To most people, the Holocaust represents the murder of millions. To Martin Small, the Holocaust was a personal story. Born in Molczadz, Poland (now in Belarus) Martin lost 86 members of his family to the Nazis and their collaborators. Martin escaped death numerous times as a slave laborer, starving fugitive on the run, and as a captive at the Mauthausen death camp.

After the war, Martin moved to New York City and had a successful business career. Upon retirement, he needed an outlet for his energy and lingering painful memories. Without formal training, he began drawing, painting and sculpting as a way of remembering and honoring those he lost. Along the way, his art has received widespread recognition. His pieces have been displayed at the Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and at numerous showings at art galleries and educational institutions.

After leaving New York and moving to Broomfield, Colorado, Martin Small continued to draw, paint, and sculpt in wood and metal well into his nineties despite the injuries he received from Nazi torture.

He also spoke regularly to gatherings at synagogues, churches, schools and universities. He has worked closely with Regis University students and both he and his wife Doris (who herself escaped Berlin in August, 1939) have presented during Stories From Wartime.

Martin's artwork helped him deal with the memories that haunted him and exposed the horrors of his life to future generations so that they never, ever happen again.

Martin Small passed away November 29, 2008. Through his artwork, the written word and the thousands of people he spoke to during his life, he ensured that his story and the memory of his lost loved ones is not fogotten.

For more information on Martin Small visit this tribute site.

Video Clips

In this clip, Martin details what made Mauthausen different from the other Nazi death camps.

Martin Small's Artwork
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Martin Small's story is told in complete detail in his new book "Remember Us: From My Shtetl Through The Holocaust" written with Boulder author Vic Shayne.

He addresses life on the farms and small villages in the area and his family's extensive religious background. He will also describe life in a mixed community of Jews, Catholics and Orthodox Christians living in supposed harmony which proved to be an illusion when war came.

Martin's goal is to bring their lives to light so future generations will recognize how they lived, not just how they died.

"Remember Us" is available for purchase at iUniverse.com and Amazon.com.