The Remarkable Story of a Young Jewish Boy’s Survival During WWII

In a harrowing tale of survival, a young Jewish boy named Oziac Fromm was forced to hide in a forest for nearly two years during World War II to escape the Nazis who had occupied his village in Poland. This article recounts his journey from childhood innocence to the depths of fear and eventual rebirth as Maxwell Smart.

Background: A Child’s Innocence Lost

Oziac Fromm was born in 1930 to a Czech mother and a Polish father. His family moved from what was then Czechoslovakia to Buczacz, a small town that is now part of Ukraine. Before the chaos of war erupted, Oziac remembers his childhood home filled with warmth and love. They often dined by candlelight, as electricity was scarce. His mother was the nurturing figure, while his father focused on his academic pursuits, often only concerned with his son’s performance in school.

The Invasion

In September 1939, the outbreak of World War II saw Buczacz first occupied by Soviet troops due to a secret pact between Hitler and Stalin. But when the Nazis invaded in 1941, everything changed. The Jewish population of Buczacz, once around 8,000, faced terrible persecution.

The day Oziac’s family learned that Jewish residents were being rounded up for deportation, Oziac was thrust into a desperate situation. He had to flee when soldiers arrived to take them away. As chaos ensued, Oziac’s mother urged him to escape as she and his younger sister were taken. She told him, “You must run because no one in our family will come out alive.”

The Harsh Reality of Hiding

After evading capture, Oziac managed to find a secret refuge with a Polish farmer named Jasko and his family. They provided him with clothes and a new identity, calling him “Staszek.” However, one day, when the police came looking for hidden Jews, Jasko courageously denied harboring anyone, allowing Oziac to survive..

Eventually, Oziac had to live alone in the forest, where he became increasingly detached from his former life. He adapted to the wilderness, foraging for mushrooms and wild berries to stay alive, while learning to interpret the sounds of nature as signals of danger.

A New Companion

One day, while scouting for food, Oziac met a younger boy named Janek. They decided to team up, strengthening their makeshift hideout in the woods. While their bond provided companionship amidst uncertainty, it brought a new responsibility for Oziac as he had to find food for both of them.

Tragedy Strikes

In the midst of their survival struggle, they witnessed unimaginable horrors. After stumbling upon a massacre near the river, they heroically rescued a baby found beneath the lifeless body of its mother. However, their attempts to care for the child proved futile, leading to a heartbreaking decision.

As illness took hold of Janek, Oziac sought help from Jasko. Tragically, upon returning to their hideout, he found that Janek had succumbed. This traumatic loss weighed heavily on Oziac, instilling a lifelong guilt that would follow him into his new life.

The End of the War and New Beginnings

When Soviet troops liberated Buczacz in July 1944, Oziac found himself alone, the only survivor among 62 family members. With the Jewish community decimated and nothing left but memories, he gradually learned to navigate life in post-war Europe through various means, including work on the black market.

Eventually, Oziac was moved to Canada as part of a program for Jewish orphans. There, he adopted his new identity, Maxwell Smart, and began to rebuild his life. He became a businessman, got married, had children, and rediscovered his passion for painting, even opening two galleries in Montreal.

Reconnecting With the Past

For decades, Maxwell shunned discussions about his traumatic experiences. However, in 2019, he was approached to participate in a documentary about Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. This project led to a heartwarming reunion with Tova, the baby he once saved, who had thrived despite the odds.

Conclusion

Maxwell Smart’s story is one of resilience, survival, and ultimately redemption. After years of grappling with loss and survivor’s guilt, he embraced his past and shared his story through his book “The Boy in the Forest,” which later inspired a film adaptation. His journey from captivity to freedom serves as a poignant reminder of the human spirit’s remarkable ability to endure.

Key Takeaways

• Oziac Fromm, later Maxwell Smart, survived nearly two years in hiding during WWII.
• His story illustrates the harsh realities faced by Jewish families during the Holocaust.
• Community and courage played critical roles in his survival against overwhelming odds.
• Revisiting the past can lead to healing and connection in unexpected ways.