Thomas Buergenthal's father, a bank officer in Germany who moved his family to Czechoslovakia during the Nazi rise and worked to keep his family safe during their internment.

Thomas Buergenthal's mother, known for her quick thinking and bravery, whose belief in her son's survival gave her strength during their separation in the Holocaust.

Thomas Buergenthal's maternal uncle in the United States, who played a crucial role in reuniting Buergenthal with his mother after the Holocaust and with whom Buergenthal lived upon moving to the U.S.

Thomas Buergenthal's maternal grandparents, who lived with him in the Kielce ghetto before they were killed during its liquidation by the Nazis.

Friends of Thomas Buergenthal from the Kielce ghetto who became like brothers in Auschwitz, assisting each other during the death march until they were separated.

A doctor who worked with Buergenthal's mother in a labor camp and later became a father figure to Buergenthal after marrying his mother.

Buergenthal’s tutor from Upper Silesia, who inspired Buergenthal's passion for learning and helped prepare him for school after the Holocaust.

The son of explorer Fridtjof Nansen, who ensured Buergenthal’s safety and featured him in his diaries post-war, fostering Buergenthal's interest in humanitarian work.