Heda K. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Heda K., who was born in Prague. In this vivid and insightful testimony, Mrs. K., a writer, tells of the absence of antisemitism among the Czechs; the consequent inability of many Jews, including her father, to understand the mortal danger they faced; and her deportation, by train, to the ?o?dz? ghetto. She describes various aspects of life in the ghetto, including the selections, random violence, hunger, and spiritual resistance; the children in the ghetto; and H?ayim Rumkowski. Her deportation, with her parents, to Auschwitz; her parting gift to them of poison; and her own suicide attempt are recalled. She speaks of the degrading appells and selections at Auschwitz; the loss of her ability to communicate; evacuation to Gross Rosen as the Russians approached; her escape from the death march towards Bergen-Belsen; and her return to Prague in February, 1945. Postwar topics include her marriage; the execution of her husband in Czechoslovakia following the Sla?nsky? trials; and the constant presence of her memories "like music in the background."
Extent and Medium
1 videocassette (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.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- K., Heda, -- 1919-2010.
- Rumkowski, Mordecai Ḥayim.
Corporate Bodies
- Auschwitz (Concentration camp)
- Gross-Rosen (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Death marches.
- Trials (Political crimes and offenses) -- Czechoslovakia.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Jews -- Poland -- Łódź.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Women.
- Video tapes.
- Holocaust survivors.
Places
- Czechoslovakia -- Politics and government -- 1945-
- Łódź ghetto.
- Łódź (Poland)
- Prague (Czech Republic)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat