Holocaust survivor says he's alive because family hid him in Holland
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A Rochester Holocaust survivor said he is alive today because of a Christian family who hid him in Holland as a child. Carl Wetzstein shared his story as a speaker Monday night for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
'One day, a man came to the house. He said, 'I'm here to pick up your son.' He told [my parents] 'You've got to send him with me now. He has a good chance to survive the war,'' Wetzstein said.
Wetzstein said he lived with that family's nephew and attended school and church while he was placed with them. He said his parents survived the war, and they were later reunited.
'My mother came and picked me up,' Wetzstein said. 'I still remember seeing [what looked like] walking skeletons.'
Wetzstein said despite the hardships, he managed to live a relatively normal life under the circumstances. He told News 8 it's important to recognize the Righteous Among the Nations — those that protected the Jewish neighbors like that family did for Wetzstein.
'Of all the horrors with the Holocaust, people have to know that there were people who helped Jews, and risked their lives for that,' Wetzstein said.
Some of those Righteous Among the Nations who risked their lives to help Jewish people have local ties. Guest speaker and Albion High School Assistant Principal Tara Devay highlighted their bravery in her speech, and said it's also important to hear survivors' stories to inspire action against injustice.
'One of the things that survivors have said over and over again, why they speak is so that people will know their stories once they're gone,' Devay said. 'And one of the things I've always said to my students now that you've heard these stories, now it's on you. You heard it. Your job now is to bear witness.'
Those who spoke at Monday's event said they have had many local educators sign up for the Holocaust Educators Network, a program said to provide teachers with the skills they need to make the Holocaust relevant for today's students.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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