Leo G. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Leo G., who was born in Vukovar, Yugoslavia in 1930. He documents the beliefs and activities of his father, a fifth generation cantor; his deeply religious family environment; his father's concern about the rise of Nazism; and the family's consequent relocation from Opava, Czechoslovakia to Copenhagen, Denmark in 1934. He describes the well-integrated Jewish community and the irrelevance of religious affiliation to the Danish national identity; German occupation in 1940; Danish insistence on control of domestic affairs (including the right to protect all citizens); and minor anti-Nazi activities. He recounts the Nazi reaction to Danish resistance; internment of Danish leftists; the Aktions of August-October 1943; his family's hiding; escaping by boat with the aid of non-Jewish Danes to Malmo?; and spending the war in Go?teborg, Sweden. Mr. G., a professor of psychology, discusses the historical, cultural and political factors which explain the rescue of Denmark's Jews, and the role of this event in cementing a determined Danish resistance movement.
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
- G., Leo, -- 1930-
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Jews -- Rescue.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Study and teaching.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Denmark.
- Jews -- Migrations.
- Jews -- Denmark -- Social life and customs.
- Refugees, Jewish.
- Jews -- Denmark -- Politics and government.
- Hiding.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Resistance.
- Rescuers.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Study and teaching.
- Jews -- Denmark -- Social conditions.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
Places
- Vukovar (Croatia)
- Copenhagen (Denmark)
- Yugoslavia.
- Opava (Severomoravskʹy kraj, Czech Republic)
- Denmark -- History -- German occupation, 1940-1945.
- Malmö (Sweden)
- Göteborg (Sweden)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- ftamc