A Holocaust Survivor's Story: 90-Year-Old Ralph Rehbach Shares His Escape from Nazi Germany

I have a really special episode for you today with the oldest guest I’ve ever had on Guyset. It’s his first ever podcast at 90 years old, Ralph Rehbock is on today to share the story of how he and his family survived the holocaust.

The opportunity to hear from Holocaust survivors is so limited as many of them are no longer here with us and most people have never had the chance and might not ever get the chance to do so. I feel so fortunate to share this episode with you and I thought that because I have a permanent place to keep Ralph and his family's story alive forever, that people can always come back and listen to, I can’t pass up the opportunity to do so. It’s also the perfect time to do this episode with tomorrow being Yom Hashoah, Holocaust remembrance day.

In the beginning of the episode, Ralph shares his incredibly valuable advice, a charge for all young guys listening, and I hope you get the chance to do it. I gained a new and important perspective through this episode and I hope you will too. Thank you Ralph!

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At 90 years old, Ralph Rehbach carries within him a story that every young person needs to hear. Born in Gothart, Germany in 1934, Ralph lived through one of history's darkest chapters and emerged to build a life of purpose and meaning in America. His family's harrowing escape from Nazi Germany offers lessons that resonate powerfully today.

The Power of Family Stories: Ralph's Message to Young Men

Before sharing his own story, Ralph leaves every young listener with a challenge:

"Take your devices, get together with your parents slash grandparents slash great grandparents. Ask them where they were born. Ask them where they met. Ask them where they went to school. Ask them what their jobs were."

Ralph emphasizes that stories matter—not just Holocaust stories, but all family histories. Too often, when people pass away, their stories die with them, and families scramble to piece together memories for funerals or family trees.

The Rise of the Nazi Party: How Democracy Failed

Ralph's story begins not with concentration camps, but with economic collapse and political manipulation. After Germany's defeat in World War I, the country faced devastating hyperinflation:

The shocking numbers:

• 1918: 7 German marks = $1 USD

• 1923: 215 trillion marks = $1 USD

This economic crisis created the perfect conditions for Adolf Hitler's rise to power. In 1933, the Nazi Party won only 33% of the vote in a field of 30 political parties—a sobering reminder of how democracies can be subverted by extremist minorities.

The Systematic Dehumanization of Jews

Hitler didn't rely on existing antisemitism—he manufactured it. As Ralph explains:

"Hitler made sure that the people, the population of Germany knew what a Jew and who a Jew was because he used the word race. He assigned, by lying, physical characteristics to us."

The Nazis claimed all Jews had:

• Reddish complexions

• Kinky brown hair

• Large, crooked noses

"There was no such person," Ralph clarifies, "but they hired artists to paint ugly, ugly pictures that they posted all over Germany."

Ralph reveals a lesser-known fact about Nazi Germany—there was no yellow star requirement for German Jews because they were already registered in a punch card system imported from America. This sophisticated tracking made individual identification unnecessary.

The Nuremberg Laws: Gradual Elimination of Rights

The Nazi persecution didn't begin with death camps—it started with seemingly minor restrictions that gradually stripped away basic human rights:

What Jewish children could no longer do:

• Attend public school

• Ride bicycles

• Swim in public pools

• Participate in sports (excluding Jewish athletes from the 1936 Olympics)

What Jewish adults lost:

• Right to work for non-Jewish employers (and vice versa)

• Passports and driver's licenses

• Ability to sit on park benches

• Membership in any organizations

Ralph's mother, a dental hygienist, was fired simply because she worked for a non-Jewish dentist—even though he opposed the Nazis.

Kristallnacht: The Night of Broken Glass

November 9, 1938, marked a turning point. Ralph and his parents were in Berlin to get American visas when Kristallnacht erupted around them:

The devastation in one night:

• 1,400 synagogues burned to the ground

• 30,000 Jewish men arrested

• 91 people killed

• Thousands of Jewish-owned stores destroyed

Ralph watched from their hotel window as the synagogue across the street burned. By morning, a sign appeared in their hotel lobby: "No Jews Allowed."

The name "Kristallnacht" (Crystal Night) came from the glittering glass shards covering the streets—a deceptively beautiful name for a night of terror. Germany has since renamed it "the November Pogrom," acknowledging its true nature as a coordinated riot.

A Life-Saving Message

That night, a teenage Jewish housekeeper saved Ralph's father's life with quick thinking and a coded message. When the Gestapo came looking for men between 16 and 60 to arrest, she told them "I don't know" where Ralph's father was—the smartest possible answer that couldn't be questioned further.

She then called the hotel with a prearranged code: "The English lesson has been canceled." This simple message warned Ralph's father never to return home, likely saving his life.

The Miraculous Escape: A Series of Unlikely Events

Ralph's family's escape reads like a thriller, but it was all too real. A sequence of fortunate events and strangers' kindness saved their lives:

1. The Lottery System

The American Embassy in Berlin received thousands of visa applications but had only limited visas to give. They created a lottery system—Ralph's family's number was drawn.

2. The Holiday Coincidence

When embassy paperwork took longer than expected, they were told to return on November 11th—not knowing it was Veterans Day (Armistice Day) and the embassy would be closed.

3. The Marine Guard's Initiative

A Marine guard found the ambassador on his day off and convinced him to return to issue their visas personally.

4. The Mysterious Dutchman

At the Dutch border, an unknown man tapped Ralph's mother on the shoulder and said, "Don't believe the people that said you're going to get onto the next train. Listen to me." He led them to safety across the border into Holland at the exact moment the train was departing.

The Price of Freedom

In a cruel twist, the Nazi government allowed Jews to take their belongings if they surrendered all their money except for $4. Ralph's family was permitted to ship furniture, dishes, toys—even his electric train set—but had to give up everything of monetary value.

As Ralph notes, this policy served the Nazis' need for funds to build their war machine while creating the illusion of reasonable treatment.

Life in America: Choosing to Be American

On the ship to America, Ralph's parents made a crucial decision. His father told him:

"We are going to be Americans. We are no longer going to be speaking German. You are going to learn English and you're going to go to an American school."

Ralph's name changed from Rolf to Ralph, and he entered American kindergarten at age five, fully embracing his new country while never forgetting his past.

Why Holocaust Education Matters Today

Ralph emphasizes that Holocaust education is crucial because:

1. Without education, future generations won't learn the lessons of the past

2. Misinformation spreads when people don't hear firsthand accounts

3. Antisemitism is rising again in alarming numbers today

In states where Holocaust education is mandated, students learn these vital lessons. In states without such requirements, dangerous gaps in knowledge persist.

The Ripple Effect of One Family's Action

Ralph's story wouldn't exist without the courage of one family in Chicago. His mother's cousin, an insurance executive, provided the affidavit of support that enabled their escape. This man later expressed regret, saying:

"If I only knew what was going on in Germany during those days, I could have saved hundreds or even thousands."

This echoes the famous scene in Schindler's List where Oskar Schindler breaks down, saying he could have saved more people.

Hitler Did Not Win: Ralph's Legacy

Today, at 90, Ralph can proudly say:

• Married with children and grandchildren

• Ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren

• A life spanning 68 years in America

• Countless students educated through his storytelling

As Ralph puts it: "Hitler did not win as far as we were concerned."

Understanding Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)

Ralph explains the significance of Yom HaShoah:

• Yom = Hebrew for "day"

• Ha = Hebrew for "the"

• Shoah = Hebrew word for Holocaust

The date commemorates not just the liberation of Auschwitz (January 27), but the entire period from 1933-1945 when Hitler's genocidal plan unfolded.

Critical clarification: The Holocaust didn't begin with the war in 1939—it started the moment Hitler became chancellor on January 20, 1933.

Ralph's Call to Action Against Modern Antisemitism

Ralph's warning for today's generation is clear and urgent:

"Anti-Semitic things are being told today in a much greater amount than years and years and years since the actual antisemitism reached its peak, which was the Holocaust. But today, it's happening again."

His message: Be vigilant. Don't participate in or accept antisemitic rhetoric from fellow citizens. History shows where such hatred can lead.

The Importance of Preserving Stories

Ralph's story represents something invaluable—a firsthand account from someone who lived through humanity's darkest chapter. At 90, he continues sharing his story because he understands that eyewitness testimony cannot be replaced by textbooks or documentaries.

This was Ralph's first-ever interview of this kind in his 90 years of life, making his willingness to share even more meaningful.

Lessons for Today's Young Men

Ralph's story offers several crucial lessons for young men today:

1. Document your family history before it's too late

2. Stand against hatred in all its forms

3. Appreciate the freedoms you have

4. Understand how democracies can fail when people become complacent

5. Choose hope over despair—Ralph built a beautiful life after unimaginable trauma

The Power of Individual Action

Ralph's survival hinged on individual acts of courage and kindness:

• A teenage girl's quick thinking

• An ambassador willing to work on his day off

• A stranger at a train station

• An American family's willingness to sponsor refugees

These moments remind us that ordinary people can make extraordinary differences in the lives of others.

Connect with History

Ralph's story is preserved at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, Illinois. If you're ever in the Chicago area, visit to learn more about survivor stories and ensure these lessons continue for future generations.

Ralph's story reminds us that ordinary people can survive extraordinary circumstances through courage, quick thinking, and the kindness of strangers. His life is a testament to resilience and the power of choosing hope over hatred. Share this story, remember its lessons, and visit the Holocaust Museum in his honor.

Key Takeaways:

• Document family stories before they're lost forever

• Understand how gradually democracy and human rights can erode

• Stand against antisemitism and all forms of hatred

• Appreciate the freedoms and opportunities we have today

• Remember that history can repeat itself if we're not vigilant

• Individual acts of courage can save lives and change history

Want more stories about guys who overcame incredible challenges and built meaningful lives? Subscribe to Guyset for conversations about resilience, purpose, and learning from those who've lived through history's most important moments.

Click here for Ralph's profile at the Illinois Holocaust Museum

Click here for the Illinois Holocaust Museum

Click here for Man's Search for Meaning

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