Hello Jordan.

It was good to see that there is someone behind this site and e-mail address.

 

I will show everything to my father and grandfather (I will show them the "decent" site so they will not get a heart attack).  Maybe they will have interesting material to give you. My grandfather, Zvi- Herman Kratz, now 82 years old, is a very active man. His wife, my grandmother Penina (Pearl) Kratz, died 3 years ago.  He is now completing a comprehensive book about our family before and after the holocaust. The book is in Hebrew. 

During the last period of WW2, my Grandfather and his father (Alexander) were held in Kaufering-4 concentration camp, near the town Landsberg, about 50 Km (30 Miles) from Munich. Alexander (which was about 50 Years old) died from hunger and typhoid fever in the hands of my grandfather.  My grandfather managed to bury him outside the camp and to mark the place. Two months later the US army liberated the camp. (This was presented in the 9^th chapter of Steven Spielberg's "Band of brothers" series). My grandfather returned to the place and later established a tombstone in the area near the grave. Since then, every one of us visited the grave at least once.

  

In August 2005 my family went there to record 60 years since the liberation. You can see the attached photos. In the first one you can see me, my wife (Orit), my son (Naddav), my daughter (Haggar), my father (Alexander) and grandfather (Zvi- Herrman) near the tombstone (written Alexander Kratz). In the second picture you can see the remnants of Kaufering-7 concentration camp, with my sister (Tirtza) and two of her 4 children.

 

 

 

My grandfather came to Israel in 1949; they had one child (my father Alexander) who was then 3 years old. They gave birth to another daughter (Rachel) in 1949. My grandfather began to work in construction and slowly progressed. My father also worked in construction and he's now a safety consultant. They all live in Jerusalem.

My grandfather has a total of 2 Children, 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. It is interesting that one of his grandchildren (my cousin Shaul Gross) is also a leader of a band. They are called "Kengeroo" and play reggae music. Now they have a LP and doing shows in Israel. (http://www.kengeroo.com)

 

A little about myself: I'm a resident in Ophthalmology at a hospital in Beer- Sheva, in the southern part of Israel. I'm married and have 2 children.  

 

Bye,

Assaf Kratz.   ‎