Interview with Colette Waddell

Through the Eyes of a Survivor: A Living History of Nina Morecki from Pre-WWII Poland to Modern America
Colette Waddell
Topcat Press (2007)
ISBN 9780979151804
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (3/07)

Colette Waddell, author of “Through the Eyes of a Survivor: A Living History of Nina Morecki from Pre-WWII Poland to Modern America,” is being interviewed by Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views.

Juanita:  Welcome to Reader Views Colette.  We are pleased to have the opportunity to talk with you about your book “Through the Eyes of a Survivor: A Living History of Nina Morecki from Pre-WWII Poland to Modern America.” Would you start by telling us what your book is about?

Colette: And thank you Juanita for allowing me to reach a broader audience with Nina’s story.

“Through the Eyes of a Survivor” is quite literally a journey through time wherein both author and subject experience the joy and sorrow of war and all its repercussions. The reader is given a glimpse into the entire life of a Holocaust survivor, so that the story moves beyond the wrenching tragedy so often expressed in this sort of testimony. Like many Holocaust accounts, there exists the very important message of tolerance. However, I also wished to reveal the essence of Nina’s personality, and show how survival shaped her perspective. To do this I included very rich accounts of her life that occurred before and after the war.  

The style in which the story is written is rather unique as well, in that a kind of dialogue exists between the subject, Nina, and myself as the author. By including my reaction to Nina’s tales, both humorous and terrifying, the reader is privy to the very atmosphere surrounding our interviews. This allows for the opportunity to giggle along with Nina as she tells about her first kiss, and then to be gently transported through more horrific events such as the loss of her beloved mother. My hope is that one ultimately comes away from the experience of reading this book with the concept that, with perseverance, any dream may be achieved.

Juanita: When did you first hear about Nina Morecki?

Colette: Our first introduction actually took place at the University of California, Santa Barbara where I was a student of history and anthropology. I believe it was around 1998 when Nina spoke as a living witness for a Holocaust course taught by Dr. Harold Marcuse. We were all entranced by this little Polish lady, and after speaking, Dr. Marcuse asked if I would give Nina a lift home. Well, on the way to her place we instantly connected and became friends. Nina later heard from Harold that I had submitted the life history of a Navajo family as my undergraduate honors thesis, and so she asked if I would be interested in helping to record her story in a similar fashion. I suppose I really didn’t know what I was getting into, but I have to say the process was immensely satisfying.

Juanita:  What inspired you to write your book?

Colette: I have always had a fascination with World War II and the subject of the Holocaust in particular. Countless historians have analyzed this event, and still we are left with the question of why any society would allow the extermination of innocent people on such a grand scale. Since genocide continues to erupt around the world, I don’t believe we’ll ever have an answer to that question. What we can do is look to the testimony that remains from that period of time, and perhaps learn from it.

I read many Holocaust testimonials, and in the end have often wondered, ‘what happened then?’ I was intensely curious to know how these survivors managed to pursue their lives, and what challenges they had to overcome in order to move beyond their Holocaust experience. During our interviews Nina Morecki not only provided first-hand historical detail, but also the answer to some of the deeper questions I had regarding the Holocaust.

Juanita:  How long did you work on “Through the Eyes of a Survivor”?  What type of research did you do?

Colette: Oh, it took much longer than I initially planned. From June of 2002 to March of 2005 I obtained nearly sixty hours of interview material alone. Nina and I would meet up whenever possible and go over portions of her life again and again until I was certain I had all of the details properly recorded. In between those interview sessions I did my research, most of it at U.C.S.B. I wanted Nina’s story to remain accessible to a wide range of readers, and so I steered away from any historical data that might be too dense. I wanted to provide enough information to frame Nina’s story, but not so much that it might distract the reader away from her narrative. This was also why I settled on endnotes as opposed to footnotes. Personally, I have a habit of becoming mired in the extra tidbits footnotes offer, and I realized during my research that once I finally came up for air I’d lost my place in the initial topic!

I focused my research on anything that might bring the reader closer to Nina’s pre and post war environment, and the cultural changes she experienced throughout. I encourage those interested in learning more about this period of history to do their own research. Some very good literature is available on the topic.  

Juanita:  What was Nina’s life like before the war started?  Where did she live, and what do you know about her family?

Colette: On December 24th, 1920, Nina was born in Lvov, Poland. Her parents, Viktor and Rosa Grutz, had two other daughters; Helena, and the eldest Lina, to whom Nina was very close. Viktor ran the family soap and candle making business as well as a mill and dairy farm in the country. Rosa’s deep commitment to volunteer work earned her the respect of many within her community. The Grutz’ were a prosperous and loving family, and live as city-dwelling Jews did at that time. They took great pride in their Jewish culture and faithfully followed those traditions, yet at the same time their very cosmopolitan lifestyle allowed them to assimilate fairly well with their Gentile neighbors. Nina enjoyed summers at the family estate in Soluki, just outside the city limits, and she attended school with the other Polish children at the finest schools. She was an excellent student, and just before the war broke out in 1939 she had been accepted into universities both in Italy and Palestine where she intended to study medicine. Of course, the war changed everything, and by the middle of 1942 Nina had lost her entire family. 

Juanita:  Would you elaborate on how Nina was separated from her family?  How old was she at this time?

Colette: Well, if I tell you everything your readers might not be compelled to read the book! At the risk of giving away too many interesting details I will say that Nina lost her mother, whom she adored, while she was just nineteen. Her father was imprisoned as a capitalist by the Soviets a year before that, and the rest of her family disappeared one by one at the hands of the Nazis until she found herself quite alone with nowhere to go but the ghetto, which officially closed off around early 1942. She was then transported to the local labor camp where she narrowly escaped execution. But that’s another story…

Juanita:  What feelings has Nina conveyed to you about her family having to suddenly fear for their life?  How did she handle the idea of separating at such a young age?

Colette: Nina realized very early on that things were going to be much different once the war began. In spite of a very sheltered and privileged life, she was never one to flinch from the realities of war and the hard work it would take to survive it. Upon the arrest of her father, Nina turned to her mother and proclaimed, “Mama, the good times are over.” She promptly sought a way of supporting her family, and she was surprisingly resourceful in finding work. Her mother had a harder time accepting her new situation; possibly because she and Viktor had so successfully weathered World War I. Rosa never quite came to terms with the loss of her husband, and this might have led to her demise. That sort of apathy oftentimes came over Holocaust victims. Nina experienced this as well, and once interred in the Nazi labor camp she was operating on a very basic level. There were many occasions throughout the war in which she contemplated suicide. She loved her family so very much, and without them there seemed no real point to living. It is nothing short of a miracle that she did manage to survive.

Losing her loved ones left a scar I’m afraid. Even when I speak to her today about her family the pain is clearly very raw. I don’t believe she will ever put it completely behind her.

Juanita:  How did Nina’s life change living with her aunt?  Where was this?

Colette: Nina’s brother-in-law, Bernard, was a very talented physician, and therefore still useful to the Soviets, (and later to the Nazis), during the early years of occupation in Poland. In order to remain accessible to Russian officers Bernard and Lina were allotted a small apartment, however Nina and her mother feared the Soviets would eventually incarcerate them as they had Viktor. As a safety measure Rosa went to stay with relatives in the next town. Nina wished to continue working, and so opted to stay with her aunt Mialcia. Her life at this time was very transient however and even more so once Hitler’s forces pushed the Soviets out and began the massive roundups of Jews. Nina desperately missed her mother and was relieved when Rosa decided to return home. Unfortunately, this was just as the SS began their killing spree in Lvov and other parts of Poland.   

Juanita:  Do you have any numbers on how many Jewish people were living in Poland before the war?  How many didn’t survive?

Colette: Because some records were destroyed in the war, concrete numbers are not available. Using surviving records it can be determined that before World War II, roughly 110,000 Jews lived within a population of 315,000 Lvov citizens. In the mid-1930s numbers of Jewish inhabitants swelled by an additional 100,000 as many fled Nazi persecution in the west. Beginning in June of 1941 some 6,000 Lvov Jews died during various Nazi-sanctioned pogroms led by Ukrainian locals. Another 5,000 elderly and disabled Jews were murdered in the process of creating and sealing the Lvov ghetto. The nearby labor camp processed tens of thousands of Jews as well. They came from other parts of Eastern Europe, and were merely passing through Lvov as part of the SS program that involved transportation of prisoners to more efficient extermination facilities. No clear records exist of how many Lvov Jews died from exposure and hard labor within the Janowska labor camp, however it is known that at least 200,000 Jews were eventually executed when deemed unfit for further work.

By the end of the war thousands of Lvov’s Jews had been slaughtered. Numbers of Jews still residing in the city reached 12,800 by 1989. These numbers dropped considerably after the fall of Soviet rule, and a mere 8,500 remain in Lvov today.

Juanita:  How/when did Nina finally marry and immigrate to the United States?

Colette: Nina fled to Romania in 1944, where she met Josef Morecki, another Jewish survivor, who had been enlisted into the liberating Soviet forces. Compelled to follow his unit to fight in the west, Josef later reunited with Nina in 1945 when they married. Upon arrival at the Displaced Persons Camp in Austria, Josef worked to obtain papers for their immigration to the United States, though Nina would have preferred to settle in Palestine. After a series of illnesses Nina was finally able to travel with her husband to America. They arrived at Ellis Island on May 6, 1947.

Juanita:  Colette, why does Nina want her story to be told?

Colette: Nina feels a great responsibility as a survivor to educate others, particularly young people, about the Holocaust and how tolerance might prevent a similar event from occurring. I also believe that, in a way, the family members that Nina lost come to life every time another person is introduced to the book. On some level this gives Nina comfort and a small amount of closure.

Juanita:  Has Nina commented on what it felt like to be at the receiving end of the worst type of hatred imaginable?

Colette: Yes, Nina’s memories are quite clear on this subject. Just before the war she experienced racism from her peers that left her both shocked and confused, and these episodes are discussed in the book. As the war progressed Nina and her family came under further assault and restrictions. She took a lot of chances with her little acts of defiance against the Nazis’ racist program. She frequently ventured out without the armband identifying her as a Jew, and she was beaten once or twice for daring to question an order from the SS. The random and unwarranted violence against Nina and her people left her questioning her very identity as a Jew. I believe that she came to terms with that after becoming a U.S. citizen. I really think that it was speaking of her experience to young people, however, that truly gave her a sense of self and empowerment over the Nazis. 

Juanita:  Has she forgiven the people who perpetrated such brutalities?

Colette: This is rather a tricky question. She certainly does not blame those younger generations of Germans born into post-war society. However, I don’t know that Nina will ever be able to forgive those who actually hurt her and her family, nor do I necessarily believe that she should. For her own sake perhaps it would be best to put the past behind her; however that is a decision that only Nina, as a survivor, has a right to contemplate. I do believe that Nina has directed her anger toward the Nazis in a positive way by speaking out against racism and educating others about what occurred during the war.

Juanita:  What impresses you the most when you sit down with Nina now, so many years after the war, and hear her stories?

Colette: Nina has certain phrases that she consistently uses which I find charming. One of my favorites is usually uttered when I remind her that she is re-telling a story I have heard many times before. “You see honey,” she proclaims, her finger punctuating the statement, “I am repeating myself. If I were making things up I would not be able to keep the lies straight. So you know I am telling you the truth!” Many Holocaust victims kept their incredible stories of survival to themselves, not only because the past was so painful to relive, but also out of fear that no one would believe the horrible reality of Nazi atrocities. It is very important to Nina that people understand her stories are authentic and her motives to educate entirely genuine.

It never ceases to amaze me how Nina can recite whole decades of her life with clarity and detail. Even now when we discuss the past, the stories are virtually identical to our interviews. Nina’s husband discouraged any discussion of the war years, believing this would alleviate his wife’s pain. I am of the opinion that, because she could not unburden herself from these memories, Nina replayed them again and again in her mind, until finally she was coerced into speaking about them in front of her first audience of high school students. Of course, I continue to be amazed over how this woman endured such tragedy and emerged with her soul, and even her sense of humor, intact.

Juanita:  Where do you think her hope and endurance came from?

Colette: I think that her mother was a very powerful and influential force in Nina’s young life. Rosa taught her daughters to carry themselves with the same grace and strength she exhibited on a daily basis. I also think Nina has a sort of spark inside that refuses to go out even in the most trying situations. I have seen this in others, such as my own mother, and it allows them to soldier on through just about any hardship.

Juanita:  How do the events Nina went through, effect/influence her still today?

Colette: It’s strange how some Holocaust survivors share certain characteristics. Quirky little things, such as keeping bread in reserve, or becoming uncomfortable around people in uniform, make sense when one understands what a survivor has experienced. Trust can be a challenge for Holocaust survivors, and many feel guilty for having outlived their family. Nina has managed to overcome some of these issues, yet she continues to struggle with others.

Juanita:  Has Nina ever commented on the possibility of history repeating itself?

Colette: Yes, Nina is very concerned about racism within the United States and elsewhere in the world that threatens to evolve into genocide. She is naturally very worried about the situation in the Middle East, especially in relation to Israel, a country very dear to her heart. I have tried to tell Nina that prejudice and racism are bred out of ignorance and that with education we might combat the effects of it. Understandably, she becomes frustrated with the idea of, yet again, defending her people and their existence and I cannot say that I blame her.

Juanita:  Nina often goes to schools to talk about her experience.  Why does she enjoy talking to children?

Colette: Nina finds the optimism and intelligence of young people invigorating and inspiring. It gives her hope and a sense of purpose to speak to a group that is willing to hear her story and learn from her experience. Unfortunately, because her voice sometimes gives out with fatigue, she is starting to limit her speaking engagements. The students always write to her expressing their thoughts about her life story and how it has affected them personally. Nina cherishes every one of these letters and takes each one of them to heart.

Juanita:  What is Nina’s mission today as educator?

Colette: She remains hopeful that her story will provide a lesson not only in the importance of tolerance, but also in the value of perseverance. Nina especially wants young people to know that, so long as they work hard and remain focused; absolutely anything is possible in their lives.

Juanita:  Colette, how have you changed over the past 5 years, through your experience of knowing Nina and hearing her stories?  What have you learned about yourself, and how has your perception of the world around you altered?

Colette: I suppose the interview process has taught me how patient I can be. Sitting down for hours and reconstructing someone’s past is a long and complicated task that requires focus and a good amount of empathy. I’ve always thought of myself as sort of restless and easily distracted, so this experience allowed me to tap into mental reserves I didn’t think I possessed.

Naturally working with Nina has given me a different perspective in regard to my own life. I have been extremely fortunate in that I am surrounded by family and friends who love me, and Nina has been the catalyst for me in appreciating them. I also tend to see opportunities within certain challenges, where before I became discouraged. As Nina has always said, when one door closes another opens, and I try to keep that in mind on those days that appear rather bleak.

Juanita:  Colette, what is the underlying message of your book?

Colette: I echo Nina’s sentiments and wish for readers to understand that, if this seemingly insignificant and emotionally battered Polish lady can overcome so many obstacles, then any challenge may be taken on with confidence. At the very least we can learn from Nina’s tenacity, and at the most take to heart her faith in the human spirit.

Juanita:  Colette, I understand that you have a great love of history.  Where does this come from?

Colette: My parents instilled a desire to learn from history at a very early age. My mother told stories about her family and her own past while we sat around the dinner table. And when my father came home from his tours of duty in Vietnam the cycle of telling family history was repeated. We were constantly watching history programs on television, particularly those centered on World War II. My stepfather was part Cherokee Indian and we were very close. He shared with me his interest in Native American History as well as his collection of arrowheads, carved stone and the like. When he passed away my mother married again to a wonderful man who delights in discussion over historical events and the Bible. I have been so blessed to have these influences in my life, and my hunger for history continues to grow because of them.

Juanita:  Do you have any other books planned?  How can readers find out more about you and your endeavors?

Colette: The latest information about “Through the Eyes of a Survivor,” as well as a link that allows the purchase of this book, may be found at www.topcatpress.com.

I am currently involved in compiling the life history of a Navajo family residing in Monument Valley, Utah. This is the continuation of my undergraduate honors thesis, and the project now includes the stories of four generations. This family and my own have become intertwined over the years, and I care very deeply for them. An unexpected and fascinating cultural fusion occurred between us, and I look forward to telling their story, and divulge the lessons we learned from each other. I hope that readers enjoy reading “Through the Eyes of a Survivor” and take interest in the upcoming Navajo story which will be entitled “Shade House Conversations: The Story of an American Family.”

Juanita:  Colette, it has been a pleasure talking with you today.  We appreciate the opportunity to hear about Nina Morecki, and your fascinating book “Through the Eyes of a Survivor.”  Before we depart, do you have any last thoughts you’d like to share?

Colette: Only that I would greatly appreciate any feedback your audience might like to share concerning Nina’s story and how it has been presented. This is my first book, and so suggestions are welcome in learning how to make my next publication both informative and approachable to readers.

Thanks again Juanita. I so enjoyed this interview and your insightful questions!

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