Jozsef Struhl

This photo of my brother, Joska or Jozsef Struhl, was taken around 1939 in Bucharest. Joska was born in 1907. He finished elementary school there, in Gyergyoszarhegy, after that he went to another school. I don't know the reason why they sent him away; if I remember correctly, they sent him to Lippa in the Banat region. He went to a high school there. My brother Joska became an architect; he attended a three-year school of architecture in Csernovic, then moved to Marosvasarhely, and got married there. They deported my brother Joska from Marosvasarhely, together with his family. Gyurika, their little son was six years old, when he was taken away. His wife and the child were sent to the gas chamber immediately. Joska, just like us, was left to live. My cousin, Jeno Lobl, who survived as well - his parents were killed, he and his sister Hedike survived - was together with Joska in Auschwitz, he told us after liberation that he was in deep despair, and Joska kept comforting him. The barbed wire fences were electrified, and whoever grabbed it, died. Some people committed suicide there, this cousin of mine wanted to die as well, because he couldn't stand it anymore, and my brother Joska encouraged him not to do so. Then they were transferred, my cousin got to a work camp, like us. But I don't know where Joska was taken. This cousin of mine survived, and came home; now he lives in Canada with his family.