Erika Leviant

Wallenberg, with the help of the Jewish community, had managed to secure several “safe houses” in Budapest by marking them with the Swedish embassy insignia. These homes offered a fragile but essential refuge for many Jews, including Erika’s family, during the mass deportations.

In December 1944, the Russians began bombing Budapest.

Erika’s mother, taking a great risk, hid some jewelry, hoping to use it later to buy food. The atmosphere was terrifying, with people being beaten in the rooms.

At one point, an SS officer gave Erika’s mother two options: return home, which was dangerous, or go to the ghetto, which he said was a safer choice. Those who stayed in the school, however, were not as fortunate. Many were taken to the banks of the Danube River and shot into the water.

Once liberated in mid-January 1945, they returned to her grandparents’ house, which had miraculously survived the war. Back at their apartment, they also took in sick women, helping those who had been affected by the war.

After her father returned from the labor camp, the family, without the grandparents, decided to leave Budapest.

In 1948, while Erika's mother was pregnant, the family returned to Budapest.

After the war, Hungary came under Soviet control, and in 1956, the Hungarian Revolution broke out. Erika’s family, like many others, saw an opportunity to escape. With encouragement from Voice of America broadcasts, some Hungarians attempted to cross the border to freedom. However, when Erika’s family arrived at the bridge that night, it had been blown up.

The Jewish community in Vienna was incredibly supportive, providing them with kosher food and other necessities during their two-week stay.

Their ultimate goal was to reach America. They stood in line at the American Consulate for 24 hours to obtain a visa, and finally, in 1956, they succeeded in securing passage to the United States. Upon arriving in America, Erika and her family first went to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.