Arek Hersh Research Paper

Arek Hersh Arek Hersh was born in Poland in 1929. He was brought up in a Jewish family. His family was always very close. He went to a Jewish elementary school, and mixed middle school. Jewish people in Poland were scared, especially after the 'Polenaktion' of 1938 where Germany expelled many Polish Jewish citizens across the border.
In September of 1939 Germany Attacked Poland. Arek and his family had to leave their home, friends, and old lives behind to live with family in Lodz. They had to walk about forty-two miles to reach Lodz. It took them three days. Arek said he remembers seeing parts of the German military that was far more advanced and diversified than the polish army. He said German soldiers would stop Jewish men just to embarrass them.
In 1940 Jewish people had to start wearing the star of David on the clothes. This was to mark them and alienate them. Soon after that they were forced to live in ghettos where people were crammed in tight …show more content…
The remaining population was sent to Auschwitz including the 185 children from the orphanage. When he arrived a doctor was picking who would go to work and who would die. Arek didn’t realize this at the time but he knew the healthier people were in the other line; so using his instincts he jumped in that line when he got a chance. He was forced to leave all of his clothes and belongings behind. Arek was shaved, showered, given a striped suit, and had the number B7608 was tattooed on him. He was now referred to by his number instead of his name. After a few weeks Arek was put into a block of political prisoners of different nationalities. This was good for Arek because here the food was a little better and so were the conditions. He was an agriculture worker who plowing fields and fertilizing them with human ashed from the crematorium. He said he can remember feeling bones in the ashes. He later worked as a fisherman catching fish to be sent back to