocaust

never fade. My name is Susan Pollack, and I am a Holocaust survivor.

I was born Zsuzsanna Blau in 1930 in Felsogod, Hungary. I had one brother, Laci, and a large extended family who we regularly spent time with and who taught me how to cook wonderful Hungarian dishes.

From a young age, I became aware of rising antisemitism in my hometown. From 1938, antisemitic laws came into effect and restricted the lives of my family and me. My uncle was murdered by fascists, but his attacker was only given a two-year sentence.

My brother wanted to study at university, but a new law restricted the number of Jewish students in higher education institutions at a maximum of 2 per cent.

After the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, I began to see antisemitism everywhere. There was anti-Jewish graffiti on walls and shop windows, and antisemitic propaganda on the radio. Physical attacks also became more common, and Laci was badly beaten at a scout meeting.