Peters' essay describes her family's journey to escape the Nazis and Communism, remaining in Hungary until 1956. She and her husband were part of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters group, and escaped to Vienna, and then to the U.S.

Vayda's essay describes her young-adulthood in Hungary, and being sent to Birkenau camp in 1944, and successive camps afterward. She came to the United States in 1956 with her husband and children.

Henry Kronberg was nineteen when the Nazis invaded Poland. He was sent to several labor camps, and liberated in 1945.

Jacques Ribons describes his life during the Nazi occupation of Poland. During the liquidation of the Jewish ghetto, his family decided to turn themselves in to the Germans. They were sent to a prison and separated. He and his brother survived and went to France with the OSE, and came to the United States in 1947.

Joe Frank's family lived in Germany during Kristallnacht, and was able to escape to England in 1939. They came to the United States in 1940.

Judd Nissanov's journey escaping the Nazis as part of the Polish army took him to Persia, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt.

Lucy Gliuck Jacobs describes her time in Auschwitz, where her parents perished. She was the only survivor of her family of seven children.