Holocaust survivor brings history to life for Baldwin students

Baldwin Middle School students got a firsthand history lesson Tuesday from a Holocaust survivor.

Werner Reich, 91, explained how he was hidden from the Nazis, captured and taken from his family, nearly worked to death in labor camps and escaped the gas chambers at Auschwitz.

"People were crying and screaming and bleeding all over the place, it was a scene like out of hell," recalls Reich, who is from Smithtown.

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Reich's presentation coincided with students reading "The Diary of Anne Frank." His message touched on how bullying can destroy lives.

"The most important thing is the concept of…people doing nothing while bad things are happening," Reich says.

Students say it was a hard presentation to watch, but it did change their view on bullying and the way they treat each other.

Reich says he continues to travel the world, sharing his story and spreading his message, with no plans to retire. He recently returned from Germany, where he spent several weeks showing his presentation.