Holocaust Survivor Meets U.S. Soldier Who Liberated Her

[Behind the Aegis]

It took several decades, but 90-year-old Holocaust survivor Marsha Kreuzman finally found one of the soldiers who liberated her from the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. The unlikely story of how Kreuzman tracked down Joe Barbella, of the U.S. Army’s 11th Armored Division comes to us from the New Jersey Star Ledger, and it’s pretty remarkable.

In October 2013, after years (many of them pre-Google) of trying to track down news about members of the army unit that liberated Mauthausan—where Kreuzman was imprisoned after harrowing stints in Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Flossenbürg—Kreuzman read the Star Ledger’s 65th wedding anniversary announcement for Joe and Anne Barbella: “A veteran of World War II, Joseph served in the 11th Armored Division which liberated the Mauthausen concentration camp.”

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[freshwest]

1. Remembered joy after all that suffering. This is amazing, so many years. n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

7. It is amazing and quite heart-warming.

Soon, it will be nothing more than stories and memories.

[freshwest]

8. But also the generations that came from the survivors. They live forever in them. n/t

[pacalo]

2. This is very touching.

Joe Barbella, 93, of Union, and Marsha Kreuzman, 90, embrace for awhile after she brought him
a Christmas present to his house on Dec. 23. (Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)



Joe Barbella, 93, of Union, reacts to opening up a Christmas
present from Marsha Kreuzman, 90, at his home on Dec. 23.
Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger

(Source: http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2013/12/holocaust_survivor_liberator_meet_after_68_years.html)

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Thanks for adding this!

It is very touching.

[pacalo]

4. I'm always curious to check out the links inside articles for pictures.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. I do that too...usually.

There are so many articles now that have multitudes of embedded links, I find myself going down rabbit holes and forgetting for what I was originally searching.

I appreciate them though.

[freshwest]

9. That is wonderful! Thanks for giving an image to go with this meeting. n/t

[longship]

5. Here's a wonderful pic of good friends.

Barbella gets a Christmas present from his long time friend.

Wonderful.

[freshwest]

10. Both hearts full of gratitude. n/t

[Sherman A1]

11. Interesting Story

Thanks for posting, Very touching!

[Stuart G]

12. thanks for posting this.....nt