Fred Gross, a Jewish journalist and author, was only 3 years old when he and his family faced the horrors of the Holocaust that ultimately claimed the lives of about 6 million Jews, according to figures from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

As Gross spoke to a group of Bowling Green High School students Tuesday, he asked them to consider one question: Why were children among the genocide’s first victims?

“What was the aim of the Nazis?” he asked, later telling them it was “to make sure that they wouldn’t tell their stories.” 

As he told the story of his family, constantly on the run from Nazi persecution in France, Gross shared black and white photographs of his family and sought to share the message of his book “One Step Ahead of Hitler: A Jewish Child’s Journey Through France.” Gross shared his story with BGHS students on Monday and Tuesday. 

Students at the school have been learning about the Holocaust through art, literature and personal anecdotes through the school’s LEAD Academy, a program aiming to teach students about leadership, excellence, achievement and diversity.

Natasha Fatkin, who teaches at the high school, estimated about 60 students attended the session Tuesday. At least 369 students heard Gross’ story altogether, she said. Fatkin wanted students to gain a sense of reality from what they’re learning and that it’s “not just words on a page.” She also wants students to learn lessons from history. 

“It’s when we are silent that we send the message that that type of treatment is acceptable,” she said. 

Gross echoed that message during his talk, urging students to remember history and not be bystanders. 

“We must continue to retell the story,” for the sake of those lost, he said. “That’s why I tell my story.” 

Before the Holocaust began, Gross’ family was like any other. On a projector set up in the school’s auditorium, Gross showed old photographs of his family vacationing on a beach and the synagogue where his parents were married. But later, the synagogue burned and Gross was forced to flee throughout France with his mother, father and two older brothers. 

After arriving in Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, his family soon fled again, just narrowly escaping a bombing attack on the city. They then fled further south, close to the Spanish border, where they met a farmer who sheltered them in his barn. 

“He took care of us for about two weeks,” he said. “He was a person who didn’t stand by.” 

Their situation got worse after France surrendered in June of 1940 and started working with Germany to capture Jewish refugees. He family was ultimately among those captured and sent to a concentration camp, in southern France, where there was disease and starvation. Gross was only 3 1/2 years old at the time, but he remembers his mother’s fear, uncertain about her family’s survival. 

“But then a miracle happened,” Gross said. 

His oldest brother, Sam, just 16 years old at the time, hatched a plan to escape. After lying to a guard about being sick and needing to go to the camp’s infirmary, Gross said his brother took a detour through the camp’s gate, which happened to be unguarded at the time. After that, he hitchhiked to a nearby town to ask for the mayor’s help, who in turn referred him to an official who issued an order to see his family freed. His brother returned with the documents and ultimately succeeded in getting his family out. 

The family continued to flee, later staying in a hotel and narrowly escaping a raid after a warning from a young police officer. Gross’ family didn’t get to safety until after they escaped to nearby Switzerland in 1942. Even then, while staying with a family, their safety was tenuous. Gross said he endured abuse by a family member. 

It wasn’t until after arriving in America that Gross was able to build a life and identity for himself. After seeing the segregation experienced by African-Americans at the time, he was inspired to become a journalist. He earned a degree in journalism from New York University and wrote about discrimination issues for a local newspaper. He remains proud of a story he wrote about local African-American activists seeking more representation in local government. 

“Making a difference, that’s what we’re here for,” he said. 

Several students appreciated Gross’ message. 

Among them was freshman Riley Thompson, who said it was “good to see from his perspective since he was there and actually saw it.” 

— Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.