What would you take with you?

Ruth Rack (nee Landesberg) learned reading, writing, sewing, knitting, embroidery and crochet as part of her schooling. She hated school, suffering terrible antisemitism. At the age of eight, she was expelled along with the other Jewish students. Three embroidered pieces, made by her at school in 1934, were packed in her suitcase when she left Leipzig, Germany on the 'Kindertransport'.

Ruth recalls that her home life was religiously observant and that they “lived very happily” as a close family. Her father Bernhard was a chazzan (cantor) at their local synagogue and a businessman. Ruth’s mother Anna took care of the children at home.

Ruth’s father was arrested after 'Kristallnacht' in November 1938. He was released for a few days in December, during which time Ruth and her family attempted to leave Germany by going to the Polish consulate. They were unsuccessful. Ruth’s parents secured visas for the Dominican Republic, however, Anna refused to leave Leipzig until her husband returned and her children were all safe. Later in 1939 Joseph Borg, a family friend, arranged papers for Ruth and her brother Bob to escape on the 'Kindertransport' via the Netherlands. Eleven-year-old Ruth and thirteen-year-old Bob left on 3 May 1939. They never saw their parents again.

Ruth’s father was taken to Sachsenhausen concentration camp where he was murdered in June 1940. Her mother was first incarcerated in the Leipzig 'Judenhaus', then deported to Belzec extermination camp on 10 May 1942 where she was murdered.