In the annals of Holocaust history, there are countless stories of tragedy, loss, and unimaginable suffering. But amidst the darkness, there are also tales of incredible resilience, courage, and the indomitable human spirit. One such story is that of Gabi Goslar, a young Jewish girl who survived the horrors of the Holocaust along with her sister Hannah.
Though her life was cut short, her legacy endures as a testament to the strength of the human will to survive against all odds.
Who was Gabi Goslar?
Gabi Goslar, born Rachel Gabriela Ida Goslar on October 25, 1940 in Amsterdam, was the younger sister of Hannah Elisabeth Pick-Goslar. Tragically, Gabi never got to know her mother Ruth, who died giving birth to a third child in 1942. The baby also did not survive.
At just two years old, little Gabi found herself caught in the maelstrom of World War II and the Holocaust. She and Hannah would be the only members of their family to make it out alive. The sisters endured imprisonment in the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Later, they narrowly escaped death on the “Lost Train”, a harrowing journey on which many perished from starvation, exposure, and disease.
Gabi showed remarkable resilience for such a young child. Somehow, she managed to hold on long enough to be liberated along with Hannah in 1945 when Gabi was only five years old. The fact that she survived at all is a miracle, given the appalling conditions and death rates among children in the camps.
Early Life and Family Background
Before the war upended their lives, the Goslar family lived a normal middle-class existence in Amsterdam. Gabi’s father Hans was a teacher, while her mother Ruth cared for the children at home. The family was reform Jewish and well-integrated into Dutch society.
All that changed with the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1940. Anti-Jewish measures were enacted swiftly, and the Goslars found themselves facing increasing persecution and hardship. In 1942, Hans was rounded up and deported to Westerbork transit camp. From there he was sent to Auschwitz, where he perished.
Ruth was left alone with two small daughters and pregnant with a third child. When she went into labor, the Nazis refused her medical care. Both Ruth and the baby died as a result. Suddenly orphaned, four-year-old Hannah and two-year-old Gabi were sent to the Jewish nursery, a waystation for children destined for the camps.
In 1944, the sisters were deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany. There they faced starvation, disease, abuse, and the constant threat of death in the severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. That Gabi survived at all at such a tender age is astonishing. Most young children perished quickly in the camps.
Holocaust Experience and Survival
In early 1945, as the Allies closed in, the Nazis hastily evacuated Bergen-Belsen, sending prisoners on brutal train journeys to other camps. Hannah and Gabi were crammed into an open coal car with little food, water, or shelter from the elements. Many died on what became known as the “Lost Train”.
Barely alive, the sisters were finally liberated by Soviet forces in April 1945 near Tröbitz, Germany. Gabi was severely malnourished and ill. The five-year-old weighed only 19 pounds. Both girls required extensive hospitalization to recover.
With no surviving family to return to, Hannah and Gabi emigrated to Israel (then Palestine) to start new lives after the war. Gabi spent her remaining years in Israel, a living testament to survival against the odds. She passed away in 2017 at age 77.
Though her life was marked by unimaginable tragedy, Gabi Goslar’s story is also one of extraordinary resilience in the face of evil. That she and her sister emerged from the Holocaust alive, forged new lives, and even found moments of joy and meaning is a triumph of the human spirit. May Gabi’s memory be a blessing and an inspiration to us all.
Gabi Goslar’s Memoi
In her memoir, Gabi shared her firsthand experiences during the Holocaust. At only 4 years old, Gabi and her 7-year-old sister Hannah were sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. They endured unimaginable hardships there for 14 long months.
Gabi recounted the inhumane conditions, constant hunger, and loss that surrounded them daily. Her memoir serves as a vital testimony to the atrocities committed and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through her words, Gabi ensured the world would never forget.
Connection to Anne Frank and Legacy
Gabi’s sister Hannah had been Anne Frank’s close childhood friend in Amsterdam before the war tore them apart. In the Bergen-Belsen camp, Hannah and Anne were briefly reunited, able to speak through a barbed-wire fence. It would be their final meeting before Anne’s tragic death.
This connection to Anne Frank became an important part of Gabi’s life story as well. By sharing her own experiences alongside her sister’s memories of Anne, Gabi helped keep Anne’s legacy alive. She provided a personal glimpse into Anne’s life and the impact of the Holocaust on so many innocent lives.
Post-War Life and Contributions
After being liberated from the “Lost Train” that evacuated Bergen-Belsen, Gabi and Hannah returned to Amsterdam. They slowly rebuilt their lives, carrying both sorrow and strength from their past. Eventually, the sisters moved to Israel to start anew.Throughout her life, Gabi continued to share her story, ensuring the memories and lessons of the Holocaust were never forgotten. Her voice joined with other survivors to educate future generations. Gabi’s contributions helped preserve history and honor those who were lost.
Conclusion
Gabi Goslar’s life story is one of survival, resilience, and the power of remembrance. From her heartbreaking childhood losses to her harrowing experiences in Bergen-Belsen, Gabi’s memoir offers an unflinching look at the Holocaust’s impact.
Her connection to Anne Frank through her sister Hannah added another layer to her already significant role in preserving history. Gabi’s post-war life and contributions ensured that her story, and the stories of so many others, would endure to inspire and educate generations to come. Her legacy reminds us to never forget and to always strive for a more just, peaceful world.
