From a Name to a Number: The Narrative of Alter Wiener
Alter Wiener (born Abraham Alter Wiener) (October 8, 1926 – December 11, 2018) was born in Chrzanów, Poland and lived a quiet and traditional life with his family until at a young age he was deported from his home by Nazi officers in the middle of the night. Alter was then enslaved for three years in five forced labor and concentration camps. When liberated by the Russians in May 1945, Alter weighed eighty pounds and was burdened with many health issues. He was also the only survivor of his immediate family and lost almost his entire extended family in the Holocaust as well. After the war, Alter moved to Palestine and eventually to New York to live close to his surviving cousins.
When he relocated to Hillsboro, Oregon in 2000, the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center asked Alter to share his story. He spoke to thousands of Oregonians about his experiences, making nearly 1,000 appearances at schools, libraries, churches, conferences and charitable events. On December 11, 2018, Alter Wiener was struck and killed by a car while crossing a street near his home in Oregon.
When Alter Wiener relocated to Hillsboro, Oregon in 2000, the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center asked Alter to share his story. A Holocaust survivor who had never spoken in public before, Alter hesitated at first, because of his Polish accent and limited vocabulary, but decided to give it a chance. Between 2000 and 2018, Alter had a chance to speak to thousands of people and received thousands of letters from those who heard his story. After listening to Alter speak, it's hard not to be grateful and forever thankful that we here in the United States have been spared such an experience. Alter had no idea that when he shared his story with the world, he would have such a positive impact on his audiences. His hope had been to simply inspire those listening to his story or reading his autobiography to combat racism and prejudice whenever it appeared and with whomever it threatened. As Alter explains in his book, "The Holocaust was indeed a Jewish tragedy but also a tragedy for the entire civilized world to let it happen - an indelible human shame."
Alter's story, hidden history that has remained long forgotten, is the story of a young Jewish man who made it through the Nazi flames of hell & later used tragedy to teach individuals and societies the true meaning of love and forgiveness.
For the rest of Alter's story, please check out the audio link provided for EPISODE TWENTY-ONE of our podcast, Hidden History: An Odyssey Through Time
LISTEN NOW: From a Name to a Number: The Narrative of Alter Wiener
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From left to right: Mordechai Wiener, Mr. Gross, a family friend; and Shaul Tilles, Alter's mother's brother, Krynica, Poland, late 1930s (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Mordechai, Alter's father, is listed number 23 of 37 victims, 10 unknown. On September 11, 1939, Mordechai Wiener, and thirty-seven others, were randomly picked up by the Germans and shot.
15 year old Alter, November 1, 1941. He was unaware a neighbor took this picture. The only pre-war personal photo in his possession. Pepka Singer, a neighbor who survived the Holocaust, gave it to him (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter Wiener on the day he was liberated by Soviet soldiers, May 9, 1945 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter & a fellow Holocaust survivor, June 10, 1945 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter Wiener, June 15, 1945 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter Wiener wearing his camp uniform, August 15, 1945 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter & Pepka, a friend, in Katowice, Poland, August 15, 1945 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Rivkale, a girl Alter met in Italy, & Alter, April 14, 1946 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter's release papers from the refugee internment camp outside Haifa, July 7, 1946 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Rina (girlfriend) & Alter, June 10, 1948 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter, January 18, 1948 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter on a motorcycle at Second Divisional Headquarters, October 1948 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter at Second Divisional Headquarters, October 1948 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Deborah, a girl Alter met in Austria on his way to Palestine, and Alter, May 9, 1949 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Discharge paperwork from Israeli military, June 15, 1949 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter in Tel-Aviv, August 4, 1950 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter and Esther, who he met in March 1951, on their wedding day, March 19, 1952 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter and Esther, sometime in 1953 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter's diploma from elementary school, May 1961. Alter attended school at night to earn this (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter's diploma from high school, 1962. Alter attended school at night to earn this (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Here are just four of the thousands of letters Alter Wiener received after he starting telling the world his story in 2000 (photo courtesy of Alter Wiener).
Alter poses with two Sherwood High School students during a visit.
Alter Wiener, c. 2007-2008.
Claire Sarnowski (left) and her mother Carol give Holocaust survivor Alter Wiener double kisses on the cheek, September 2018.
The following videos, Part 1 and Part 2, form an interview that Alter Wiener gave to Dr. Veronica Esagui in 2012:
Forced labor played a crucial role in the wartime German economy. German military, SS, and civilian authorities brutally exploited Jews, Poles, Soviet civilians, and concentration camp prisoners for the war effort. Many forced laborers died as the result of ill-treatment, disease, and starvation.
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