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Max Eisen was born in Moldava, Czechoslovakia. When he was ten years old, Hungary occupied Slovakia and eventually in 1944 his family was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where most of them were immediately murdered in gas chambers. Max, his father and uncle worked as slave laborers, but 2 months later his father and uncle were selected out for experiments never to be seen again.
Max managed to survive the Death March in January 1945 and camps at Mauthausen, Melk and Ebensee in Austria. He was liberated by the American 761st Black Panther Tank Battalion on May 6th 1945. Eventually he returned to Czechoslovakia where he spent 3 years in an orphanage. Max arrived at Quebec City in October 1949 en route to Toronto where he currently resides.
In 2016 Max Eisen released his memoir ‘By Chance Alone’ published by Harper Collins.
Max's recent accomplishments include:
Honorary Doctorate (LL.D.) awarded by Trent University, June 2018
Honorary Doctorate (LL.D.) awarded by Western University, October 2019
Author of: ‘By Chance Alone’ published in 2016 by HarperCollins
2019 Winner of Canada Reads - One Book That Moves You
2016 finalist RBC Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction
Honorary Doctorate (LL.D.) awarded by University of Saskatchewan, November 2020
Honorary Doctorate (LL.D.) awarded by The Law Society of Ontario, November 2020
Appointment to the Order of Canada December 29th, 2021
In this episode, we explore the following questions:
- Tell us about your childhood and those who influenced the life skills you needed?
- What role did your father play in your survival and adjusting to camp life in Auschwitz?
- What was it like the last moments with your father?
- How did you deal with your emotions when facing life and death situations?
- After liberation at age 16, how did you adjust to being alone and rebuild your life as an orphan?
- What was it like to write your memoir?
- What was the process of reliving all those memories?
- How did you deal with your emotions when facing life and death situations?
- What advice or suggestions would you give to someone struggling? What can people do to build and strengthen their mental fortitude?
Max Eisen:
Website: MaxEisen.com
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