Holocaust survivor speaks to Westside SS students
October 19, 2017
ORANGEVILLE, Ontario – On October 17, Elly Gotz visited Westside Secondary School to speak to students about his life and his experience as a survivor of the Holocaust.
Born in 1928 in Kovno, Lithuania, Gotz survived World War II and the Holocaust. In 1941 when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, Gotz and his family were placed in a ghetto. Eventually the ghetto was liquidated and Gotz was taken to Dechau concentration camp where he was forced to work in a German factory called Moll. During this time he built an underground factory. Fortunately, at the end of the war in 1945, Gotz was liberated. After the war, he lived in Germany, Norway and South Africa where he received a good education.
Now living in Canada, Gotz and his wife have made it their mission to collect over 400 Holocaust survivor stories in order to educate and make sure that an event like the Holocaust never happens again.
While visiting Westside SS, Gotz spoke to grade 10 students about his survival in German concentration camps and what it was like being forced to work for the Germans. To conclude his visit at the school, Gotz spoke to grade 12 students about war crimes and the justice process.
Students learned the importance of hearing stories like Gotz’s and took away very impactful messages about surviving and the importance of remembering the Holocaust.
Holocaust survivor Elly Gotz speaking to Westside SS students
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