Sylvia Blair

Eighty-seven-year old Leo Bretholz is a Holocaust survivor. Vivid memories of the atrocity that killed his mother and sister still haunt him. He only survived because he took a leap for his life from a train bound for Auschwitz.

Decades later, Leo is on a mission. It is to share his story with as many people as will listen, so that history may not repeat itself.

Leo is not a bitter man. In fact, he is friendly and loves a good conversation. The author, lecturer, traveler, lover of languages, husband, father, and grandfather has appeared on radio, TV, and in newspapers. In his humble estimation, the biggest treasure in life is the blessing of close relationships.

Interestingly, Leo’s most gratifying and enduring friendship is based right here in Carroll County. This friendship fuels a mutual passion for making the Holocaust story meaningful, for present and future generations. This friendship is based on the hope that the unthinkable should never happen again.

This friendship is between Leo Bretholz and Tom Hockstra, Carroll Community College adjunct professor of History.

Leo’s Story
“Speaking out is not a luxury my mother or sister had. I am fortunate to have the luxury of freedom of choice to accept or not accept invitations to speak. I usually accept. Last year, I did 50 presentations,” Leo explained. “I speak for the voices that have been stilled. As long as I can walk and am able to speak, I will make sure that I raise awareness of this tragic situation in history. If people are not aware, it is as if the innocents are dying all over again.”

Leo cannot help but get emotional when he remembers being a 21-year-old, motivated by fear to escape his captors from a cattle car train heading to Auschwitz on November 6, 1942.

The author of the book “Leap Into Darkness,” Leo writes to his readers: “As my friend Manfred Silberwasser and I clung to couplings at the back of the rumbling car, and waited for our moment to leap into the French countryside, I had only vague notions of the events to follow: for the frightened souls left inside, mass murder within a few days; for me, a life on the run, barely eluding those who wished to kill me for the crime of being Jewish.”

Leo tells of the helpful strangers he encountered along the way, years before he eventually came to America. There were priests who accepted him, a wonderful nun who protected him, and passersby who noticed when he needed medical attention. Through these experiences, Leo learned a new appreciation for humanity.

Leo learned some tough lessons, too. “I learned that throughout history, our enemies must be believed when they say what they will do to us. Take them seriously,” Leo said.

He also learned an inspirational lesson. “I have found that each one of us individually can make a little difference. Together, we can make a big difference. I repeat this mantra to my audiences whenever I speak,” Leo said.

This May, Leo will return to the high school of his boyhood. The high school houses an exhibit on the basement level. A student project there is a collage of pictures and historical documents about the Jews of Vienna. The irony is that historically, basements served as assembly places for Jews prior to their deportation. Leo brings such forgotten stories to light every time he speaks.

Tom’s Perspective
As an instructor and a friend, Tom Hockstra never tires of hearing Leo’s stories. He knows them like the back of his hand, yet he cannot help but react to the sadness in Leo’s voice and the tear that runs down his cheek. A fresh feeling of compassion wells inside Tom like the first time he felt his friend’s pain.

He listens intently to Leo, eyes transfixed on a real life example right out of the history books. Tom uses these stories to make the Holocaust come alive. He uses these stories to impress upon students that the worst reaction to a tragedy is to simply stand by and do nothing. Tom hopes he is grooming students not to stand by in the face of injustice.

“Leo gives his audiences the chance to experience oral history,” Tom said. “His is a very emotional story. Yet, amazingly, what impresses me the most about Leo is that he still has a sense of humor. I cherish and value this about him,” Tom said.

Annually, Tom invites his good friend Leo to speak before Carroll students, faculty, and staff during Holocaust Remembrance Month each April. Leo spoke on Wednesday, April 2 at 5:00 p.m. in the Theater in the Scott Center at the college.

How Leo and Tom Became Friends
The survivor and the instructor socialize as a foursome with their wives, frequently e-mail one another, and grab every chance they can to swap stories about the people they have touched over the years, from the very young to the very wise.

Their friendship began in the mid 1990’s, while Tom was a high school teacher in Baltimore County. He was invited to participate in summer seminars conducted by Baltimore County Public Schools. “I would frequently run into Leo there. When he published his book, I took the opportunity to talk in depth with him. We started getting together socially. Over time, our relationship evolved into a genuine, long-lasting one of mutual respect,” Tom said.

Just like all close friends, Leo and Tom tend to finish each other’s sentences, laugh at each other’s jokes, and listen attentively. “Tom tells me what he thinks and I say what I think. In this way, our thoughts become richer,” Leo said.

Leo now lives in Pikesville. Tom lives in Taneytown. The two men, one a lover of history, and one who once lived history, may have lives that are worlds apart. Yet, the friends remain connected through their compassion for the victims of the Holocaust and their pledge to never forget.

Tom Hockstra and Leo Bretholz

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