A Mother's Hidden Truth: Uncovering the Secrets of a Second World War Survivor
For years, journalist Marisa Fox was fed a narrative about her mother's life during the Second World War - one that included tales of bravery and heroism. But as she grew older, Fox began to notice inconsistencies in the story, and a nagging sense that something was amiss.
As a young girl, Fox would hear stories from her mother about being a teenager living in Poland on the brink of Nazi occupation. She claimed to have been pulled away from her family and put on a boat to Palestine, where she spent the rest of the war as part of a radical Jewish underground group. These stories left an indelible mark on Fox, but as she approached adolescence, she started to question whether they were entirely true.
"Her relationship with me began to change and harden," Fox recalled, describing how her mother's demeanor shifted when she realized her daughter was entering womanhood. "She became protective in a way that went beyond the normal bounds of Jewish mothers."
Despite her mother's assurances that she was a hero, not a victim, Fox couldn't shake the feeling that there were gaping holes in the story. It wasn't until 2010, when an elderly great-aunt revealed to Fox that "your mother had a hidden identity," did she finally begin to unravel the truth.
Through relentless sleuthing over 15 years, Fox uncovered a complex web of lies and half-truths that her mother had spun throughout her life. It turned out that her mother had actually been about 14 when the Nazis began their reign of terror in Poland, and not 13 as she claimed. She was sent to a forced labor camp called Gabersdorf, where hundreds of teenage girls were imprisoned and forced to work long hours under brutal conditions.
Fox tracked down over 60 women who had been at Gabersdorf, many of whom had been at the camp when Fox's mother was there. These accounts provided a harrowing glimpse into the camp's dark history, including the systematic rape and trafficking of women by SS men and women. The stories were a sobering reminder that no one escaped unscathed during the war.
The film also explores the complex relationships between the Jewish girls at Gabersdorf and some British PoWs who were brought to the camp. While some of the girls engaged in flings with their captors, others resisted, highlighting the stark contrast between the two groups' experiences.
Fox's own journey to uncovering her mother's secrets was fraught with emotional challenges. She grappled with doubts about revealing the truth, particularly when her brothers warned that their mother might want to hide her past from them. However, Fox believes that hiding from one's true self is ultimately destructive.
"My mother never came to peace with what happened," Fox said, reflecting on why she thinks her mother kept the truth hidden for so long. "But I feel like deep down my mother would have liked to tell me... Shame needs to change sides. The shame doesn't belong to the women. It belongs to the men who did this to them."
The film is a powerful exploration of the complexities of human experience, particularly during times of war and trauma. By shedding light on her mother's hidden past, Fox has created a narrative that can help others heal from their own experiences.
"My Underground Mother" will screen at the New York Jewish Film Festival before going wider later this year.
For years, journalist Marisa Fox was fed a narrative about her mother's life during the Second World War - one that included tales of bravery and heroism. But as she grew older, Fox began to notice inconsistencies in the story, and a nagging sense that something was amiss.
As a young girl, Fox would hear stories from her mother about being a teenager living in Poland on the brink of Nazi occupation. She claimed to have been pulled away from her family and put on a boat to Palestine, where she spent the rest of the war as part of a radical Jewish underground group. These stories left an indelible mark on Fox, but as she approached adolescence, she started to question whether they were entirely true.
"Her relationship with me began to change and harden," Fox recalled, describing how her mother's demeanor shifted when she realized her daughter was entering womanhood. "She became protective in a way that went beyond the normal bounds of Jewish mothers."
Despite her mother's assurances that she was a hero, not a victim, Fox couldn't shake the feeling that there were gaping holes in the story. It wasn't until 2010, when an elderly great-aunt revealed to Fox that "your mother had a hidden identity," did she finally begin to unravel the truth.
Through relentless sleuthing over 15 years, Fox uncovered a complex web of lies and half-truths that her mother had spun throughout her life. It turned out that her mother had actually been about 14 when the Nazis began their reign of terror in Poland, and not 13 as she claimed. She was sent to a forced labor camp called Gabersdorf, where hundreds of teenage girls were imprisoned and forced to work long hours under brutal conditions.
Fox tracked down over 60 women who had been at Gabersdorf, many of whom had been at the camp when Fox's mother was there. These accounts provided a harrowing glimpse into the camp's dark history, including the systematic rape and trafficking of women by SS men and women. The stories were a sobering reminder that no one escaped unscathed during the war.
The film also explores the complex relationships between the Jewish girls at Gabersdorf and some British PoWs who were brought to the camp. While some of the girls engaged in flings with their captors, others resisted, highlighting the stark contrast between the two groups' experiences.
Fox's own journey to uncovering her mother's secrets was fraught with emotional challenges. She grappled with doubts about revealing the truth, particularly when her brothers warned that their mother might want to hide her past from them. However, Fox believes that hiding from one's true self is ultimately destructive.
"My mother never came to peace with what happened," Fox said, reflecting on why she thinks her mother kept the truth hidden for so long. "But I feel like deep down my mother would have liked to tell me... Shame needs to change sides. The shame doesn't belong to the women. It belongs to the men who did this to them."
The film is a powerful exploration of the complexities of human experience, particularly during times of war and trauma. By shedding light on her mother's hidden past, Fox has created a narrative that can help others heal from their own experiences.
"My Underground Mother" will screen at the New York Jewish Film Festival before going wider later this year.
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." ~ Oscar Wilde 
. How can we even begin to fathom what it's like for someone to have a hidden past, especially something as traumatic as being in a concentration camp? It's like, your whole life is built on lies, and you're left wondering what really happened 
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. Marisa Fox's journey to uncovering her mother's secrets takes so much courage, and I'm like totally inspired by her 
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I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. Like in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", there's always more to people than what they let on, right? 
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And then she's all protective and stuff when you start questioning her, like what even is that? 
and 15 years of investigating to finally find out the truth? that's just wild... I mean I get it, trauma and shame can be heavy, but can't she just own up to it instead of hiding behind a web of lies? 
. But what really gets me is how this film sheds light on the complexities of women during wartime 
. Like, who wouldn't want to hide their trauma from loved ones? 
. Anyways, this film sounds like it'll be super important for people who've experienced similar things - can't wait to see it 
!
I'm so over these 'hidden truths' everyone's always spouting about their family histories 
. It's like, we want to protect our kids from the harsh realities of life, but at the same time, we need them to know the truth so they can grow up right 
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. And it's so important for us to understand our own histories so we don't repeat patterns or make the same mistakes 
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I mean, I've had similar experiences where my parents have hinted at things without going into detail... it's like you're left wondering what's really going on in their heads 
. Anyway, this documentary seems like a real eye-opener for anyone who thinks they know their family history inside out 
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