A Survivor’s Voice

Alex Metzger’s Story of Strength and Hope

On Monday March 17, Holocaust survivor Alex Metzger shared his powerful life story with

Lynn University students in a special Gen Z expression seminar, educating younger generations

on the atrocities of the Holocaust through his firsthand experiences.

Metzger recounted the impact World War II had on his family and his upbringing, detailing how both of his parents were born in Germany, fled to Belgium in the early 1930’s hoping to escape Nazi persecution.

“My parents decided sometime in 1932 or 1933 to go to Belgium, which was east of Germany, and they set up a home in Brussels,” said Metzger. Their hope of refuge was shattered when the Nazis invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940. “My father was picked up on the street on that date and never to be seen again.”

As a child, Metzger was separated from his biological mother when he was two weeks old and placed in the care of the Harrison’s, a devoted Catholic family. He spoke highly of the kindness they showed him despite the war.

“They couldn’t have treated me better than any mother or father. I mean, they took me into their family. Basically, I didn’t know any different.” However, he was under the impression his

mother was his aunt Rose, keeping his identity a secret until he was around six years old.

“It wasn’t until after the war I got hit with two shocks. Number one, Aunt Rose is not your aunt.

That’s your mother, Rose. Number two, you’re not Catholic. You’re Jewish. I’ve got to tell you,

that basically does blow your mind.”

Metzger also shared how silence was typical among survivors, including his mother. “My mother survived, but she never spoke about her experiences during the war, which I understand is not so unusual,” he said. “Many people just didn’t discuss it and would not talk about it.”

In 1949, Metzger and his mother emigrated to the United States, beginning a new chapter in New York City. “We came to the United States… by steamship [the] SS Washington, which was the third fastest steamship crossing the Atlantic.”

Having had such a confusing upbringing, Metzger is still searching for information on his family. “It’s like connecting the dots,” said Metzger. “Every time you bring something up, it’s going to give you another clue and another clue. And it just keeps growing and growing.”

By listening to life stories and experiences like Metzger’s, students gain a deeper understanding of history, ensuring we never make the same mistakes.

Metzger’s story serves as a powerful reminds us of resilience, survival, and the importance of

sharing untold stories to ensure future generations never forget.