Schragai, Alice | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

Alice Schragai was born in Kassa (Kosice), Czechoslovakia. Her family was an upper middle class.

In 1944, German troops took control of Kassa. Soon they began deportations of the Jewish population to concentration camps. The Schagrais were deported to Auschwitz concentration camp (Auschwitz-Birkenau), where the family was split up. Her father was immediately sent to the gas chambers and killed, and her mother was gassed some time later.

After being moved from camp to camp, Alice was sent to Stutthof concentration camp, where she worked at the aircraft manufacturing plant until her liberation by the Soviet army in March 1945. After the liberation, she returned to Kassa only to discover that her parents had not survived. She found some friends, settled down, and began working as a cashier. Eventually, she made her way to Palestine by contriving a fictitious marriage with an older man, who was able to emigrate with her.

Once she arrived, Alice discovered that her fictitious husband was already married, while his real wife was having an affair. Alice immediately asked for a divorce. Due to her poor financial situation, it was not possible for her to be granted an official religious divorce, which required rabbinical fees. Therefore, Alice simply signed a document stating that she would never pursue any fathering obligation from her husband.

Later, Alice found a job and unknowingly joined the Stern military organization, instead of the Zionist organization. Once she realized her mistake, she left the Stern organization. In 1951, Alice married Mr. Schragai, and lived with him in Israel until they immigrated to America.