A Jewish Boy Survives in Hiding: Not Far from Anne Frank's Annex

Leo Ullman survived the Holocaust in hiding with strangers as a toddler-in Amsterdam, the same city where Anne Frank hid and was later discovered. His parents were told nothing about his caretakers or his location in order to help keep him safe.
Only after the war did Leo realize that the loving couple who had raised him for years were not his biological parents. He later learned just how many of the Dutch families nearby knew about the young Jewish boy in hiding and chose to protect him.
Guest
Leo S. Ullman, Holocaust Survivor
Host
Dr. Rebecca Erbelding, Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

[@roserocks1979]

I love that all the neighbors knew, and kept him secret.

[@sharondanya]

So happy his parents survived too

[@gonefishing167]

Wish I could press the like button more than once. How wonderful were his ‘adoptive’ parents? How both sets of parents worked to make it a smooth transition for a small child. Some people don’t even have one set of parents to love, this little boy had two! And they even gave him their dog. They were all wonderfully brave people. 🙏🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@nargesmaher107]

I pushed it one time for you

[@gonefishing167]

@@nargesmaher107 🙏🙏. Thank you

[@joanpolzien4959]

We have no idea what decision we would make under the same circumstances. Having said that, I think they made such an unselfish and true expression of love for their child.

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

Wow. To hear about all the neighbors sent chills throughout me. Incredible love

[@jfournerat1274]

The neighbors were kind people for helping Leo even though they were risking their own lives by doing so. When so many neighbors either stood by as their neighbors were deported to concentration camps and killing centers or killed or even actively participated in the killings either by personally killing them or betraying them to the Nazis the neighbors of Leo’s protectors decided to help him.

[@sue.F]

It’s encouraging to hear these stories of survival and to know that good people can prevail. Thank you Leo, god bless.

[@jennifervanalstine6493]

I was born in 1958 and have been so haunted by this war. I am so glad you and your family survived. I am absolutely appalled that college students today ask if this really happened. Great uplifting story.

[@cathykallman3349]

lol

[@JaimeMesChiens]

@@cathykallman3349what is funny? Do tell.

[@robertafierro5592]

I'm the same..I was born in 1960, and growing up in Manhattan, I was told not to stare at the tattooed forearms in the summertime, a d I was taught that if you were Catholic, you were supposed to hate Jews because they killed Jesus. Can you believe that the woman who taught me that was my own mother? Through affirmative action in the early '70's, she took.s couple of college courses at Hunter College, and recieved the title Para Professional. She often referred to herself as a Teacher! Don't listen to.everything your parents teach you. Many times, they don't know right from wrong.

[@julz63]

What an incredibly moving story of how much Leo was loved by those around him. A perfect example of “it takes a village to raise a child”. That the parents (both biological and the war parents) had the foresight to firstly introduce Leo to the idea of living with another family, but then to transition back to his biological parents’ care after the war is amazing. These stories must be continued to be shared; ordinary people doing extraordinary things , brave beyond anyone’s comprehension ❤ Best wishes to Leo Ullman 🥰

[@vickieadams6648]

I can't hear your speakers very well.

[@nargesmaher107]

I have read and listen to survivors stories for years and visited the Auschwitz Camp, and this was the only story that was ended this sweet . Every single one made me cry for hours and think for hours about the cruelty and savage behavior of human kind.

[@pollyclarke9187]

Amazing case of survival....so glad that his war parents and biological parents raised such a loving careing human being.

[@melaniemotsinger2522]

Thank you for sharing, Leo. You, your parents, and those who protected you

[@georgebrown8312]

It is so uplifting to hear stories of the people who survived the Nazi concentration camps, and of the people who risked their very lives to protect Jews and other innocent civilians from that abhorrent Nazi regime during the second world war. I am glad that Mr. Leo S. Ullman survived the Holocaust. Thank you, Dr. Rebecca Friedman, for educating your viewers about what happened during the Holocaust. Keep up the good work.

[@darleneprice3492]

Such a beautiful story. Thank God for the many who did the right thing.

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

Buenos días. I never knew anything about the war or camps because they don't teach us here in Mexico. And my stepfather was a Converso and kept that a secret also. It wasn't until I moved to the USA for high school. It wasn't until I met my best friends grandma that I heard the name of Auschwitz. I was introduced and she put her arm out showed me her tattoos and in her perky voice stated I was in Auschwitz! I was beyond embarrassed as i had no idea what she was talking about. So I educated myself about Judaism. And that's how I figured out about my papi. In my opinion it's truly a miracle that as many people survived. But it shows that there are still some good people left in this place we call earth.

[@shainazion4073]

I'm glad you found about your Jewish ancestry. The Spanish Inquisition was horrendous also.

[@EuniceStone-s9j]

I think any country that doesn't teach the history of the Holocaust and the ongoing anti-Semitism is doing their students and citizens a disservice. Mexico could enact a Holocaust of their own and citizens would have no idea what was happening until it is too late.

[@valeriemurray9903]

So terrible for the parents, wonderful that Leo was saved from certain death. God saved you Leo....❤

[@chadfalaster8275]

Good afternoon Leo I'm glad you're with us today... From Pocahontas Arkansas

[@garypearse2188]

I've, only just come across this video, I'm a 57 year old man, with children boys and and a girl and a single grandson. I cannot imagine the pain of giving away any of my children but in this situation I would have, I hope...!! But nobody was safe, and how wonderful that Leo and his mum and dad where able to survive and thrive after this traumatic period of abuse to Jewish people. It has brought tears too my eyes which tumbled down my cheeks. Thank you. Love and peace from the UK 🇬🇧 xx

[@sylviabanks2455]

Leo, you’re parents were as brave as you were to let you go so you could live! I’m sure you know that! My fathers parents, my grandparents who I never met because of hitler sent their children away but they were old enough to work. My uncle went to Palestine , my two aunts went to London to work as maids and Nannie’s and my father and mother waited till 1939 and could only go to Brazil and had to convert to Catholicism so they could get in. I think from all the stress my father had he got colo-rectal cancer and died before I was 4 and my brother was 1/12. I miss them all every day! I applaud you for telling your story and know that I think you were brave and I’m happy you lived because of your parents huge sacrifice! You’re loved! I hope you’ve had a good life so far. I am 82 and still think about this everyday! Wishing you all the best and thank you for keeping your story alive! NEVER, NEVER AGAIN! ❤️

[@isobellakey9731]

Heartwrenching story Praise God him and his parents survived❤

[@jmurry6695]

God bless Leo, his parents and the people who embraced him.

[@doraa.urquilla3647]

Every time I know new testimony of Jewish survivors during Nazi occupation, I can see the courage and strength in their hearts moving by love to protect overall cost, children with the hope that they could be reunited with their parents again. Is beautiful to know the happy ending of Mr. Leo's life. YHVH always keeps HIS promises to HIS people. ❤️🇮🇱🕊️

[@Sad_Bumper_Sticker]

Heartwrenching that your Parents weighed only 30 kg and were extorted and clearly starved by the family hiding them.

[@indrahx5905]

To me it seems most impressive that all the neighbors knew what he was and never said a word! Usually there would be one person, like with the Franks, who would denunciate them in the end. He was incredibly lucky.

[@aadityapratap007]

“The diary of a young girl” - this was the chapter in our english textbook in school days..love from india 🇮🇳

[@gonefishing167]

Hello Leo from country South Australia. How very brave your parents were and all parents who tried to hide their children. It’s so,,so sad that Leo thinks , as an adult man, that that couples marriage broke up because of him! What a burden to put on a child. I’m sorry but couldn’t someone at least have even lied to him ( or told the truth if it was different) that it wasn’t his fault. It was the war. I’m sure lots of peoples marriages imploded under the stresses of war. So glad you all survived . Man’s inhumanity to man knows no bounds. We keep hoping the world will learn but nothing seems to change. Blessings to all and for the masses that did not survive 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@EuniceStone-s9j]

I don't think he feels guilty I think he is just stating the facts as he believed them to be. Some people can't cope with their own children much less a stranger.

[@normabrien8331]

It warms my heart to hear that in this troubled world there are people who are extraordinary and for this they are blessed. Thank you.

[@mindakahn9964]

Thank you for the gift of your life story. May the memory of the Shimmel’s be a blessing. Many so called officers of the law sided with the Nazis. It is wonderful to hear of at least two men who had the courage to be human beings. There was a traveling photographic exhibition of Dutch rescuers in the 80’s. In West Michigan there is a large population of Dutch people. The photographer found rescuers and photographed them for the exhibition. Those photographs are hanging prominently and proudly in Temple Emanuel, Grand Rapids. G-d Bless them.

[@monicabailey8872]

Beautiful, thank you for making us aware of these families and their survival 🙏🏼🕊🙏🏼

[@rotrautmellin7543]

This story touched me very much ! Because :growing up as a german girl in a refugee camp close to the Dutch border, we : I received sooo much help from Dutch neighbours from the then rather small town of Almelo ❤❤❤❤ May God bless them forever !!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@AnneVandijck]

There are also many German people who helped jewish persons, who took risks in very difficult circumstances. I pray for all the souls who were so brave, loving and made the right decisions .love from the Netherlands ❤

[@josiedickson6959]

Oh Leo ...thank you for yr story ..i think of yr parents decision and bravery ..Bless them

[@michaelhoggarth89]

Mrs H 🇬🇧 .. What great parents and adopted parents he had.. He wasn't just loved but worshipped & protected... He even got his bestest friend ..THE DOG... It's a happy life story from an horrendous, Traumatic past..What brave, Caring, Loving, People

[@concertmasterp]

I have visited Amsterdam on many occasions. I remember that on one of those visits, a church had a photography exhibit that highlighted World War 2 under Nazi occupation. Some of those photos mad e a huge impact on me, and I understood how important it was to be accepting and loving to those who were different than me.

[@TSRT1976CANADA]

Thank you so much for sharing this storie with us. Your parents love you so much, that they where willing to separate from you for a while to keep you safe, to me that is an absolutely act of sacrifice and an act of true love. Greetings from Canada.

[@sheilawhite5985]

Thank you Mr. Ullman for sharing.

[@Skurwysyna]

My family were in the Łódź ghetto and my great grandfather and great uncle died, my grandmother her mother and two sisters survived

[@jfhorselenberg7778]

Thx for ur . Program❤😊

[@PatriciaRosas-z7g]

Amazing story! God bless them all.

[@mountaingirl6479]

Thank you for this interview. It’s always encouraging to learn of good people who did the right but difficult thing during this awful time in history. Or any time in history

[@Meganmaggiemay]

Good afternoon! Your story give us hope!

[@justsewit_tk5477]

What an amazing story! Thank God there were good decent people who quietly stood up for what they believed and actually loved their neigbours. This was such a scary and desperate time for so many people. The war was most harmful to the children and the adults who had to do the most extraordinary things in order to survive. God bless the survivors and God bless those wonderful people who protected them.

[@Stevie-hn7mp]

That’s wonderful news . What beautiful baby boy LEO. So glad they sent him away ended up saving his life. Otto frank could sent his girls away but he refused to. Sad because maybe they would had better outcome . Your parents were amazing. Absolutely so glad to hear about your story Leo .

[@rudymazar5266]

Leo's parents were so brave !

[@elaneradim6117]

THANK YOU

[@kristiinaparkkisenniemi8680]

Happy to watch this! Thank God, Leo and his family survived! Love and blessings from Finland ❤️❤️❤️

[@suzannakoizumi8605]

God bless those generous Christian people who rescued Jews.

[@lynncameron9885]

Hello Leo. So happy you survived this atrocity

[@charonrose3306]

Leo, thank you for sharing your amazing life story with us ❤

[@zhannashpitalnik4327]

Thank you very much for sharing your story Thank you for all good people who saved Leo

[@lisabeasley6304]

God bless this man and his family.

[@jillprescott8448]

I cannot imagine…such a touching story and selfless people

[@anajardimbr]

My congratulations to Leo's parents.That a was very clever decision.🎉🎉🎉 I am from BH-MG BRAZIL

[@jamestucker9524]

Who wouldn't look severe knowing the chances that they were taking to protect this young boy. He was in danger of being found and killed as they were. How wonderful it was that his parents also survived. No one should go through just because of their religious or racial background.

[@janetgablecull2099]

From North Carolina, thank you for sharing.

[@jenndoe3233]

Co-parenting before present day! Beautiful and wonderful to learn your story.

[@JohannaNazareen1225]

People show their thrue collors and what they're made of in such dificult situations.And they manage to pull out of themselves such strengt and love that they never knew they had. There are so many stories of great people like this family. From that neighbourhood in US, I dont know wich town it was, who all put menorah in their windows after some group of people broke windows on their Jewish neighbours house. Two neighbours went to buy menorahs and I is not easy in december. They are all sold out, then they ofered to other neighbours to put them in their windows. Cause those who broke the window cant go against the entire block. Not one of the neighbours refused. They all did it as a support. From that case to cases where the entire blocks during the WWll. were willingly hiding children and adults knowing verry well that they might end up in concentration camp and killed too. But they didn't care. Because there is no bigger honor then to lay your life for your friend, your neighbour.

[@theresatate9591]

GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS LEO AND YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR WAR FAMILY!

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

They were good people who did the right thing, as Leo said. Fools may gain the spotlight in Media for 15 minutes while good people do what needs to be done without spotlights. They know God is watching and that is enough. Never Again !

[@tonythomas7825]

wow what a wonderful story, may God bless Schimmel's generations and all the Dutch people who did not betray you. i pray for all Holocaust survivors and their protectors/rescuers

[@margaretvanderkolff8925]

My father Gerrit Busser was a leader of a underground group who took young Jewish vchildren and took them to safety We also lived in Amsterdam and we used to keep a child a few days before sending on his way we lived in a flat in the west end of Amsterdam My father was betrayed sent to Buchenwald where he died at 38

[@Tawadeb]

Oh how brave your Father and how awful the Nazis caught him

[@farapipsqueek636]

I am so so sorry for your loss

[@englishlady8863]

What i will never understand is Hitler had dark features, he almost looked Jewish, yet he was obsessed with this superior looking race.

[@wap9137]

He was Jewish. His mother was Jewish and that's the definition. If your mother is Jewish, you are Jewish.

[@yrcaniamitchell1415]

GOD Continue Blessing your life 💎 Leo You are so special person! thanks for sharing your story

[@davidrutter9786]

A moving story of survival when he was such a tiny tot that he couldn't be affected emotionally because of his youth. To give up a child for safety is the ultimate sacrifice. The Shimmels should be among the list of the righteous in Israel.

[@janetpattison8474]

In Leo’s community it was an option to send him into hiding. The majority of families didn’t have that opportunity, which is why 1.5 million children died by the hands of the Germans and their coconspirators.

[@ygpwnxd_xd752]

@@ruthgallagher9584🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Sorry to hear the loss of yr family due to Armenian holocaust . It’s almost the same as hitlers rampage N mass murder against the jews during world war 2 . May they all RIP 🌹💝💕🌼

[@shainazion4073]

There were many who "stole" the Jewish children in their care and converted them to Christianity. There were all different stories from the time. Bless those that did the right thing!!

[@shericontrary2535]

and here we are today

[@natashamichelle8330]

Marine Corp? Havard? You go LEO

[@jonbenetramsey0806]

I really do love Anne Frank.

[@JaimeMesChiens]

This has left me nearly speechless. I have heard many holocaust testimonies, but none quite this soul-touching. That’s all I can say. I am awestruck. Thank you, Mr Leo, and thanks for tossing that first pitch ❤

[@marmartinez3545]

This was excellent. Im impressed its was done in realtime and loved to know a fifth grade was interacting. (Im a teacher) Good job!

[@rachelnavot6276]

As a survivors daughter, I read, listen and search all the time, I came to realize that keeping the family together for obvious reasons, was the cause for entire families to be murdered and vanish from earth with no trace .

[@blancabulgrin5560]

Leo I'm gald the whole family made it you were taken care of very well !!!

[@janecarollissen145]

Do u feel any HATRED towards those people that treated u and he parents so bad

[@lmc2375]

In my married early life, we rented a place in Santa Barbara, CA on the cliff of Shoreline Dr. from a Prof. at NYC - his surname too, was Ullman. You don't hear this name too often; each time it was to do with real estate dealings too - maybe 3x I've known any. He had inherited the older brick home from his mother. Her piano still in the living room. It didn't seem the house had been been rented out since her passing - we cleared the yard and cleaned up the dusty house. She was said to have been Czechoslovakian, and a concert pianist. I don't even know her name. There was a great portrait of her there. I went back a number of times over the years to visit and stopped by each time to meet the current tenants. The 2nd to last one had no knowledge of the portrait that had been there all along. Guess it was swiped. I always wondered about her life, but after the fact, in reflection. That was about 41 years ago now that we had rented it. I never could find Prof. Ullman online, surely long retired. Possibly passed now. We had never met him in person. He said we were great young tenants and he paid about 8K to have the bathroom renovated for us, about 6 mos after we moved in. I guess in my long winded way, I'm wondering if these Ullman's connect?! I guess I should do a title search to get his mother's full name. The house was gutted and redone about 2010. It sold for 1.2 ml. It looked fantastic. Just crazy that we rented it for 745.00 a month, including a gardner and thought that was a bit high back then - we were really young, 17/19. Time sure does zip by. I'm glad this man and his parents survived - God bless them for all they were forced to endure and all bc of one man's hatred. Unreal that one man could take it to the heights he did. That shows you how all consuming powerful hate in fact is. My God ... 🙏💫🌎💖

[@seemarajderkar3019]

Thanks Leo for sharing your childhood memories of the nazi regime. Glad that some people helped you and you survived to narrate your story. May God bestow peace on all of you.

[@juanitacarranza526]

Did it everything to save their baby boy so glad he survived and God will bless those that helped him also because they had him

[@naraaway]

Where i can find the complete interview of leo's parents?❤

[@joslynandcarltonramsubhag1836]

From Trinidad. West Indies.

[@joan5856]

I met a lady in South Africa, she was a blonde Jewish child. I dont think her parents had survived as she did not say so.

[@maryschaefer1618]

Good Afternoon Leo😅

[@chadfalaster8275]

Good afternoon from Pocahontas Arkansas....

[@mfsoro]

I found this while looking for clips if rudol von stroheim

[@mahimaahmed4069]

God bless your Parents 💖🌹🎉🎉,they were very brave people. 🎉🎉❤🇺🇸🌹🇵🇰 I put the Pakistani flag because this is where I came from as a child.

[@josiedickson6959]

Did you keep in touch with yr 'sister' in the family.

[@elapaszczynski495]

Leo what happend to Your sister who was living with you at shimos apartment

[@augustaugust7667]

❤❤

[@EuniceStone-s9j]

Leo you were such a beautiful baby..now you are a beautiful man.

[@toosiyabrandt8676]

Hi I found this hard to watch because ESPECIALLY with Holocaust survivors testimonies they need to be UNINTERRUPTED, so that the listeners can immerse themselves into their experience properly. Prompts need to be off camera and as unobtrusive as possible! Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua returning soon to reign over the world from Jerusalem forever.

[@shainazion4073]

Please explain where this supposed Christ Yeshua was in the Holocaust??

[@farapipsqueek636]

Seriously? Jesus? And this isn't testimony. It is an interview

[@margaretmeyer8450]

Extra ordinary people

[@therealkoolbeans]

Seattle Washington

[@jskeyboardwarrior-pe9kn]

And Canada

[@idelljohnson5440]

Good job sweetie

[@idelljohnson5440]

Wrong coment

[@nancybraybrooks5509]

Ordinary God Fearers as they were called by the early believers in Yeshua as they were gentiles. But 100% believed that the Jewish people were Gods Chosen People!!

[@חניאגמי-חוטר]

בל שאין תרגום בעברית .

[@mahimaahmed4069]

This Man war parents God Bless them🌹😪😇🪖🔯 They were life savers,they were also brave people.