The Hidden Children
Children are considered the continuation of the Jewish existence, and were the first victims to be sent to their death to ensure the total destruction of the Jewish people.
Hiding places for Jewish children included convents, boarding schools, and orphanages. Moving was a terrifying experience for the children because they were traveling in difficult conditions and to unknown destinations. Children had to be cautious about what they talked about, they could not reveal anything about their past, or family. Most children spent their childhood with strangers and may have moved a lot depending on problems that may have been encountered. Although very young, these children were very concerned about their families, they were not aware of whether or not their families survived the war.
Hiding places for Jewish children included convents, boarding schools, and orphanages. Moving was a terrifying experience for the children because they were traveling in difficult conditions and to unknown destinations. Children had to be cautious about what they talked about, they could not reveal anything about their past, or family. Most children spent their childhood with strangers and may have moved a lot depending on problems that may have been encountered. Although very young, these children were very concerned about their families, they were not aware of whether or not their families survived the war.
The decision to hid ones child is not easy. However, in hard times, a parent must sacrifice their wants for their child's safety.
One form of concealment was physical hiding. Children were hidden in annexes, attics, cabinets, or any other place that would be able to conceal them. These arrangements, although simple, had to made through families, friends or organizations. Some Polish Catholics hid children as an act of resistance, a gesture of kindness, or a way to receive payment. Just like the adults, children could not leave the place they were confined to, they could not run, talk, laugh, or even to the bathroom. The penalty for hiding a Jew could result in death. Informers though, were rewarded and Jews that were exposed were either shot or sent away to concentration camps. |
Another form of concealment was hiding in plain sight. Children took on different names and identities to try and hid their Jewish ancestry. The young girls were much easier to hide because the Jewish boys were circumcised, and so some boys were forced to hid their identity and dress and talk like a girl.
These Jewish children in hiding had to go to church and often mimicked others to hid their ignorance. Sometimes, depending on their age, they never even knew anything about their Jewish ancestry and believed themselves to be Christian or the faith of their new parents. |
After the war, many of the hidden children had trouble adapting to their Jewish faith. Very young children had a harder time because they have no memory of their Jewish life and grew up believing themselves to be Christians.