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Holocaust survivor  tells audience not to endure even mild prejudice

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 9:04 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — After Werner Coppel survived the Holocaust, he resolved never again to tolerate prejudice in any form.

The Cincinnati man, who gave a lecture Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Miami University Middletown, endured being separated from his family, watching people die and other horrors many people cannot begin to imagine. He makes it his mission to tell his listeners they should not endure even mild prejudice.

For instance, he said that even terms like “Indian giver” and “gyp,” which is short for gypsy, make him balk, and he asks people not to talk that way around him.

“You can do the same,” he said to the audience. “Stand up against hate and prejudice, even if it does not affect you.”

Coppel was 8 years old when Hitler came to power in 1933. He survived the Neuendorf labor camp near Berlin, Auschwitz death camp in Poland and death marches to Germany near the end of the war. In 1945, he was on such a march during which time he saw six truckloads of dead prisoners.

Finally, one day, while the Nazis were distracted  by shooting, Coppel escaped with two other Jews, hiding in the woods for a week.

Asked after the lecture if he ever lost faith in God, Coppel said he did not, but he felt so degraded that the question on his mind was “Where’s the next garbage can were you can find something to eat?”

Coppel eventually moved to Cincinnati in 1949 to join his wife’s family. When he got to America, he picked up English by watching Western movies.

“I became an expert on Hopalong Cassidy. You probably don’t even know who that was,” he said.

One young boy asked Coppel if he still had his concentration camp number tattooed on him. He replied that he did and added, “If you ever need a PIN number, you don’t forget it.”

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I am so sick and tired of the HATE! Hate is everywhere no matter where you go, what you do, who you meet it's there in your face all the time. We may not all be the same color, race, religion but we are all HUMAN beings. Hate will only be eradicated when we start teaching our own children and showing them how to love and respect others and that Hate is the Devil's design, not God's. Will this world ever see peace, respect, love, and unity with all mankind? NOT IN MY LIFETIME I'm sure .

Cheryl
9:27 AM, 11/11/2009

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I agree with Uncle Andy's opinion concerning the state of affairs of the Palestinians. What right does the Zionist State of Israel have to inflict the same conditions endured in Nazi Germany? We'd probably end 99% of our problems in the Middle East by DUMPING that Zionist Government of Israel on their BUTTS, make them responsible for their own actions! Without the USA support, the Zionists would have to become more diplomatic in order to survive in their country or be eradicated!

Thomas D. Porter
2:00 PM, 11/5/2009

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real life.........this is why you should always...trust in the Lord..

1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Silverback
12:13 PM, 11/5/2009

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It's a shame that we have forgotten how to be simply Americans. Now we are all members of various hyphenated, ethnic, racial, social, economic or special interest groups egged on by professional "baiters", politicians, lawyers, lobbyists, media, etc. to feel offended or victimized. Bad stuff has happened throughout history perpetrated by various individuals, groups and nations. It continues to this day. We no longer share common values, as Americans, only agendas. Mourn our heritage - it's dead!

cda
9:52 AM, 11/5/2009

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That is very interesting. My experiences in life have taught me jewish people think they are superior because they are "god's chosen people". I have been disrespected, cheated, step over for promotion, chided and hurt by several friends who happen to be jewish. When I question them on what they did or said they tell me " you wouldn't understand your aren't jewish". Regardless white, black, or any combination there of,people are people EVERYONE...even the jews...should respect each other.

real life
9:02 AM, 11/5/2009

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