Testimony

Sonia Kurland (née Goldberg) was born in 1923 in Siedlce, Poland, into a Jewish family. Not long after her fifth birthday and her brother’s birth, her family moved to Belgium. She also had a sister born in 1930. She grew up speaking Yiddish at home, but quickly learned French and Dutch in Belgium. The family's decision to come to Brussels was driven by the desire for a better life. Sonia's father, Chalom Zavol Goldberg, worked hard, making boots and slippers, eventually establishing a successful business. Her mother, Kiegla Goldberg helped to manage the family business. Despite the challenges, Sonia enjoyed her school years, embracing both her studies and extracurricular activities. The German occupation of Belgium in 1940 brought about a series of hardships, including bombings. Sonia's family tried to escape the country, but they could not get through France. The Germans transported the family back to Brussels from Dunkirk, as refugees. The family escaped the roundup of Jews. Sonia, then, found different hiding places for her siblings and for her while her parents were occupied with work. After her brother faced starvation in an overcrowded foster home, he was relocated to a family outside Brussels, while Sonia's sister found safety on a farm near Tournai. Amidst the war's traumas, Sonia's deteriorating health led her to a hospital, where she later met Josette. With Josette's support, Sonia received fake paper and adopted the fake name of 'Betty Devos'. Under this new identity, she worked as a governess in Brussels, constantly fearing Nazi capture. Eventually, she found refuge on a farm where she spent the war's duration. After the war, the family emigrated to the US, where Sonia got married and had a daughter. Her interview was recorded in 1999, in Livingston, New Jersey.