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The My Voice Project is a unique initiative by The Fed, Manchester's leading social care charity serving the Jewish community. The My Voice Project empowers Holocaust survivors and refugees from Nazi persecution who settled in the UK to share their entire life stories including experiences before, during and after the war years. This project involves a bespoke methodological approach, producing books that preserve their unique voices. The My Voice Project ensures firsthand accounts are remembered and valued for future generations, highlighting the critical role of individual perspectives in ensuring a deeper historical understanding.
Ivor Wieder was born in 1931 and grew up in the village of Barsana, Romania, with his parents and siblings.
In August 1940, the village was occupied by the Hungarians, allies of Nazi Germany, who began to pass anti-Jewish laws. Jewish men and children were beaten up and Ivor couldn't go to school without children chasing after him, calling him, 'a dirty Jew.'
In 1944, at 12 years old, Ivor was forced onto a cramped cattle train to Auschwitz, where he was shaved, tattooed, and witnessed the worst cruelty imaginable. His father was killed, after sustaining a hand injury. Later, Ivor and his brother were taken to Bergen-Belsen where they were liberated by the British Army.
In October 1945, Ivor was flown to Southampton, and he later settled in north west London, starting a business from nothing with his brother, manufacturing bags, which soon flourished. Ivor met his wife, Marion, and they had two sons who created quite a legacy - giving Ivor and Marion seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Ivor's book is part of the My Voice book collection.
About the author
The Fed is Manchester's leading social care charity serving the Jewish community. In June of 2021, The Fed were awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service for the My Voice Project, the highest possible accolade for a voluntary sector group.
