Helene Zylberszac

Helene Zylberszac, a Polish Jew, was born in Anderlecht, a borough of Brussels, in 1927. She was arrested in January 1943, and was sent to the Dossin Barracks on the 16th.

Helene Zylberszac shortly before her deportation - Her mortal remains, in Tirlemont on 20 April 1943
Helene Zylberszac, a Polish Jew, was born in Anderlecht, a borough of Brussels, in 1927.
When she first registered as a Jew, she was living alone in Rue Bara, a street in Anderlecht. She was arrested in January 1943, and was sent to the Dossin Barracks on the 16th. She was among the first to be registered on the list for Transport 20 of 19 April 1943. After three months in the Sammellager, she was put in the front of the train, close to the escort of Schupos (Schutzpolizei), just behind the locomotive. This was the first time that cattle trucks were used for a transport. Despite this and the deadliness of the Schupos’ fire there were numerous attempted escapes. The train stopped for half an hour at Tienen (Tirlemont). Helene, 16, and unaccompanied, took her chances and managed to get out of the truck. The Schupos opened fire and she was killed.
Publication info

ADRIAENS Ward, STEINBERG Maxime (et al.), Mecheln-Auschwitz, 1942-1944. The destruction of Jews and gypsies from Belgium, 4 volumes, Brussels, 2009

Dr. Maxime Steinberg & Dr. Laurence Schram