Born in the Shadow of Mauthausen:Stories of Resilience from Holocaust Survivors(Week 1)

Eva Clarke was born on April 29, 1945, in the Mauthausen concentration camp, under conditions unimaginable to modern humanity. Her mother, Anka Nathanová, had endured years of persecution, surviving the Theresienstadt ghetto and forced labor in an armaments factory in Freiberg, Germany. In her ninth month of pregnancy, Anka was crammed into an open coal truck for a harrowing 17-day journey to Mauthausen, with no food, water, or shelter. Many prisoners did not survive this ordeal, but Anka's determination kept her going. Upon arrival at the camp, she weighed just 35 kilograms (77 pounds) and gave birth to Eva on a wooden cart amidst a pile of dying and deceased prisoners. Eva's birth coincided with a critical moment in history; the camp was liberated by American forces just a few days later.

Anka's journey of survival was marked by profound resilience. She and Eva were spared from death in a grim twist of fate: the Nazis had run out of lethal gas when their train arrived. The liberation of Mauthausen by the U.S. Army on May 5, 1945, came just in time to save the lives of Eva and her mother. Following their release, they returned to Prague, where Anka began rebuilding her life. Tragically, Anka had lost her husband and many family members in the Holocaust, but her focus remained on raising Eva and creating a future for her daughter.

After the war, Anka and Eva returned to Prague, where Anka remarried in 1948. The family then emigrated to the United Kingdom, settling in Cardiff. Eva grew up, married, and eventually moved to Cambridge. She dedicated herself to Holocaust education, sharing her and her mother's story to ensure that the atrocities are not forgotten. (Holocaust Educational Trust)

Reading Eva’s story fills me with sorrow but also a deep sense of responsibility. The Holocaust is not just history—it is a warning. This should never happen again. The hatred, violence, and destruction of families were not isolated to the past; discrimination and suffering still shape our world today.

Remembering Eva’s journey is not enough—we must act, stand up for the vulnerable, and ensure that the suffering of millions was not in vain. At the same time, people who suffered as children need help today. Holocaust survivors, who lost their families and childhoods to war, now face isolation, trauma, and financial hardship. As they age, they deserve more than remembrance—they need dignity, support, and care. At Light of Care, we are committed to honoring their resilience with action. Join us in making a difference.

Reference: Holocaust Educational Trust. (n.d.). Eva Clarke. Retrieved from https://www.het.org.uk/survivors-eva-clarke