About the Survivor

Daniel Goldsmith was born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1931. When the German Army invaded Belgium in 1940, Goldsmith and his family attempted to flee to France but were stopped and forced to return to Antwerp. In 1942, his father was sent to a forced labor camp. Later that year, his house was raided by Nazis. The next night, Daniel’s mother contacted a member of the Belgian Underground Resistance movement and placed him and his sister in a Catholic convent. A few months later, he was moved into a boy’s orphanage and was given the false name of “Willy Peters.” In 1944, his orphanage was raided, and Daniel was caught and imprisoned with other Jewish boys. While being transported by train to another prison, Daniel and the boys broke the train floor to escape. Finding themselves in Perwez, Belgium, the children contacted the local priest, who hid them in various homes in the village. Daniel lived in the attic of a house until September 1944 when American troops liberated the town. Daniel reconnected with his mother and sister, and together they traveled to the United States in 1948. Today, Daniel resides outside of Philadelphia. Over the last thirty years, he has traveled and shared his Holocaust story to countless schools, houses of worship, and community centers.

About the Project

Over the course of four sessions totaling more than five hours, Daniel and I discussed his story, lived experiences, and perspective on American Jewish life and Antisemitism. The conversations were condensed into a video and poster board presentation as part of the Stories that Live Fellowship. Speaking with Mr. Goldsmith was an immense honor, and I am excited to share his story with the WashU community and beyond.