The Baby Born in a Concentration Camp

Eva Clarke - Born in Mauthausen Concentration Camp

On Wednesday 26th November I had the honour of listening to Eva Clarke, who shared with me, and a room filled with fellow Regional Ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust, her truly unbelievable survival story. Unfortunately her mother Anka Bergman passed away last year but there is still a way we can hear from her for ourselves.

In 2013 the BBC made a short documentary film about their incredible story where Anka gets to tell us for herself, how she survived. I never fail to be blown away by the humble and tender nature of holocaust survivors, having been through and seen so much of humanity's darkest hours. Anka turned up on her cousins doorstep after the war, babe in arms and desperate. The film is a wonderful testament to Anka and those who took her in as she can no longer hold back the tears at how grateful she is for their kindness.

It does have its short falls. There is a lack of original archive. The image of young Anka is used too often and the story is driven by interviews rather than interviews being added to help contextualize the piece or add to it's impact. The film looks to have had a tight turn around and for that reason, I find it hard to fault the rest of the film. It would have been nice to see the two contributors together though. They are talking about a story that concerns them both, and concerns their love and respect for each other, but we don't get to see them together beyond the opening shot. That would have added to the film I think. 

Anka Bergman - gave birth unaided whilst weighing approx 5 stone

Documentary aside, Anka is an incredible woman. To have given birth twice within the 4yrs she suffered under Nazi persecution, and to have survived Theresienstadt, Auschwitz AND Mauthausen, whilst barely 5 stone and giving birth unaided to a 3 pound baby. It really was a miracle that both Anka and Eva survived to tell us the tale for themselves, and tell it together.

Eva Clarke, is a really wonderful lady too. She sat among the circle of Regional Ambassadors with the Holocaust Educational trust to listen to our plans for 2015: the 70th anniversary year of the liberation of so many camps, including the infamous Auschwitz. Eva shared that she was almost moved to tears as we, who are all under the age of 26, shared our plans for preserving her mother's memory and so many others. We share a very close relationship with survivors of the holocaust and 2015 is our chance to show them all how grateful we are that they share their stories with us and how committed we are to ensuring that they are not forgotten. Documentaries like this one, can only help us in our aims to embrace 'Keeping the Memory Alive' (the theme of this year's holocaust memorial day - which coincidentally is the week of Eva's 70th birthday and the 70th anniversary year of the liberation), as we try to increase the resources available and ensure that in the coming years, as the survivor community lessens, that their stories and lessons are carried forward.

You can watch the film here:  

If you are interested in hearing more holocaust survivor testimonies, please watch my film 'After Auschwitz' here: https://vimeo.com/101650543

And please visit: http://collections.ushmm.org/search/