Paul Calvert heard Ruth Zaks story

After three month, we were moved to Auschwitz. At this time we knew that they burned the bodies, we could see the chimneys. When we arrived on the train we never believed that we would ever leave this place. We were 300 women in a barrack, we never went out to work and all day long we were in the barracks and did our needs in a hole in the ground. We were allowed to get out twice a day to wash our face.

They tried to make us animals. They shaved off our hair and took everything we had and took us to the showers. There we waited to see what would come out of the tap would it be water or would it be gas. After we had showered they gave us wooden shoes. They were like Dutch clogs and it was very cold. They brought us coffee in the morning and then soup to lunch, which was water with nothing and dry bread. We were young, so we sang and used black humour. We wanted to live so we entertained ourselves to be happy.

We didn't believe that we'll get alive out of there, but then after three weeks, all of us from the 'list' were moved to Czechoslovakia. We were put on a train. It was Schindler's train to Czechoslovakia. The wife of Schindler was a very good woman and she gave us something to eat. We were now free and we were in Czechoslovakia. We worked there in the factory.

When the war was over Schindler had to run, he didn't know what would happen to him. The Russians were coming and he had made friends with the Germans. There were three people in a car that took him and saved him.

After the war, every year the people rescued by Schindler met up with him and celebrated together.

Paul: You would say that Schindler saved your life?

Ruth: Yes, definitely. He saved 1200 people. Oscar Schindler was very good with the Jewish people, they were good in business and he utilized it. On the other hand he became a good friend with the German officer and utilized them as well so he could help the Jews.

Paul: What number were you on the list?

Ruth: I was 131 on Oscar Schindler's list. I had luck, just luck. When Russian release us they organised train to people who wanted to go back to Poland. I went back by train to Krakow and there heard that my father died two month before the war was ended. I was still young and had no target so I decided to join young group which helped me to get to Israel.