Hans L. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Hans L., who was born in Colmar, Alsace (then Germany, now France) in 1906. He discusses the death of his father shortly after his birth; his childhood in Kassel, Germany and then, from the age of five, in Berlin; and his feelings of Jewish identity within an assimilated family. He recalls the atmosphere in Berlin during World War I; the post-war political instability; and the Nazi rise to power. He speaks of his education as a philosophy student under Martin Heidegger; his pursuit of a medical degree; the anti-Jewish order resulting in his dismissal from his internship in 1933; and his feelings about Heidegger's Nazi affiliation. He relates his decision to leave Germany in 1933; his move to Paris and his inability to become professionally established there; his move to Northern Italy, near Venice, and his position on a hospital staff; and his views on the differences between fascist Germany and Italy. He recounts his emigration to the United States in 1939, following an order forcing foreign Jews to leave Italy; his reception in the United States; and the state of American awareness of the dangers facing German Jewry.
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.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- Heidegger, Martin, -- 1889-1976.
- L., Hans, -- 1906-
Subjects
- Men.
- Video tapes.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Refugees, Jewish.
- Jews -- Migrations.
Places
- Kassel (Germany)
- Berlin (Germany)
- Alsace (France)
- Colmar (France)
- Paris (France)
- Venice (Italy)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- ftamc