Holocaust survivor gives talk





KINGFIELD — Charles Rotmil has kept track of the events in his life through news clippings of papers such as the New York Times. He is a survivor of the Holocaust; a word that he said was not used until after World War II. Rotmil’s life was spared because he was a hidden child.A blond, blue eyed little boy, he changed his name and lived with a Catholic family for much of the war. He went to school with them and was even an altar boy at a church where German Nazis sat in the pews.Rotmil shared many of the newspaper stories with the audience that gathered to hear him speak at the Kingfield Elementary School on Wednesday, March 13. GirlsTalk invited him here after reading about WWII and the Holocaust in assigned books. Group organizers Laurie Tranten and Kirsten Swan wanted the girls to hear a personal account of the horrors so that what they read would be more real to them.Swan who coordinates UMF student mentors and is the assistant director of student development there said Rotmil “used his ingenuity and never gave up” as a young boy. She said through their programs they try to teach the girls “to try their best. If one way doesn’t work, try another.”She said that although the girls live in Kingfield, which is safer than most places, Rotmil made a connection between the Holocaust and “9-11 to say we’re not as safe as we once were.”Rotmil had a number of photos to share with the group. When he showed them a picture of a Nazi rally in 1934, he said the plight of the people being targeted by the Nazis was “going on in full view of the world.” Although the war did not start until much later, he and his family had been on the run since his birth.In the 30’s, Hitler had what were called the Bronze Shirts; men that would later become the S.S. Rotmil said the start of the Holocaust for some was in November of 1938 when there was a massive attack against Jews. At that time his father was beaten and arrested by the Bronze Shirts.One photo was a family portrait that an uncle gave him after the war. It is the only memento he has from his childhood.Rotmil, who is from Portland, was suggested to Tranten and Swan through the Maine Human Rights Council. GirlsTalk was also allowed to borrow a photo display that told the stories of other survivors to provide an “in your face” look at the Holocaust.

Holocaust survivor Charles Rotmil was invited by Girls  Talk to spead at Kingfield School last week.

Holocaust survivor Charles Rotmil was invited by Girls Talk to spead at Kingfield School last week.

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