As more time passed by, higher sanctions for Jews were put in place.
They were not allowed to visit non-Jews; and they weren't allowed outside after 8pm.
Leon tried to contact the nearest Consulate to receive his British citizenship papers - the Swiss one this time, as there was no longer a British Consulate - but he failed to receive a response during his time of desperate need.
Now, Jews were like prisoners in their own homes.
No traveling on public transport; they could not visit any public places; shopping only between 3pm and 5pm.
They were no longer free.
The Nazis had taken a brutal stance against them. And, as much as they tried, the minority Jewish community couldn't do anything to stop them.
In July 1941, Leon's sister Dinah was taken away.
She was just like Leon. Had British citizenship; and had done nothing wrong. But had still been taken.
Soon after, Leon's father received a card from Dinah.
It read that she had been taken to Westerbork, and was soon going to be deported.
This was the last time Leon ever heard from her.
No one knew at the time what this meant.
No one dared to even conjure the thought of anything bad.
The waiting for a response finally ended, when the Swiss consulate told Leon to go to Amsterdam.
Sadly, they were unable to do much. He needed proof of his British citizenship. And he didn't have any.
But they gave him papers which showed his British citizenship, somewhat.
And that was all he needed.
Or thought he needed.
He returned to Rotterdam soon after.
Soon after, he got a letter demanding him to go to work in Germany.
Leon declined.
A policeman came to his door soon after, coming to ask why he had declined the demand.
Leon explained in the police station that he was British. But, the policeman declined his demand, saying that - due to his grandfather being Dutch - he was Dutch, too, and had no reason to be classed as British.
This was an important turning point for Leon's life.
He now knew his future was going to be different.
And he couldn't do anything to prevent it.
During the evening of 8th October 1942, when Barney was fast asleep, the Greenman's door rang.
Police.
The police had finally come for Leon's family.
There were several officers - an overpowering force within a confined space.
They ordered Leon and Else to get ready at once, and to bring 'essential' items with them.
Else's grandmother was there too. And she was ordered to do exactly the same thing as her granddaughter and husband - even at the frail age of 83.
They were forced to comply - even with Leon's protests; Else's stream of tears; Else's grandmothers' retaliation.
The Swiss papers Leon had been given didn't sway the soldiers, in any way - they didn't even listen.
Barney didn't know what was happening.
A horrific ordeal was unfolding before him - one of brutal force. And there was nothing he could do, other than watch - he was truly defenceless.
The inevitable had finally arrived.
And now peril was all the Greenman's faced.
Leon and his family were forced into a small bus - their previous belongings chucked in, and disregarded.
In numerous ways they received the same treatment as the Greenman's had themselves.
They were not alone.
These exact events were repeated dozens of times, in numerous Jewish homes on the same street.
And all Leon could do was watch.
His capabilities had amassed to nothing.
Now, he was equal to his son - and everyone else involved, for that matter.
There was absolutely nothing anyone could do.
At 1:30 am in the morning, the bus finally stopped.
Imposing gates lay at the entrance of 'Loods 24' (Hut 24) - the assembly place for all of Rotterdam's Jews.
They were instantly told about their near future.
They would be taken to Westerbork - the camp where Leon's sister had been taken to.
After a short period of time - two days to be exact - all of the captured Jews were forced onto a train, in the middle of the night.
Its destination? Westerbork.
The train was very much like any 'normal' one.
Seperate compartments; full, but not cramped.
It did, in no way, shine light on what the Greenman's future would be.
The train stopped at a place called Hooghalen.
It was the nearest train stop to Westerbork, being around three miles away.
Now, all of the people on the train had to walk the remaining distance, ploughing through thick mud, battling against the howling wind and painful rain.
Else carried Barney; Leon lead at the front; Else's grandmother trailed behind.
As soon as they arrived, Else and Barney went to the barracks for women and children, Leon was assigned to the English barrack, and Else's grandmother went to the barrack for the elderly.
They were given ample food; the rules were not too severe; the shelter did what it was supposed to do.
But that did not mean Westerbork was perfect.
It was overcrowded, and people were forced to work for the Germans - even Leon had to, with his Swiss papers.
Every day, around one thousand Jews were sent to Auschwitz, to 'make room' for new arrivals.
No one truly knew what this meant.
But everyone would, soon. It was, sadly, inevitable.
After around three months - in which Barney became ill, and the effects of Nazi occupation began to truly be felt - the Greenman's were told something which would change their lives forever.
They were being sent to Poland. To work.
The journey was once again with a train, and lasted 36 hours.
Else and Leon spoke constantly during this journey.
They agreed that, if one of them died, the other wouldn't remarry unless it benefited Barney.
Not once did they believe peril would come to Barney.
But they did realise one thing.
Their lives had changed.
Everything had changed.
Because of horrific prejudice.
Due to stories which were lies that had spread out of control.
Theu had been exploited.
Simply because they were Jewish.
They were not allowed to visit non-Jews; and they weren't allowed outside after 8pm.
Leon tried to contact the nearest Consulate to receive his British citizenship papers - the Swiss one this time, as there was no longer a British Consulate - but he failed to receive a response during his time of desperate need.
Now, Jews were like prisoners in their own homes.
No traveling on public transport; they could not visit any public places; shopping only between 3pm and 5pm.
They were no longer free.
The Nazis had taken a brutal stance against them. And, as much as they tried, the minority Jewish community couldn't do anything to stop them.
In July 1941, Leon's sister Dinah was taken away.
She was just like Leon. Had British citizenship; and had done nothing wrong. But had still been taken.
Soon after, Leon's father received a card from Dinah.
It read that she had been taken to Westerbork, and was soon going to be deported.
This was the last time Leon ever heard from her.
No one knew at the time what this meant.
No one dared to even conjure the thought of anything bad.
The waiting for a response finally ended, when the Swiss consulate told Leon to go to Amsterdam.
Sadly, they were unable to do much. He needed proof of his British citizenship. And he didn't have any.
But they gave him papers which showed his British citizenship, somewhat.
And that was all he needed.
Or thought he needed.
He returned to Rotterdam soon after.
Soon after, he got a letter demanding him to go to work in Germany.
Leon declined.
A policeman came to his door soon after, coming to ask why he had declined the demand.
Leon explained in the police station that he was British. But, the policeman declined his demand, saying that - due to his grandfather being Dutch - he was Dutch, too, and had no reason to be classed as British.
This was an important turning point for Leon's life.
He now knew his future was going to be different.
And he couldn't do anything to prevent it.
During the evening of 8th October 1942, when Barney was fast asleep, the Greenman's door rang.
Police.
The police had finally come for Leon's family.
There were several officers - an overpowering force within a confined space.
They ordered Leon and Else to get ready at once, and to bring 'essential' items with them.
Else's grandmother was there too. And she was ordered to do exactly the same thing as her granddaughter and husband - even at the frail age of 83.
They were forced to comply - even with Leon's protests; Else's stream of tears; Else's grandmothers' retaliation.
The Swiss papers Leon had been given didn't sway the soldiers, in any way - they didn't even listen.
Barney didn't know what was happening.
A horrific ordeal was unfolding before him - one of brutal force. And there was nothing he could do, other than watch - he was truly defenceless.
The inevitable had finally arrived.
And now peril was all the Greenman's faced.
Leon and his family were forced into a small bus - their previous belongings chucked in, and disregarded.
In numerous ways they received the same treatment as the Greenman's had themselves.
They were not alone.
These exact events were repeated dozens of times, in numerous Jewish homes on the same street.
And all Leon could do was watch.
His capabilities had amassed to nothing.
Now, he was equal to his son - and everyone else involved, for that matter.
There was absolutely nothing anyone could do.
At 1:30 am in the morning, the bus finally stopped.
Imposing gates lay at the entrance of 'Loods 24' (Hut 24) - the assembly place for all of Rotterdam's Jews.
They were instantly told about their near future.
They would be taken to Westerbork - the camp where Leon's sister had been taken to.
After a short period of time - two days to be exact - all of the captured Jews were forced onto a train, in the middle of the night.
Its destination? Westerbork.
The train was very much like any 'normal' one.
Seperate compartments; full, but not cramped.
It did, in no way, shine light on what the Greenman's future would be.
The train stopped at a place called Hooghalen.
It was the nearest train stop to Westerbork, being around three miles away.
Now, all of the people on the train had to walk the remaining distance, ploughing through thick mud, battling against the howling wind and painful rain.
Else carried Barney; Leon lead at the front; Else's grandmother trailed behind.
As soon as they arrived, Else and Barney went to the barracks for women and children, Leon was assigned to the English barrack, and Else's grandmother went to the barrack for the elderly.
They were given ample food; the rules were not too severe; the shelter did what it was supposed to do.
But that did not mean Westerbork was perfect.
It was overcrowded, and people were forced to work for the Germans - even Leon had to, with his Swiss papers.
Every day, around one thousand Jews were sent to Auschwitz, to 'make room' for new arrivals.
No one truly knew what this meant.
But everyone would, soon. It was, sadly, inevitable.
After around three months - in which Barney became ill, and the effects of Nazi occupation began to truly be felt - the Greenman's were told something which would change their lives forever.
They were being sent to Poland. To work.
The journey was once again with a train, and lasted 36 hours.
Else and Leon spoke constantly during this journey.
They agreed that, if one of them died, the other wouldn't remarry unless it benefited Barney.
Not once did they believe peril would come to Barney.
But they did realise one thing.
Their lives had changed.
Everything had changed.
Because of horrific prejudice.
Due to stories which were lies that had spread out of control.
Theu had been exploited.
Simply because they were Jewish.
Auschwitz
The Greenman's arrived at place called Birkenau, 36 hours later.
It was freezing - piles of snow reached towering heights.
There were suitcases scattered around, getting ruined by the cold wetness of the snow.
They seemed to be disregarded, located aimlessly in the vastness of the unknown.
The soldiers at Birkenau were much more forceful and demanding - much more powerful - than any Leon had met before.
They seemed to be in a rush. And they seemed merciless - without a single care in the world.
Women were separated from the men.
Queues formed - one consisting of women and children (where Else and Barney had been taken to), and the other with just men.
The women were to be taken to the 'bath house'.
All of them. Not one woman, or child, escaped from the passengers on the Rotterdam train.
Else and Barney were taken away in a truck, along with all of the others who couldn't walk the distance.
This was the last Leon ever saw of his wife and child.
They were never taken to the bath house.
Instead, they were taken to the gas chambers.
Murdered within minutes of arrival, along with hundreds of others.
Murdered simply because they were Jews.
It was freezing - piles of snow reached towering heights.
There were suitcases scattered around, getting ruined by the cold wetness of the snow.
They seemed to be disregarded, located aimlessly in the vastness of the unknown.
The soldiers at Birkenau were much more forceful and demanding - much more powerful - than any Leon had met before.
They seemed to be in a rush. And they seemed merciless - without a single care in the world.
Women were separated from the men.
Queues formed - one consisting of women and children (where Else and Barney had been taken to), and the other with just men.
The women were to be taken to the 'bath house'.
All of them. Not one woman, or child, escaped from the passengers on the Rotterdam train.
Else and Barney were taken away in a truck, along with all of the others who couldn't walk the distance.
This was the last Leon ever saw of his wife and child.
They were never taken to the bath house.
Instead, they were taken to the gas chambers.
Murdered within minutes of arrival, along with hundreds of others.
Murdered simply because they were Jews.
Leon remained in Auschwitz, within the cramped, horrific, living areas until 15th September 1943, after surviving for six months.
He had suffered horrific loss; been in the presence of horrific brutality that can never happen again.
He managed to defy expectation by remaining alive - but, memories which would forever haunt him - death and much worse - had been received throughout the duration of his stationing.
Leon was sent to the Auschwitz hospital soon after his arrival.
This wasn't to help him. Instead, primarily to experiment on him.
A professor called Horst Schumann experimented on Leon.
It was torture. All matters of pain came Leon's way.
Leon may have not truly lived through those painful six months.
His wife and child had been lost - the two things he loved most and held dearest had been taken away.
When all odds had been against him, he had survived.
But Leon's Holocaust was not over yet.
Monowitz
Around 200 men, including Leon, were told to get onto a military jeep, full of SS officers.
No one could escape - even out of Aushcwitz, the SS guards held the prisoner's lives in their hands.
This time at gunpoung.
They arrived at another, different, camp an hour later - it was called 'Monowitz'.
This camp was smaller than Auschwitz.
It could hold around 10,000 prisoners - the majority of which were Jews.
On the night Leon arrived, no one was given food.
They had to wait long, drawn-out, hours until they were given their rations.
This supply of food was barely enough to live on for the strongest, never mind the weakest.
SS officers called 'Kapo's', patrolled the camp, keeping its inhabitants in order.
Some of these officers were horrific, and hated every Jew they came across - others were no more than bystanding perpetrators, who clearly disagreed with the Nazi regime, but continued to comply all the same.
Occasionaly, certain Kapo's would give prisoners extra food.
This food alone, could have been the difference between life and death.
And, luckily, Leon frequently received extra food.
Soon after his first night, Leon began to notice people, under control by SS guards, in khaki coloured clothes.
He later learned their identity; British prisoners of war.
Unexpectedly, Leon's Kapo asked him to attempt to get cigarettes from the prisoners of war.
Leon agreed, and from then on, Leon managed to mix with the prisoners of war without any harm coming his way.
They gave him cigarettes, as planned.
He then gave some to his Kapo, and used the rest to trade for food like soup.
Food which he crucially needed.
After weeks in Monowitz, Leon found himself within the camp's hospital - just as he had in Auschwitz.
This time, his actually had injuries, though they weren't severe - burns and sores on his legs.
He stayed in the hospital for around a week.
To keep prisoners in line, the SS guards never stopped striking fear into the hearts of the prisoners.
People who had attempted to escape were hung in public. The people who tied to noose were always different prisoners, who had been ordered to do so.
Regularly, the prisoners were 'sorted'.
The weakest were sorted out from the total population of prisoners.
Truly, the SS guards never knew who the strongest were. They went by appearance alone.
Within days, the weakest were sent to the gas chambers. And were killed.
The pattern continued.
Every day, the same things happened. Orders as soon as the prisoners awoke; working endlessly; famished - even after eating rations; the fear of being murdered never leaving.
Later, Leon started using his skills to his advantage.
He would cut prisoner's hair - only from his barrack - in return for a ration of soup.
As more time passed by, the morale of all the camp mates was reaching lower and lower.
Beatings and starvation continued.
And it never got any better.
Even Leon was thinking it was the beginning of the end.
Beatings - for petty reasons - continued to come his way, too.
Leon continued to suffer.
And then a life threatening disease - Phlegmone - captured him.
He was sent to the hospital once again, and soon after had an operation.
His determination to stay there - for whatever reason he could conjure - got him through the next few months.
He suffered from pneumonia soon after.
When winter arrived, the determination to stay in the hospital fully caught hold of Leon.
He knew he wouldn't survive outside, so he did all things he could to prevent the inevitable of going back to work.
Forcing himself to be sick; increasing his temperature as high as he could - just to name a few.
Leon left the hospital after six weeks.
In Januaru 1945, the start of the end finally arrived.
Hitler had ordered everyone to leave the camps - the Russian army was approaching Auschwitz.
And, by all means, Adolf Hitler wanted this part of history to be completely forgotten.
The Death March - from Monowitz to Gleiwitz - had began.
Long, drawn-out hours, passed.
Gleiwitz, another camp, was near Cracow - 90 km to be exact.
Over 100km had to be travelled by some of the weakest, extremely famished, people in existence at that time. It was like hell - for them all.
After walking for hours on end, the prisoners were finally taken in trucks.
There were around 140 people in Leon's own - around 4 people died very morning, due to starvation or freezing to death.
They were taken to Buchenwald camp.
On 11th April 1945, at around 4 o'clock, around 21,000 people were saved from their inevitable deaths.
Leon was one of them.