Children in Auschwitz – the dark heart of a dark history. Either deported with their families to Auschwitz or born there under unimaginable conditions, only a few survived. And those that did bore lifelong scars of their suffering, both on their bodies and souls. Their prisoner numbers, tattooed on their forearms or legs, grew with them. Auschwitz is ever-present. The pain is ever-present. Day and night, horrific memories remain: their separation from parents and siblings, the segregated children’s barracks, the inhumane experiments conducted upon them, the constant hunger, their longing for family, for a warm bed, for security. Upon release, many no longer knew their names, their ages, their origins. Nearly all were orphans. For many years they could trust no one, were forced to economize all their strength, were full of fear. How does one learn to live again after Auschwitz?

Over the course of decades Alwin Meyer patiently sought out the children of Auschwitz, listened to them with great empathy, and finally gained their trust. Many revealed to him for the first time details of life in the concentration camp, of a childhood where dying a natural death was unconceivable. They spoke with Meyer of all that cannot be forgotten, of that which they would rather leave forever unsaid. As if speaking for them all, one reveals: “No matter how far you run, Auschwitz never leaves you or your family in peace.”