Victor Rona, The Sad, Sad Life

Victor Rona, The Sad, Sad Life

  Victor Rona was born on December 26, 1928 in Satu-Mare. He lived there with his parents and his older brother, Erwin. His father’s name was Alexander Samuel Rona, who attended the University in Budapest. Alexander, Victor’s father, made a living by being a professor in the State Commercial College in Satu-Mare. Victor’s mother, Magdalena, worked for Jewish communal activities. Anne’s and Victor’s life were very similar because they both have one dad and one mom and they both had a brother or sister. I know this because the text states,”Where he lived with his parents and his older brother, Erwin.”

  Jews comprised 20% of the population in Satu-Mare.They took an active role in the development of commerce and industry in the city, and were found in almost all professions. When Hungary annexed Satu-Mare in 1940, it passed anti semitic measures barring Jews from various professions. Victor’s father lost his job, but became director of the Jewish high school, which was founded in 1941. Life for the Jews in Hungary was difficult, but most did not see their lives threatened.

  As a high school student, Victor excelled in language just like Anne Frank. Victor also, was very good at sports and music. He won a medal in a fencing competition against a team that was non-Jewish, despite the anti semitic attitude of the period. He took music lessons, and he spent hours on his stamp collection. He was also active in several youth Jewish organizations, where he was very well liked and had lots of friends.

  In March 1944, Germany invaded Hungary. Two months later, the Jews of Satu-Mare were suddenly forced by the Germans to live in a ghetto. Deportations to death camps came almost immediately. Victor and his family were deported on May 30, 1944. Victor was only 15 years old and strong and healthy, so he was chosen for forced labor instead of immediate death. From June 1944 to April 1945, he was sent to four different slave labor camps in Germany. Somehow, he survived all four death camps, but he was liberated in April 1945. Five days later, he died of a bayonet wound in his left arm. He was sixteen years old when he died.

  Victor and I were somewhat alike and somewhat different because he was Jewish and I am American. He liked to play sports and I like to play sports. I know he liked to play sports because the text states,”Victor excelled in literature, music, and sports.” Anne and Victor were alike too because they both died at the same age. I know they died at the same age because the text states,”Victor was 16 years old when he died.” Victor was one of the 1.5 million Jewish children that was murdered by the Germans.