Salomon Pila

Salomon Pila was born in Charscniza, Poland and grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home with four brothers.  His father was a cattle and horse dealer.

In 1942, he and his family were moved into the Slonim Ghetto after German occupation.  There they were forced to build roads and railways.

Later in the same year he was deported to a series of camps beginning with Reichof.  He was assigned to kitchen and burial duty.

From 1943 to 1944, Salomon worked in Oscar Schindler’s factory and because of this received improved living conditions.  He returned to Plaszow and then Mauthausen and worked in the quarry. He later volunteered to go to Linz as a factory electrician.

On May 5, 1945 he was liberated in Linz, Austria by the American Army.  From his family, only one brother survived.

Salomon Pila was filmed by the University of South Florida Libraries.