Jewish Labor Company 252/2 in Kiszombor (continued) and Királyhegyes
Creator(s)
- György Pető (Camera Operator)
- Dr. Katalin Pető
Biographical History
György Pető (Dec 20, 1906-1971) was a talented violin player, photographer, and class lottery businessman in the southern Hungarian city of Szeged. He began making 8mm films in 1938. Pető was first in a Jewish forced labor company in Kiszombor in 1940. After returning home, Pető married Eva Lengyel (d. 1970) on September 8, 1941. They had a son, András, on October 3, 1943. Pető was again transported to the Ukraine with another forced labor batallion, where he was captured, and imprisoned in a Soviet POW camp near Zaporozje. He escaped somehow and returned to Szeged. The Jews from Szeged, including Eva, baby András, and many Lengyel family members, were deported during the summer of 1944. They were transported to Strasshof and later to Neunkirchen (Austria) where baby András and Eva's mother and father died. Pető’s mother Zseni was killed at Auschwitz. His brother László died. Eva returned to Szeged in 1945; Pető followed one month later. In 1946, Eva and György had a second child, Katalin Pető. When all of Pető’s property was confiscated by the communist regime in Hungary in 1949, he escaped with his family to the city of Budapest where he established himself as viola player in the Budapest Operetta Theater.
Scope and Content
Agfa 8 logo. Part two of Pető ’s film of the Jewish Labor Company 252/2 in Kiszombor, Hungary from September to October 1940. Hungarian titles throughout. “Egy pár derűs pillanat a Kiszombori zsidó munkásszázad életéből” “II. Resz” Title written on a stylized pillow: “Piheno” INTs, barracks with mattresses on the ground and coats hanging along the walls, men chatting with armbands. In streets, two men (one in uniform) speaking, others gathered around, man rides bicycle. Closer shots of five workers with armbands standing in a line, some smiling. Man in sunlight laying on bed indoors, eating. 00:45 “A betegeket könnyű szolgálatra oszják be…” Group of men cut logs. “Szakácsok munkában.” Sign on building: Konyha. Crouched on the ground, men prepare/wash vegetables in a bowl. Others roast a pig. “Ebédosztás” Officers in uniform, checking papers. Canteen line - distributing steaming soup to the workers, long shot of the men circling the pot of food, some sit and eat on the grass, corn fields, CUs. 02:28 “Vasárnapi foglalkozás” Overview shot of Jewish workers sweeping. CUs, officers in uniform, saluting cameraman. “Menetgyakorlatok” A large group of workers march along the dirt road, responding with different formations according to the officer on the left calling them. HAS, the entire company marches on the dirt road, following the four Hungarian soldiers seen earlier. Different angles of the group with armbands marching. Some local boys lean against the barracks, watching the activity unfold. “Haragszik az örmester úr!” [The Sergeant is Angry!] Man in uniform with whip yells at four workers (this is clearly staged for the camera as the men smile and laugh). The two boys can be seen in the BG. More of the workers marching. “Tagozott menet.” They march again, in slow-motion. “Egy szakasz a királyhegyesi uradalomban dolgozik” Moving shots from the buggy along the road in order for some members of the Jewish labor company to work on a farming estate in Királyhegyes. Two signs reading “Királyhegyes 13 km.” and “Közben 9 km. földút”. Ducks. Sign reading: “III Orsz.Jármű ” Buggy parked on grounds of estate. Circular pan of farming estate with several buildings. Hungarian soldiers get into the buggy. CU, soldier in uniform. Horses run. Other farming activities, threshing and moving huge piles of hay. “Vegeo” Film ends 07:58
Note(s)
The mill building still exists today, at Kiszombor, Óbébai u. 61, 6775 Hungary.
The film speed is too fast.
Subjects
- FOOD
- JEWISH LIFE (PRE-WAR)
- FORCED LABOR
- SOLDIERS/MILITARY (HUNGARIAN)
- LABOR
- SHOVELS
- HUNGARY
- FARMERS/FARMING
- JEWS
- BARRACKS
- FIRES
- EATING
Places
- Kiszombor, Hungary
- Királyhegyes, Hungary
Genre
- Film
- Amateur.