Susan Servais Interview Notes
Daughter of Author Kathe Mueller Slonim
Book: “Escape from Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and a Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil”
YouTube: “Arash’s World Interview with Susan Servais about the Book Escape from Dachau”
Podcast: “Brave Acts and Heroic Efforts in the Face of Unthinkable Evil: The Dangerous and Unbelievable Escape from Dachau”
In this episode, I have the pleasure to talk with Susan Servais, the daughter of Kathe Mueller Slonim who wrote the chilling, moving, and inspiring book and memoir “Escape from Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and a Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil”.
Susan gives an overview of Germans of Jewish origin that were living and contributing to the arts, music, and science of the region throughout time and history. In fact, her grandfather was a war hero from World War One fighting for Germany whereas her grandmother volunteered for the Red Cross at the time.
And yet, when the Nazis took power, none of that mattered to them and Jews were not allowed to own property, work, or even go to public schools. Many were taken to concentration camps and died under horrid and abominable conditions. Fortunately, through the heroic efforts of a cousin, her grandfather was saved.
We also talk about other brave people who stood up against evil and risked their lives doing good. Moreover, many children were hidden and saved by Catholic authorities. There were also various other Germans who not unlike Schindler helped Jewish victims.
Finally, we appreciate the efforts of the German government initiative to invite former German citizens to visit the country under the program entitled “Return of the Lost Citizen”. For the first time, Susan's mother opened up about her experiences, and right after, she decided to write this book. Kathe Mueller Slonim passed away in 2021.
00:27: Personal Intro:
Book about a grandfather’s daring escape from Dachau concentration camp and the family’s escape from Nazi Germany. Mother of three children. Married for 50 years. 5 grandchildren. Grew up in the Midwest and now lives outside of Boston.
01:18:
Jews were committed and loyal to German society. From all walks of life and for various centuries played critical role in art, music, science, and technology. Her grandfather was a war hero in World War One for Germany. Her grandmother volunteered for the German Red Cross at the time. Her grandfather, businessman and manufacturer using technology created by Henry Ford. They were successful and happy family that loved Germany.
02:47:
In 1923, Hitler tried to overthrow the German government. It failed and he was jailed. He had created his own militia of SA, the “Brown Shirts” because of their uniforms. After stockmarket crash, Hitler was able to blame the Jews, claiming they caused the global crisis. Jewish people an easy scapegoat throughout history. In the 1200s, Jews were expelled from Germany, being blamed for the bubonic plague. According to Jewish law, they had to wash every day. The reason why not that many of them got the bubonic plague in the first place.
04:20:
The ultimate conspiracy theory of back then in the Middle Ages, parallels with today's world and the virus. Hitler's brown shirts had become a huge force. in 1933, Hitler became Chancellor. The Jews started leaving Germany. Her grandfather stayed because he was a loyal German and a war hero, a successful businessperson. Some of his family members stayed and later perished in Auschwitz.
05:37:
In 1936, Susan's mom expelled from elementary public school because Jews were not allowed to go there anymore, the US started to close the doors and immigration. The appearance of swastikas back then as well as in today's world. In 1938, they took her grandfathers business, car, and home. Jews could not own property and couldn't work. Many Jews went to Argentina, Israel, and other countries. November 9th, 1938: Krystalnacht. Burned down all the synagogues and temples, Jewish businesses and homes. The next day they dragged her grandfather to the Dachau concentration camp.
07:35:
Her grandmother's cousin was a brilliant mathematician. Worked for the president of the Reichbank based in Berlin. Even if you converted, the Nazis would still look for any Jewish blood in your lineage and send you off to a concentration camp. He changed his name to Max Immanuel and converted to Catholicism. Applied for a visa to go to US. He went into hiding in Berlin. Just when he received his papers to leave Germany and save himself, he gets a call that grandfather had been dragged off to Dachau.
10:27:
Decision to save his cousin in law from the Nazis. Drove from Berlin to Dachau. The mission was profoundly dangerous and unbelievable. True story, heroic actions, and tremendous courage.
14:03:
Many Jewish children saved by the Catholic Church. Many learn much to their surprise about their Jewish ancestry and background. Priest who saved Jewish children was later executed by the Nazis. Her own mom was saved by the Catholic Church. Documentary “Syndrome K” about fake virus to save Jewish people in Italy.
16:45:
Heroic efforts of many people to save the Jews from certain death.
19:43:
Her mother and grandparents never spoke a word about their experiences in Germany. The German government in the 60s had established a program called “Return of the Lost Citizen” in every city in Germany. Writing to former German citizens, inviting them back, all expenses paid. Her mother had wanted to never set foot on German soil again. Until the year 2000 when her mother wrote to the mayor of Stuttgart.
21:35
People started opening up about their experiences. So did her mom all of a sudden, and for the very first time. Coming back, she wrote this memoir. She did not want it published until after passing in 2021. In every place a synagogue had been burned down, they put up the memorial or they rebuilt the synagogue.
24:03:
Effort the German government made to really recognize what happened and to keep it in the forefront. Victor Frankl's “Man's Search for Meaning” come up with life-affirming philosophy despite seeing the worst atrocities and suffering.
25:48:
Many survivors went to their new countries. They rebuilt their lives and were successful. Her grandfather did not recover. He survived but staring out the window, smoking his cigar. When Dachau was established, it was not an extermination camp but a work camp. The treatment was awful and many died. Her grandfather was unable to put it out of his mind. Susan did not see “Schindler's List” because it was so hard for her to see it. There were other good people and examples like Schindler at the time who did not get the recognition that they deserved. The “wall of the righteous” with names of people that risked their lives to save Jewish victims.
29:02:
Standing up for the truth and the right thing to do. Why do good people turn a blind eye? Milgram’s shocking experiment.
31:40:
They went into a school where her mother spoke to the high school students about their experience. One young woman stood up and said that her grandmother was a teacher at the school and saw Jewish students taken away. And she asked herself over and over again, what was she supposed to do? She still, to this day, cannot sleep due to it all.
33:52:
The book includes archival photos, actual original photos. Newspaper clippings of her grandfather.
Daughter of Author Kathe Mueller Slonim
Book: “Escape from Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and a Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil”
YouTube: “Arash’s World Interview with Susan Servais about the Book Escape from Dachau”
Podcast: “Brave Acts and Heroic Efforts in the Face of Unthinkable Evil: The Dangerous and Unbelievable Escape from Dachau”
In this episode, I have the pleasure to talk with Susan Servais, the daughter of Kathe Mueller Slonim who wrote the chilling, moving, and inspiring book and memoir “Escape from Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and a Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil”.
Susan gives an overview of Germans of Jewish origin that were living and contributing to the arts, music, and science of the region throughout time and history. In fact, her grandfather was a war hero from World War One fighting for Germany whereas her grandmother volunteered for the Red Cross at the time.
And yet, when the Nazis took power, none of that mattered to them and Jews were not allowed to own property, work, or even go to public schools. Many were taken to concentration camps and died under horrid and abominable conditions. Fortunately, through the heroic efforts of a cousin, her grandfather was saved.
We also talk about other brave people who stood up against evil and risked their lives doing good. Moreover, many children were hidden and saved by Catholic authorities. There were also various other Germans who not unlike Schindler helped Jewish victims.
Finally, we appreciate the efforts of the German government initiative to invite former German citizens to visit the country under the program entitled “Return of the Lost Citizen”. For the first time, Susan's mother opened up about her experiences, and right after, she decided to write this book. Kathe Mueller Slonim passed away in 2021.
00:27: Personal Intro:
Book about a grandfather’s daring escape from Dachau concentration camp and the family’s escape from Nazi Germany. Mother of three children. Married for 50 years. 5 grandchildren. Grew up in the Midwest and now lives outside of Boston.
01:18:
Jews were committed and loyal to German society. From all walks of life and for various centuries played critical role in art, music, science, and technology. Her grandfather was a war hero in World War One for Germany. Her grandmother volunteered for the German Red Cross at the time. Her grandfather, businessman and manufacturer using technology created by Henry Ford. They were successful and happy family that loved Germany.
02:47:
In 1923, Hitler tried to overthrow the German government. It failed and he was jailed. He had created his own militia of SA, the “Brown Shirts” because of their uniforms. After stockmarket crash, Hitler was able to blame the Jews, claiming they caused the global crisis. Jewish people an easy scapegoat throughout history. In the 1200s, Jews were expelled from Germany, being blamed for the bubonic plague. According to Jewish law, they had to wash every day. The reason why not that many of them got the bubonic plague in the first place.
04:20:
The ultimate conspiracy theory of back then in the Middle Ages, parallels with today's world and the virus. Hitler's brown shirts had become a huge force. in 1933, Hitler became Chancellor. The Jews started leaving Germany. Her grandfather stayed because he was a loyal German and a war hero, a successful businessperson. Some of his family members stayed and later perished in Auschwitz.
05:37:
In 1936, Susan's mom expelled from elementary public school because Jews were not allowed to go there anymore, the US started to close the doors and immigration. The appearance of swastikas back then as well as in today's world. In 1938, they took her grandfathers business, car, and home. Jews could not own property and couldn't work. Many Jews went to Argentina, Israel, and other countries. November 9th, 1938: Krystalnacht. Burned down all the synagogues and temples, Jewish businesses and homes. The next day they dragged her grandfather to the Dachau concentration camp.
07:35:
Her grandmother's cousin was a brilliant mathematician. Worked for the president of the Reichbank based in Berlin. Even if you converted, the Nazis would still look for any Jewish blood in your lineage and send you off to a concentration camp. He changed his name to Max Immanuel and converted to Catholicism. Applied for a visa to go to US. He went into hiding in Berlin. Just when he received his papers to leave Germany and save himself, he gets a call that grandfather had been dragged off to Dachau.
10:27:
Decision to save his cousin in law from the Nazis. Drove from Berlin to Dachau. The mission was profoundly dangerous and unbelievable. True story, heroic actions, and tremendous courage.
14:03:
Many Jewish children saved by the Catholic Church. Many learn much to their surprise about their Jewish ancestry and background. Priest who saved Jewish children was later executed by the Nazis. Her own mom was saved by the Catholic Church. Documentary “Syndrome K” about fake virus to save Jewish people in Italy.
16:45:
Heroic efforts of many people to save the Jews from certain death.
19:43:
Her mother and grandparents never spoke a word about their experiences in Germany. The German government in the 60s had established a program called “Return of the Lost Citizen” in every city in Germany. Writing to former German citizens, inviting them back, all expenses paid. Her mother had wanted to never set foot on German soil again. Until the year 2000 when her mother wrote to the mayor of Stuttgart.
21:35
People started opening up about their experiences. So did her mom all of a sudden, and for the very first time. Coming back, she wrote this memoir. She did not want it published until after passing in 2021. In every place a synagogue had been burned down, they put up the memorial or they rebuilt the synagogue.
24:03:
Effort the German government made to really recognize what happened and to keep it in the forefront. Victor Frankl's “Man's Search for Meaning” come up with life-affirming philosophy despite seeing the worst atrocities and suffering.
25:48:
Many survivors went to their new countries. They rebuilt their lives and were successful. Her grandfather did not recover. He survived but staring out the window, smoking his cigar. When Dachau was established, it was not an extermination camp but a work camp. The treatment was awful and many died. Her grandfather was unable to put it out of his mind. Susan did not see “Schindler's List” because it was so hard for her to see it. There were other good people and examples like Schindler at the time who did not get the recognition that they deserved. The “wall of the righteous” with names of people that risked their lives to save Jewish victims.
29:02:
Standing up for the truth and the right thing to do. Why do good people turn a blind eye? Milgram’s shocking experiment.
31:40:
They went into a school where her mother spoke to the high school students about their experience. One young woman stood up and said that her grandmother was a teacher at the school and saw Jewish students taken away. And she asked herself over and over again, what was she supposed to do? She still, to this day, cannot sleep due to it all.
33:52:
The book includes archival photos, actual original photos. Newspaper clippings of her grandfather.
