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Laura Hillman (nee Hannelore Wolff)
Laura Hillman (nee Hannelore Wolff) was born in Aurich, Germany. She was the third of 5 children born to Karoline and Martin Wolff. -
Period: to
i will plant you a lilac tree, a memoir of a Schindler's list survivor
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The beginning of World War II
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Japanese attack Pearl Harbor.
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Lubin, Poland
The Wolff family arrived in Lubin Poland. This was the first camp that she went to. Her family shared a room with another family. The ss women took all their valuables. Momma was assigned a job at the lamp factory, Hannelore worked for a ss family babysitting. -
Belzyce
This is the second camp that Hannelore was taken to. She was separated from her mom and brothers at this time as well. Hannelore was not trained as a nurse but she worked in the infirmary. Her brother Selly was taken to this infirmary after he was beaten and Hannelore took care of him. -
Hannelore was sent to Krasnik
This is the place that Hannelore was sent from the infirmary because she was hiding in the corner and the Herr saw her. He told her he needed her to com to Krasnik with him. She did not know what he was going to do to her. She started working in the front office at the camp's reception desk. She was soon deported because he thought she "knew" something. -
Budzyn
Hannelore arrived to Budzyn by train. After arriving at Budzyn Hannelore came eye to eye with a Jewish soldier, she could see the same sadness in his eyes that were in her eyes. She also met a girl named Fella and they became best friends sharing everything between them. Hannelore fell in love with the Jewish soldier, his name was Dick Hillman. Fella soon fell in love with a German soldier. Fella never returned and Hannelore found out that she was beaten to death because of her love for him. -
Wieliczka
Hannelore was cattle prodded off the train cattle cars in Wielickza, home of the Polish salt mines. She was told the work here was going to be very hard, however, Herr Liebholt requested her to be his maid for his mistress. She had to carry hot water up three flights of stairs to fill her tub. Fraulein Liselotte did not like Hannelore, she thought she was too slow. She was dismissed and sent to work in the salt mines. -
Plaszow, Poland
After arriving in Plaszow Hannelore's beautiful long black hair goy cut very short. Hannelore found Dick Hillman a few weeks after she arrived here. He gave her the news that she was on Oskar Schindler's list and they would be leaving soon. -
Auschwitz
When Hannelore left Plaszow, she and several others were thinking they were going to Oskar Schindler's factory in Brunnlitz, however when the iron bars where lifted and the train doors opened they knew they were not in Brunniltz. They found out they were in Auschwitz. She thought to herself that this was the place that had been described to her as the worst hell hole on Earth. Her head was shaved and she was issued black and white striped clothing, she truely looked like a prisoner. -
Brunnlitz
In time her hair began to grow back and she liked to play with the small curls. Hannelore and the other "Schindler" list women were finally called and herded into the cattle train to go to Brunnlitz. After arriving and getting off the train they finally met Oskar Schindler. They were fed good food and Hannelore heard the words that Hillman would say to her, she thought it was a dream but it was not. He was there and he was healthy. -
Oskar Schindler Birthday
Oskar Schindler returned to Brunnlitz to celebrate his 37th birthday. In his birthday speech Hillman was telling Hannelore that the Third Reich was soon coming to an end. -
Freedom
This day triggered a memory to Hannelore. Today was her mother's birthday and it was exactly 3 years since they had been deported from Weimar. She thought the lilac tree would be starting to bloom. -
Welcome, our liberator!
A Russian officer on horseback was dismounting to give them the news that they were free, they could walk out of there at any time. -
Laura Hillman
