Paul O. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 0647
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Paul O., who was born in Hajdu?hadha?z, Hungary in 1924, the oldest of four children. He recalls thinking a German-Jewish visitor was exaggerating stories of persecution; meeting his future wife in Debrecen; rabbinical studies in Budapest; draft into a Hungarian forced labor battalion in 1944; remaining with friends from rabbinical school; serving on the Russian front; escaping with his friends; rejoining his unit when he realized escape was impossible; feigning illness to be sent back to Hungary; return to the front lines when his ruse was discovered; changing his papers to indicate he was stationed in Budapest; being sent to Sa?toraljau?jhely, then Budapest; a Jew in hiding telling him to go to the Swiss consulate where he found friends from rabbinical school; visiting relatives; obtaining Swiss protection for them; liberation by Soviet troops in January 1944; learning about the death camps in spring 1945; reunion with his future wife and his father (the rest of his family had been killed); marriage; traveling to Germany; his father's emigration to Palestine; and theirs to the United States. Mr. O. discusses his children's relationship with his father.

Extent and Medium

3 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.

Related Units of Description

  • Associated material: Anna O. Holocaust testimony [wife] (HVT-646), Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.

Rules and Conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Process Info

  • compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies

People

Subjects

Places

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.