Ruth Cohen had a childhood filled with family, friends, Hebrew school, and swimming in the Latorica River near her home. Then, in March 1944, at age 13, everything changed. Nazi Germany invaded Hungary, and authorities later forced Ruth and her family to move into a crowded ghetto. By mid-May, they began sending Jews from Hungary by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Soon after arriving at the killing center, Ruth learned the SS had already murdered her mother, brother, and little cousins.

Watch to learn how Ruth managed to survive, despite developing tuberculosis, and discover if she ever saw her father again.

Hear Holocaust survivor Ruth Cohen’s experiences in her own words recorded on January 17, 2024. First Person is a monthly hour-long discussion with a Holocaust survivor that is made possible through generous support from the Louis Franklin Smith Foundation.