A Virtual Discussion with Oscar Singer, Holocaust Survivor

Oscar Singer survived two concentration camps and labored in four others in Poland during World War II. He was imprisoned from ages 14 to 20. He will share his life story with the help of his daughter, Lee.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 7:00-8:30 PM

Oscar Singer

2020 Rabbi Gedalyah Engel Lecturer
Survivor, Cook, Business Owner

Oscar Singer was a young man in Radomysl Weilki, Poland, when the Nazi's invaded and occupied Poland in 1939. He, along with other residents of Radomysl Weilki, were forced to labour for the Nazis. In 1941, he was assigned to labour at the Mielec Airplane Factory and required to live in barracks. The Jews that remained in Radomysl Wielki were taken away by the Nazis and killed. He was later transported from Mielic to the Wielicka Salt Mine as forced labour.

In mid-1943, Oscar, along with one of his brothers, was transferred to the Krakow-Plaszow Concentration Camp where he and his brother continued to work in slave labour. He was moved around during this time between Chujowa Gorka, Auschwitz, and Plaszow Concentration Camps. In 1945, many at Plaszow were forced to walk to the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. On this 2-3 week journey, Oscar's brother Abraham perished. In May 1945, the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp was liberated by the Soviet army. Oscar was then sent to the Landsberg Displaced Persons Camp near Munich in the American zone.

In 1951, Mr. Singer emigrated to the United States, to Denver, Colorado, where he started his career working in packing houses and grocery stores and eventually saved enough money to start his own businesses, first opening an Italian Drive-in in Littleton and later starting a catering company. In 1956, he met his wife Elaine and had two children. They now have several grand and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Singer, now 94, will speak about his experiences during the war and afterward.

USC Shoah Foundation Institute testimony