Inge Auerbacher was born in a village in southwestern Germany in the area her family had lived since the early 1600s. Jews and Christians had lived together peacefully until the Kristallnacht attacks on Jewish people in November 1938. Four years later, Auerbacher and her parents were among those rounded up by the Nazis and sent to the Terezin, or Theresienstadt, concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Seven-year-old Inge arrived at the camp, clutching her doll, Marlene. Of the 140,000 people sent to Terezin, Inge Auerbacher and her parents were among the few who survived.
Following liberation, Auerbacher and her parents immigrated to the United States. Before completing her education, she battled tuberculosis caused by the malnutrition she suffered in Terezin. She worked for over 38 years as a chemist. Since 1981 she’s been writing and speaking about the Holocaust and working to promote tolerance and human rights. Her books include I Am a Star: Child of the Holocaust. In it she writes that her hope, wish and prayer is for every child to grow up in peace without hunger and prejudice.
Inger Auerbacher discusses her experiences during the Holocaust this evening at the University of Sioux Falls. Her talk begins at 7 pm at the Jeschke Fine Arts Center.
