Holocaust Survivor Oral Histories

Ann Leikach was born in Pultusk, Poland on August 11, 1923. The daughter of Abram and Dwojra, owners of a candy factory, Ann grew up with four siblings. When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the Nazis rounded up all the Jews and forced them out of Pultusk. Ann and her family were sent to a labor camp in Vologodskaya Oblast, Russia, although the entire camp was liberated a year later on the condition that no Jews move to large cities. The family made their way to Uzbekistan, where they lived for the remainder of war. With nowhere else to go following liberation in 1945, they returned to Poland and discovered that all of their relatives had perished. Ann’s mother, Dwojra, had been in contact with her brother in Detroit, Michigan with hopes of immigrating to the United States, but tragically lost her life to Anti-Semites, as did Ann’s older brother and father. Ann soon immigrated to Detroit and worked several odd jobs. She met her husband, Martin Leikach, while at a clothing factory. The two later married and had their first child, Arthur. They moved to Baltimore to be closer to Martin’s family and gave birth to their second child, Debbie. Ann and Martin managed a small grocery store. Ann spent much of her time sharing her story to students and surrounding communities.