At the Sobibor killing center, Chaim Engel and Selma Wijnberg were among the few selected for forced labor

At the Sobibor killing center, Chaim Engel and Selma Wijnberg were among the few selected for forced labor. They met while working together in the clothes-sorting area—and attempted to pocket food and valuables, including any possible weapons, for an uprising.

On October 14, 1943, Chaim was part of a small group of prisoners that revolted.

As chaos ensued, the young Jewish couple ran into the woods. With money they had taken from separating clothing, the couple paid a farmer to allow them to hide in his barn.

While close to 300 prisoners escaped, only about 50 would survive the war—including Chaim and Selma. At least 167,000 Jews were killed at Sobibor.

Click the link in our bio to learn more about Sobibor.

First photo: Selma and Chaim are pictured here, center, with their child and two other couples in Odessa, circa May 1945. USHMM, courtesy of Selma Wijnberg Engel

Second Photo: Selma Wijnberg Engel. USHMM, courtesy of Selma Wijnberg Engel

Third Photo: Chaim Engel. USHMM, courtesy of Chaim Engel

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