Gorlice, Poland

Moses and Adela Balsam had five children: Danny (b. 1923), Gitel (b. 1925), Sanek (b. 1927) Hersch (later Harry b. 1929) and Joseph (b. 1930). Moses Balsam was a miller. The family was Orthodox and Moses was the warden of the synagogue.

“In the morning we used to go to elementary school and in the afternoon to cheder. We were brought up speaking two languages, Polish and Yiddish. We were quite well off by local standards. My father was a miller, and we had plenty of flour to bake our own bread. For the Sabbath we used to bake challahs, and if I remember correctly we used to take challahs and give them to our relations living in the same town. I thought we were quite comfortable, but thinking about it today I don’t suppose we were quite as comfortable as I really thought” – Harry Balsam testament. To read the full testament click here.

When the Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939, the Balsam family tried to flee. They loaded as many belongings as they could onto their horse and cart and went to the station. Moses and Danny Balsam boarded a train as the rest of the family threw up their belongings up to them. Then without warning the train started moving away. Moses and Danny were unable to jump off. Adel and her children tried to catch the train at the next station but failed.

Moses and Danny went to the Soviet Union where they spent the war working in a mine.

Adele and her children were forced to move from their home into the ghetto that was established in Gorlice in 1940. They had to share two rooms, with five other families.

Sanek Balsam was murdered in front of his brother Hersch. 

Adela, Gitel, and Joseph were taken to Bełżec extermination camp, where they were gassed.

Hersh Balsam survived slave labour and came to the UK as part of the First Group of the Boys. To find out more about his life click here.