Renee Salt, a Polish-British individual with a profound and resilient spirit, was born Rywka Ruchla Berkowitz. Her life's journey was forever altered with the invasion and occupation of Poland in September 1939, a pivotal moment that would shape her destiny. German authorities, drawn to the family's residence, decided to take up residence themselves, a scenario that became all too familiar for many Polish families. As a result, Renee and her family were forcibly evicted from their home, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
The family's displacement led them to seek refuge in the newly established Zduńska Wola ghetto. However, their stay was short-lived, as in 1944, the ghetto's inhabitants received a chilling directive: the ghetto was to be cleared, and they were instructed to assemble at the local train station. With a heavy heart, Renee and her parents made the difficult decision to comply, volunteering to board a train that would take them to the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
