Holocaust Survivor Joanna Millan who was the guest speaker at the Enniskillen Museum, pictured with students from St. Mary’s College Brollagh. They are, Shannon Duffy, Johnny Lambe, Eoin Barrett and Shannon Daly
THE Enniskillen Castle Museums received two groups of students from different schools who were treated to a talk from holocaust survivor Joanna Millan.
She was born as Bela Rosenthal and has taken most of her adult life to put together the pieces of her family’s story. Her father -Siegfried Rosenthal- was deported from Berlin to Auschwitz and was killed in 1943. Months later Bela and her mother were deported to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia
Bela was separated from her mother to live with other children and months later her mother died. After the war, Bela was adopted by a Jewish couple in London and her name was changed to Joanna Millan.
She looked so excited when she mentioned each member of the family she found throughout the years. Nowadays, Joanna is still looking for pieces from her family and although she started with little information, over time it has grown.
Joanna spoke of her experience to the students, who showed their interest in the talk by posing questions. She talked about her experience with a sense of humor, but also in a respectful manner.
The students listened to Joanna’s experiences and they had 10 minutes at the end of the talk to make questions which she didn’t have any problem to answer -as long as they were respectful with her.
The students enjoyed the talk and looked surprised at the photos that Joanna has uncovered throughout her life.