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'My grandmother was murdered at Auschwitz' Bromsgrove man reflects on family he lost in Holocaust
(14 days later)
Adrian Kriss tracked down and met his birth mother Rita Devletian when he was researching his family historyAdrian Kriss tracked down and met his birth mother Rita Devletian when he was researching his family history
Adrian Kriss grew up knowing he was adopted, and that he was Jewish by birth.Adrian Kriss grew up knowing he was adopted, and that he was Jewish by birth.
But it was only in 2015, having tracked down his biological mother, that he learned his grandmother had died in a Nazi concentration camp during World War Two.But it was only in 2015, having tracked down his biological mother, that he learned his grandmother had died in a Nazi concentration camp during World War Two.
"I had previously visited Auschwitz-Birkenau and I haven't been back since because it was quite a moving experience then," said Mr Kriss, a Worcestershire county councillor in Bromsgrove."I had previously visited Auschwitz-Birkenau and I haven't been back since because it was quite a moving experience then," said Mr Kriss, a Worcestershire county councillor in Bromsgrove.
"But now I know and am aware that my maternal grandmother was murdered [there].""But now I know and am aware that my maternal grandmother was murdered [there]."
Mr Kriss spoke as events were held around the country to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, external. Mr Kriss spoke as events were held around the country to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
The hunt for his birth parents began when his adoptive parents, who raised him in Birmingham, passed away.The hunt for his birth parents began when his adoptive parents, who raised him in Birmingham, passed away.
He eventually tracked down and met his biological mother, Rita Devletian.He eventually tracked down and met his biological mother, Rita Devletian.
"I found that my mother had actually been on one of the last Kindertransports from Germany via the Netherlands to this country," he said."I found that my mother had actually been on one of the last Kindertransports from Germany via the Netherlands to this country," he said.
"I then learned that my grandmother had been murdered in Auschwitz and my grandfather had died just after getting out of a hard labour camp in 1943.""I then learned that my grandmother had been murdered in Auschwitz and my grandfather had died just after getting out of a hard labour camp in 1943."
Mr Kriss' grandparents, Mary and Gerhard Levy, both died at the hands of the NazisMr Kriss' grandparents, Mary and Gerhard Levy, both died at the hands of the Nazis
Mr Kriss said he would use Holocaust Memorial Day to reflect on all those who had died or lost loved ones during the Nazi genocide - and the impact on his own family.Mr Kriss said he would use Holocaust Memorial Day to reflect on all those who had died or lost loved ones during the Nazi genocide - and the impact on his own family.
"When people die, when families are destroyed, I think you are completely destroying a part of the world's future," he explained."When people die, when families are destroyed, I think you are completely destroying a part of the world's future," he explained.
"I feel very strongly that I've missed out on a very, very important part of my life.""I feel very strongly that I've missed out on a very, very important part of my life."
And he said there was an important message to pass onto the current and future generations about that period of history.And he said there was an important message to pass onto the current and future generations about that period of history.
"It's the lesson that unless evil is confronted face on by those people that are doing good, you will get a repeat of this type of thing," said Mr Kriss."It's the lesson that unless evil is confronted face on by those people that are doing good, you will get a repeat of this type of thing," said Mr Kriss.
"We are blessed by being in a democratic society where we can all have a viewpoint, where we can all be free to be whatever we want to be – Jewish, Christian, Muslim."We are blessed by being in a democratic society where we can all have a viewpoint, where we can all be free to be whatever we want to be – Jewish, Christian, Muslim.
"But there are other groups of people who do not agree, and I think once you start losing the rights of individuals and losing the respect for other individuals, something like the Holocaust can happen again.""But there are other groups of people who do not agree, and I think once you start losing the rights of individuals and losing the respect for other individuals, something like the Holocaust can happen again."
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