Michael Jacobs Sees His Home Invaded

A Holocaust survivor captured during the 1939 Invasion of Poland. Michael Jacobs, spoke of his experiences and insights to Tecumseh Middle School students on May 18. “I never lost hope. I never lost belief. I knew I would survive,” Jacobs said.

 

Sept 1, 1939 - Michael Is Captured

14-year-old Mendel Jakubowicz (Michael Jacobs) and his family were thrown out of their home and transported by railroad boxcar to a ghetto in Ostroweic, Poland.
 
 

Jews Forced To Do 'Unholy Acts'

Jews left their babies behind, hoping a righteous gentile would adopt them, but Jacob was sent to search for the babies. Jacobs said. “We took the babies to a tall building. They were thrown out of the windows for German soldiers to shoot.”

Jacob's Family

In 1942,. his two other brothers, two sisters, and his parents were sent to the Treblinka death camp. “Two, three months later, we heard they were all killed,” Jacobs said. More than 80 members of Jacobs' extended family died during the war.
 

Jacob's Train To Auschwitz

The smoke from the chimneys made the sky go black, even the train had to slow down. In 1943, 17-year-old Jacobs was moved to the infamous death camp, Auschwitz.

“I remember being relieved getting out of the boxcar. The prison orchestra played for us. But, the air smelled of smoke and burnt human skin,” Jacobs said.

A Stare From Mengele

Jacobs noticed a man in a white coat watching the prisoners get off the train. He would point at certain people and they would be led away from the others.

 

Jacob Sabotaged Messerschmitt Fighters

Jacobs survived Auschwitz and was moved to Birkenau prison. He was a part of the 35 kilometer, 5 day death march in the snow to the train junction leading to Mauthausan-Gusen II. Sixty thousand people began the march. Forty-two thousand people died or were killed along the way.

During his imprisonment at Gusen II, Jacobs worked as a machinist. When possible and at extreme risk to himself, he sabotaged German planes.

 

On May 5, 1945, American tanks rolled into Gusen II.

The 70 lb Jacobs and his fellow inmates were liberated by the American Thunderbolts, the Army's 11th Armored Division.