The Wheels of Memory: Growing Up With a War on My Shoulders

Sonia was nine years old when Kristallnacht ended her childhood. Her father and older brother escaped to Belgium and Sonia’s mother arranged for her two remaining children to escape to Antwerp by train. Sonia, in charge of little brother, Max, kept inspectors from checking their non-existent passports. Later, in 1940 she created a life for the two of them in France, then organised moving to Antwerp while her mother was hospitalised. She also lived as a Christian in a convent. Fortunately, there was Harry Kempler, with whom she shared a remarkable love story, though with a sudden, tragic ending.