Abraham E. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Abraham E., who was born in Os?wie?cim, Poland in 1925. He describes the German invasion; fleeing eastward to Sokolow; returning to Os?wie?cim; finding their homes destroyed and possessions stolen; forced labor; SS troops photographing atrocities against the Jews; and evacuation of all local Jews as part of construction of the Auschwitz complex. Mr. E. recalls evacuation to Sosnowiec; his inability to find food; smuggling activities; incarceration and being terribly beaten; his disbelief that humans could treat others, especially a youngster, with such brutality; forced labor in Katowice; deportation to Auschwitz of almost all Jews, including his family, except him and his brother; their deportation to Blechhammer, then Dyhrenfurth; his brother's death from a beating; transport to Auschwitz (A block of Birkenau); and camp leaders helping youngsters like himself. He relates evacuation to Kaufering at the end of 1944; extreme hunger, illness and brutal work conditions; a forced march to Allach; liberation by American troops; living in Munich until 1955; and reunion with his sister. He discusses his hope that his children will never experience what he has; his feeling of having been robbed of his youth; and the lack of knowledge of the role of the SS leading to President Reagan's visit to Bitburg.
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
- E., Abraham, -- 1925-
- Reagan, Ronald -- Travel -- Germany(West) -- Bitburg -- Public opinion.
Corporate Bodies
- Auschwitz (Concentration camp)
- Blechhammer E/3 (Concentration camp)
- Birkenau (Concentration camp)
- Dyhernfurth II (Concentration camp)
- Kaufering (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Video tapes.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Men.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Jews -- Poland -- Sosnowiec (Województwo Śląskie)
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Forced labor.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Psychological aspects.
- Concentration camps -- Sociological aspects.
- Concentration camps -- Psychological aspects.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Public opinion.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Anniversaries, etc.
- Visits of state -- Germany (West)
- Jewish councils.
- Child survivors.
Places
- Oświęcim (Poland)
- Poland.
- Sosnowiec (Województwo Śląskie, Poland)
- Bitburg (Germany)
- Allach (Germany : Concentration camp)
- Sokołów Małopolski (Poland)
- Nuremberg (Germany)
- Katowice (Poland)
- Sosnowiec ghetto.
- Brzezinka (Poland)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat