Alfred Caro

Alfred Caro was born July 27th 1911 in Zumtur Belin, Germany, which later became a part of Poland. He was born to Sally (pronounced Zally) and Frida Caro. He was the oldest boy of six children, three sisters and two brothers. Sally owned a butcher shop and Frida was a housewife. Growing up in Berlin was beautiful at that time. Relations was good between the different races. He had gentile friends as well as Jewish friends. Alfred enjoyed all the things that children of his time enjoyed. He liked going to the movies, very involved in sports, like boxing and running. As a young man he worked for his father for a year in his store then moved to Halberstadt, Germany to attend school. Three years later he graduated not only as a butcher but a cook as well. He did not feel a distinction between himself and Germans. In fact his father enlisted and fought for Germany in WW1. So when he returned to Zumtur he noticed more and more anger towards the Jews. In January 1933 when Hitler came to power everyone started becoming suspicious of one another. Immediately rules were placed. “1935 Nuremburg Laws came to effect and from this days end we no longer were people anymore.” Alfred stated. In 1938 The Police began looking door to door for any male living there to take them to Police station to question. Alfred hid out for a few days till they returned and decided for his father and or brothers Alfred wouldn’t have it. After being detained with several hundred Jews he was then transported to a concentration camp in June of 1938. His Mother got ahold of the Hicen organization to fight for his release and in July or August of 1938 he was. He states “he is the luckiest man alive.” He was able to get papers to leave Berlin and went to Belgium. He stayed there with his Uncle until Belgium told him to either go back to Germany or go to France. In France he met the American Consulate who was able to get him papers for Columbia. Alfred’s two quotes for me was “I will never forget or forgive.” And “Cannot make up my mind how to feel about Germans in general. I still have German friends.”