Midwest Center for Holocaust Education

09/22/2026

Today we recorded the testimony of Ralph H. who told us about his birth in Shanghai, immigrating with his parents to the United States, and growing up in a German-American home.

09/15/2026

September 14, 1942 | The commandant’s office of KL Auschwitz submitted a request for authorization to make an official trip by car to Łódź and back in order to “visit the research station for field furnaces.”

The actual destination of the trip was the Kulmhof extermination center for Jews in Chełmno on the river Ner, and the so-called “research station for field furnaces” referred to a complex of pits used for the incineration of victims’ bodies.

It appears that the purpose of the trip was the difficulties encountered in constructing such burning pits near the Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp, where cremation of corpses had so far proceeded too slowly or remained incomplete. Therefore, Commandant Rudolf Höss decided to familiarize himself with the techniques already being applied by the SS men in Kulmhof, who had relevant experience in this area.

On the same day, the SS Main Economic and Administrative Office issued authorization for the departure of six vehicles (five trucks and one es**rt vehicle) from Oranienburg to Auschwitz. The vehicles were intended for carrying out “special actions,” that is, transporting Jews from the ramp to the gas chambers.

🎧 Our podcast discusses how the Auschwitz concentration camp acquired its second function—as a center for the extermination of Jews: https://youtu.be/tK4swdQlRL4

(In the picture: Rudolf Höss and Heinrich Himmler at Auchwitz in July 1942)

09/14/2026

Interviewing Steve R. today as he fondly recalls his loving home and growing up with the New Americans kids.

09/11/2026

We are grateful for the support of our volunteers (only a few of whom are shown here) who fanned out across Kansas City delivering Rosh Hashanah goodie bags to the survivors. Challah, mandelbrot, apples, and honey to help them bring in a sweet new year.

09/10/2026

We recently visited Gitla to celebrate her 99th birthday and help facilitate this conversation about her life for the The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle.

Since 1920, the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle has provided its readers with Jewish news and opinion from a variety of perspectives — local, regional, national and international. The paper is mailed to subscribers each week and also is available for purchase at The Chronicle’s office.

09/08/2026

Our third interview in the Second Generation Testimony Project was with Allen G. who shared stories about his childhood growing up with the New Americans - learning how to play poker and about Treblinka sitting on his dad’s lap around the card table on Saturday nights.

09/04/2026

Continuing our Second Generation interviews today with Mary C. who spoke passionately about her role in preserving the legacy of her family history.

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Today we launched our Second Generation Testimony Project - recording the first interview with Joyce H. reflecting on her life and how it has been impacted by being the child of a survivor.

08/19/2026

He buried the truth so the world could find it.

The N***s forced Henryk Ross from his home into the Łódź ghetto along with thousands of other Jews. There, he worked as an official photographer for the authorities.

Henryk used that position to secretly document the hunger, disease, and death around him, risking his life to do so. As the ghetto was being destroyed, he buried thousands of his photographs, hoping they would survive even if he didn't.

After the war, he dug them back up. The images became undeniable proof of what happened.

Photo: Yad Vashem