Sergey Metreveli
Sergey Metreveli and Ivan Gugeshashvili were companions in wine production in Kislovodsk, in the North Caucasus. At the end of August 1942, when the Germans were already entering Kislovodsk, they helped a group of Jews and Communists leave the city. Emil Siegel and Arkady Rabinovich were among this group. Emil, 16, was evacuated with his parents to the North Caucasus from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. He was the youngest child of five in the family. His older brothers, Moses, Naum, and Samuel, served in the Red Army (all three were killed at the front). The only sister, Vera, was a student at the medical institute in Voroshilovsk (today Stavropol).
For 16 days Sergei Metreveli led the refugees along the trails of the Caucasus Mountains. After traveling about 500 kilometers, they finally reached the village of Utseri, located on the Georgian side of the Caucasus Range, where there were no Germans. In Utseri lived Sergei Metreveli’s parents and other relatives. Emil Siegel, who fell ill with malaria on the way, was left in their care, while his friend Arkady Rabinovich and the other members of the group continued their journey.
For several weeks the Metreveli family cared for Emil until he recovered. Leaving Kislovodsk, Emil escaped the fate of his parents, Enoch and Ekaterina Siegel, and other Jews in the city: in September 1942 they were taken to Mineralnye Vody and shot. After his recovery, Emil made his way to Sukhumi, from there to the Urals and, a few months later, he volunteered for the front. In 1946 he returned to the North Caucasus, found the place where his parents had died, visited the Metreveli family with whom he still keeps in touch.
On June 24, 2004, Yad Vashem honored Sergei Metreveli with the title of Righteous among the Nations.
Saved filled out testimonial sheets in memory of his deceased parents, Enoch Siegel (father) and Catherine Siegel (mother)
For 16 days Sergei Metreveli led the refugees along the trails of the Caucasus Mountains. After traveling about 500 kilometers, they finally reached the village of Utseri, located on the Georgian side of the Caucasus Range, where there were no Germans. In Utseri lived Sergei Metreveli’s parents and other relatives. Emil Siegel, who fell ill with malaria on the way, was left in their care, while his friend Arkady Rabinovich and the other members of the group continued their journey.
For several weeks the Metreveli family cared for Emil until he recovered. Leaving Kislovodsk, Emil escaped the fate of his parents, Enoch and Ekaterina Siegel, and other Jews in the city: in September 1942 they were taken to Mineralnye Vody and shot. After his recovery, Emil made his way to Sukhumi, from there to the Urals and, a few months later, he volunteered for the front. In 1946 he returned to the North Caucasus, found the place where his parents had died, visited the Metreveli family with whom he still keeps in touch.
On June 24, 2004, Yad Vashem honored Sergei Metreveli with the title of Righteous among the Nations.
Saved filled out testimonial sheets in memory of his deceased parents, Enoch Siegel (father) and Catherine Siegel (mother)
