How the Holocaust impacted the Wagowski family:

From 1933 to 1945 there were 11 million Jews living in several European countries who were targeted for complete annihilation by the Germans.  By the end of World War II, the Holocaust had killed 6 million Jews.  That is equal to 2 out of every 3 Jews.  One of those families who lost 6 out of 11 members of their family in the gas chambers was my family, the Wagowski family.

The following were the Wagowski family from Lodz, Poland:

Jacob Leib Wagowski (born 1872), my grandfather, died in the gas chamber January 28, 1942

Esther Rose Wagowski , my grandmother, died in the gas chamber January 28, 1942

My grandparents, named above, had 8 kids who were my aunts and uncles as shown below;

Dora Wagowski, my aunt, died in the gas chamber January 28, 1942

David Wagowski, my uncle, died in the gas chamber January 28, 1942

Chana Wagowski, my aunt, died in the gas chamber January 28, 1942

Shmiel Wagowski, my uncle, Did not survive the Holocaust

The following were the survivors of the Holocaust;

Rushka Wagowski/Rose Faland, my aunt, was liberated with her husband Isaac (Ignash) Faland my uncle, after surviving 5 years in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Faigela Wagowski/Fela Kirk-Cornhandler-Goldkind, my aunt, escaped to Russia with her baby Saul and survived

Saul Goldkind, my cousin, along with his mother Faigela Wagowski (above) survived

Max Wagowski, my uncle, escaped to Russia and survived

Chawa Wagowski/Eva Gruszecki , my mother, escaped to Russia and survived.

 By Jacob (Jack) Gruszecki

 

If you would like to add your family history, please write to histories@bnaishalomnorth.ca