Irene Fainman-Krausz 1936-

Irene was only six years old when her freedom was taken from her. She says that she survived thanks to luck and her mother’s protection.

Irene was born in the Netherlands of an English mother and a Hungarian father. Her family was Jewish.

In 1942 she was sent with her mother and brother to the women’s camp at Ravensbrück. Her father was sent to Buchenwald. He died in March 1945 after suffering terribly.

In Ravensbrück Irene and her family were helped by a fellow prisoner, Nadine Hwang, to get onto the White Buses.

Irene arrived at Malmö Museum on 28 April 1945. She remembers the museum as a paradise. It was clean and filled with light and everyone was friendly. Irene became like a mascot, a child who could still play and who spread hope just by existing.

Her family moved to South Africa in 1946. Her mother never wanted to speak of the camps. Nor did Irene learn that her father had died until she was 15 years old.

Her time in the camps left a deep impression on her life and terrible nightmares have haunted her for many years.

In 2011 Irene visited Malmö Museer again.