Hillel K. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videorecording testimony of Hillel K., born in Krako?w in 1923, a distinguished psychiatrist who has dedicated his life to the study and treatment of Holocaust survivors and their families. He speaks of his prewar involvement in the socialist-zionist movement; his escape to Mielec at the outbreak of the war; his return to Krako?w after being forced to work for the Germans; spiritual resistance of the Jewish community of Krako?w; his flight to Dobczyce upon the ghettoization of Krako?w; his internment in the P?aszo?w labor camp; and his escape to Wieliczka, where he arranged to have his parents join him. He relates being caught and sent back to P?aszo?w; his escape back to Wieliczka; and his return to Krako?w with his mother. He describes conditions in the Krako?w ghetto; his slave labor in various camps; the sustaining relationship with his mother, who remained in the Krako?w ghetto; and resistance and the liquidation of the Krako?w ghetto, during which his mother was taken to her death. He recalls Oskar Schindler, who protected the Jewish slave laborers in his factory; his return to P?aszo?w, and from there through Auschwitz to Dresden; the death march to Litome?r?ice; his liberation from Theresienstadt; his postwar illness and recovery; and his emigration to Palestine. Throughout his testimonyDR. K. points out the importance of humor, friendship, prayer, poetry and songs in the camps and he notes the few instances of kindness exhibited by Germans.
Extent and Medium
2 videocassettes (3/4" u-matic)
Conditions Governing Access
This testimony is open with permission.
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Copyright has been transferred to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Use of this testimony requires permission of the Fortunoff Video Archive. The videotape may be viewed for research purposes only.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- K., Hillel, -- 1923-1985.
- Schindler, Oskar, -- 1908-1974.
Corporate Bodies
- Gross-Rosen (Concentration camp)
- Auschwitz (Concentration camp)
- Płaszów (Concentration camp)
- Litoměřice (Concentration camp)
- Theresienstadt (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Concentration camps -- Humor -- Psychological aspects.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Passive resistance.
- Jewish ghettos.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Psychological aspects.
- Forced labor.
- Concentration camp inmates -- Religious life.
- Concentration camps -- Songs and music.
- Mothers and sons.
- Jews -- Poland -- Kraków.
- Death marches.
- Concentration camps -- Poetry.
- Friendship.
Places
- Mielec (Poland)
- Kraków (Poland)
- Poland.
- Dresden (Germany)
- Kraków ghetto.
- Dobczyce (Kraków, Poland)
- Wieliczka (Poland)
- Leitmeritz (Czechoslovakia)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat