Join us for a conversation with Gershon Willinger — a Holocaust survivor, veteran, retired social worker and educator.
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 1 p.m. (EST)
The Canadian War Museum is proud to partner with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies to bring you a conversation with Gershon Willinger — veteran, retired social worker and educator — as he shares his unique perspective as a young child survivor of the Holocaust.
Born a Jewish refugee in Nazi-occupied Holland in 1942, Gershon was an orphan before he reached his first birthday. He does not have many direct memories of the Holocaust and he never knew his mother or father; in desperation, they had given him to a Christian family to keep him safe soon after his birth. Unfortunately, his Jewish identity was soon revealed to the Dutch police. Gershon was removed from his foster parents and transported to a series of concentration camps. In the summer of 1945, he was liberated by Russia — his earliest memory is of Russian soldiers giving him candy.
On November 17 at 1 p.m. (EST), we invite students and educators from across Canada, as well as the public, to participate in a special virtual program. Gershon will recount his incredible story of resilience during the Second World War and share his experiences as an orphan in the immediate aftermath of war-torn Europe. He will also answer questions during a Q&A session toward the end of the program. The program is free, but space is limited, so we encourage you to register soon.
In English with simultaneous translation in French.
Photo at top of page:
Courtesy of Gershon Willinger