Jacob Turteltaub from Synowodzkowyzne

JACOB'S SURVIVAL
Contributed by David Turteltaub

Jacob Turteltaub was born in l912 in Synowoszkowyzne. His parents were David and Chaia Ruchel. He had two older brothers, Pinchus and Yossel. Chaia died when she was 32 years old. David remarried, and the union produced one son, Moishe.

David, Jacob’s father, worked in the sawmill and at first arranged for Jacob to train as a lumberjack. Jack eventually progressed to work in the mill as a measurer of lumber. He stood 5'4'' tall and weighed l45 pounds. He was a solid young man whose humble roots and hard work laid the foundation for his survival.

Jacob worked in the sawmill until l939 when the Nazis invaded Poland. He was then conscripted into the Polish army. His job was to transport ordinance to the fronts with horse carriages. While en route, his convoy was attacked by air. He jumped from his wagon just before it exploded

Jacob’s family was advised that he had been killed. It took him two weeks to return home, at which time his family believed they were seeing a ghost.
Jacob left his shtetl never to return or see his family again. He made his way to Lithuania where he found refuge with a baker and his family. He remained there for about one year until the Germans began their onslaught of this region.

Jacob left his shtetl never to return or see his family again. He made his way to Lithuania where he found refuge with a baker and his family. He remained there for about one year until the Germans began their onslaught of this region.He left, going deeper into Russia, without any identification papers. At one point, he was arrested, charged with espionage, and sentenced to execution. A Russian officer of Jewish heritage interceded and spared his life by arranging his transfer to the Donbass region to dig for coal.

While in the Donbass, Jacob did what he was told, except when a spirited Russian officer commanded him to lay explosives. As the language was foreign to Jacob, he did understand the orders. Jacob feared his lack of knowledge would cost him his life. He had seen others die while trying to comply with the officer's edicts. He told the officer he didn't understand. In disgust, the officer proceeded to lay the explosives himself but was killed in the ensuing explosion.

As the German's turned their attention to Russia, Jacob was now conscripted into the Russian army. He was near Stalingrad when the Germans captured him. His red hair, fair skin and other identifying traits caused the Germans to realize Jacob was Jewish. As a result, he was sent west to the camps. He was at Auschwitz, from which he was liberated in l945. He met Anita, who had been liberated from Leipzig, in a DP cam and they were married shortly thereafter. Their first child, Bertha, was born in then Stettin, Germany.

The Turteltaub couple remained in Europe until l947 at which time they immigrated to Ecuador. A son, David was born in l951. They immigrated to United States in l955.

One of his brothers was killed in the Lemberg Ghetto. The others are believed to have been killed in battle fighting for the Polish army. Jacob tried to return to his village after the war but was dissuaded by authorities and witnesses who told him they saw his father, stepmother and half brother led out by the Nazis. His efforts through the joint and other relief agencies were futile. A nephew, the son of Pinchus, was the only other immediate relative to survive the Holocaust from Jacob's family. He has lived in Israel since being orphaned.