The extraordinary lives of three of the Holocaust’s youngest survivors reveal a profound story of resilience and survival against unimaginable odds. Eva Clarke, Hana Berger-Moran, and Mark Olsky were born to mothers who concealed their pregnancies in Nazi concentration camps, allowing them to escape the fate that claimed millions during World War II.
Clarke was born on April 29, 1945, as a train arrived at the Mauthausen concentration camp, where over 95,000 prisoners perished. This moment occurred just a day after the last gassings at Mauthausen and shortly before Germany’s surrender. Reflecting on their narrow escapes, Clarke stated, “Had the train arrived on the 26th or 27th, none of us would have survived.” Today, all three survivors are 80 years old, sharing a bond forged in the horrors of their early existence.
Love Amidst War
Clarke’s mother hailed from Czechoslovakia, as did Berger-Moran’s mother, Priska. Olsky’s mother, Rachel, was from Poland. Their families initially faced the devastation of Nazi occupation, with Jews forcibly relocated to ghettos and subsequently sent to camps. Olsky’s parents spent the war in the ghettos of Warsaw and Lodz, while Clarke’s parents were incarcerated in Terezin, where she was conceived in violation of camp regulations.
The three women, all pregnant in 1944, found themselves at the infamous death camp Auschwitz. Pregnancy was punishable by death, yet they managed to endure horrific conditions, give birth, and keep their newborns alive against all odds. Berger-Moran’s parents even discussed baby names during their journey to Auschwitz, fully aware of their destination.
Upon arrival, families were brutally separated. Many, including mothers and young children, were sent directly to gas chambers. Those selected for labor, including the mothers of Clarke, Berger-Moran, and Olsky, faced further torment as they were stripped and sent to overcrowded barracks.
Survival Against All Odds
The pregnant women were forced to endure humiliating inspections from Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. During a selection, Berger-Moran’s mother was questioned about her pregnancy. According to author Wendy Holden, who chronicled their stories, all three women sensed the danger and denied their condition, managing to escape immediate death.
They were subsequently sent to a labor camp in Freiberg, Germany, where they worked long hours manufacturing parts for German fighter planes. Living on a meager diet, they cleverly concealed their pregnancies beneath loose-fitting clothing taken from women who had perished. Clarke noted that her mother became increasingly gaunt yet remained undetected until their liberation was imminent.
As Allied forces advanced in early 1945, the women faced the grim prospect of being exterminated along with other prisoners. On April 12, Berger-Moran’s mother went into labor on the factory floor, watched by guards who wagered on the baby’s gender. Just days after the birth, they were loaded onto a train for what was termed the “death train,” intended to transport them to a location where they would be executed.
During their harrowing 16-day journey, the women endured extreme deprivation. Clarke recounted a moment when a passing farmer offered her mother a glass of milk, which she believed saved her life. Olsky’s mother, who was just under 70 pounds and nearing delivery, found herself in dire circumstances, but against expectations, Olsky was born on April 20, coinciding with Adolf Hitler’s birthday.
Clarke’s mother gave birth as they arrived at Mauthausen, witnessing the beauty of spring blossoms amidst despair. Remarkably, the gas chambers had ceased operation just one day before their arrival. The mothers and their newborns survived the chaos, awaiting liberation.
A New Beginning
A small unit of soldiers from General George Patton‘s 11th Armored Division liberated Mauthausen shortly after their arrival. When Berger-Moran’s mother spotted a soldier with a red cross on his helmet, she urgently sought help for her ailing baby. That soldier, Leroy “Pete” Petersohn, provided immediate assistance, and Berger-Moran was treated for infected sores. Petersohn later revealed to his son that the use of penicillin, then a new medication, played a crucial role in her recovery.
In the aftermath of liberation, the three mothers and their children faced the daunting task of returning to their former lives across Europe, searching for lost family members. Tragically, the fathers of all three children had perished. While Clarke and Olsky’s mothers remarried, none of the women had more children, resulting in the three survivors growing up as only children.
Berger-Moran’s mother later encouraged her to find the medic who had saved her life. Years later, she successfully contacted Petersohn, and in May 2005, they reunited, allowing her to express her gratitude. Their bond deepened, with Berger-Moran affectionately referring to him as “Daddy Pete.”
Clarke also reached out to the 11th Armored Division, discovering Berger-Moran’s story and arranging a meeting at Mauthausen shortly after their 65th birthdays. Olsky’s son, seeking a birthday gift for his father, stumbled upon Clarke’s family photo on the division’s website, leading to a reunion among the three survivors.
Their first meeting in May 2010 allowed them to share their stories, compare their experiences, and honor their mothers’ legacies. They participated in annual commemorations at Mauthausen, reaffirming their bond throughout the years.
Today, the three survivors, who now share a sibling-like connection, have collectively raised 11 grandchildren. Clarke reflects on their intertwined lives, stating, “My mother occasionally would say, ‘And in the end, we won.'” As they continue to honor their past, their remarkable stories of survival and resilience serve as a testament to the human spirit’s enduring strength.
