Holocaust survivor shares story, message on combating hate

Holocaust survivor Martin Lowenberg (Supplied)

Eighty-one years have passed since the Kristainancht took place in Germany and Holocaust survivor Martin Lowenberg can still see the synagogues burning.

Lowenberg will share his story during a special program tomorrow, Nov. 13, at the Kent District Library – Wyoming Branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The program is from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Lowenberg was a young boy when the night of Kristalnacht, also called “Night of Broken Glass,” took place in Germany Nov. 9 to Nov. 10, 1938. Starting in the late hours of Nov. 9 and continuing on into the next day, Nazi mobs torched or otherwise vandalized hundreds of synagogues throughout Germany along with thousands of homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and cemeteries. Nearly a 100 Jews were killed during the violence.

Shortly after Kristallnacht, Lowenberg and his family, which included his mother, father, two older sisters and twin brothers were separated and sent to concentration camps. It was the last time he would see his parents and twin brothers, all of who died at Auschwitz. His twin brothers were six at the time. Lowenberg spent his teenage years living in five different concentration camps during World War II.

Along with telling his story of life in Nazi Germany, Lowenberg will share his compelling message of combating hate.

For more information about the program, visit the Facebook page or www.kdl.org.