2022 First Person Series: Frank Cohn

Frank Cohn was nine years old when his favorite teacher began wearing a Nazi uniform, classmates sang Nazi songs, and he was chased by a gang of Hitler Youth. Frank outran them. It was 1934 in Germany. Frank’s father went to New York City to secure an affidavit and the family reunited there on October 30, 1938—ten days before Germany’s night of nation-wide violence known as Kristallnacht. “The timing of our escape was indeed a miracle,” said Frank.

After the US entered World War II, Frank was drafted, sworn in as an American citizen, and served in an Intelligence unit after the Army learned he could speak German.

Speaker
Frank Cohn, Holocaust Survivor and USHMM Volunteer

Moderator
Bill Benson, Journalist and Host, First Person: Conversations with Holocaust Survivors

Watch live at youtube.com/ushmm. You do not need a YouTube account to view USHMM's program. After the live broadcast, the recording will be available to watch on demand on USHMM's YouTube page.

First Person is a monthly hour-long discussion with a Holocaust survivor and is made possible through generous support from the Louis Franklin Smith Foundation, with additional funding from the Arlene and Daniel Fisher Foundation.