Surviving Mengele: The Miraculous Story of Holocaust Survivor Olga Shalmon

Olga Shalmon, the mother of actress Lea Shnirer, is a Holocaust survivor who endured the horrors of Dr. Mengele. In an interview with LaIsha magazine, she shared her story and spoke from the depths of her heart: “I believe in miracles, because I myself am a miracle — I survived,” she said. “Twice I was sent into the gas chambers, and twice we were taken out because they had run out of gas. How could I not believe in miracles in this world?!”

Shalmon has decided that her mission is to spread a sense of victory, and not to remain trapped in the role of the victim. “Many memories return to me in old age,” she admits.

Early Life and Deportation

Olga and her twin sister Vera were born in April 1938 in Košice, Czechoslovakia. In 1944, they, along with their parents, were deported to the Birkenau camp and then to Auschwitz in Poland. Their father was sent to the gas chambers.

On the platform stood the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele, searching for twin children for his cruel experiments. When Olga, her twin, and their mother arrived, their fate was sealed.

“My mother stepped forward and told them we were twins,” recalls Olga. “But since we were not identical twins, they accused her of lying and beat her brutally. Mengele said, ‘I will find out for myself if they are twins.’”

Facing Death in the Gas Chambers

Twice, Olga and Vera were taken into the gas chambers, but survived because the gas supply had run out.

“Who knew these were gas chambers?” Olga says. “They kept talking about giving us showers. For me, that sounded like a dream. Nazi soldiers came up to me and said, ‘Come with us, we’ll give you a bath.’ They even handed me a towel and a piece of soap. My mother and sister were told to join me.

“When I stepped inside, I didn’t understand what that choking smell was that hit my nose. Suddenly they shoved us in tightly. I asked, ‘Where’s the shower?’ Then the door slammed shut. I trembled with fear. I didn’t know what would happen next. After some time, the door opened and they shouted at us to get out. They didn’t tell us what had happened — certainly not that the gas had run out. I never thought I was standing on the edge of death.”

Passing Strength to the Next Generations

Lea Shnirer, who joined her mother in the interview, expressed admiration: “My mother told my children a story of heroism, not of victimhood. It’s a story of strength. Where did she draw it from? Perhaps from the pain. She quickly realized that if she remained strong and showed optimism, she could live to reach 84, with two great-grandchildren. Those are the values she passed on to me. Breaking down is a privilege — and we don’t have that privilege.”