Jacob H. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Jacob H., who was born in Krako?w, Poland in approximately 1929, the youngest of three brothers. He recalls German invasion; anti-Jewish restrictions; moving to Czyz?yny because his father thought it would be better; studying with a non-Jewish tutor; ghettoization in Krako?w a year later; hiding during round-ups; transfer with his family to the camp at the airport, then P?aszo?w; a public hanging; constant fear; transfer with one brother to Starachowice a month later; caring for his brother when he was hospitalized; slave labor and illness, from which he still bears scars; antagonism between rural and urban prisoners; transfer to the Zigeunerlager (Gypsy Lager) at Auschwitz/Birkenau; a prisoner doctor treating his infection; joining his brother's group during selections; transfer to Charlottengrube; a civilian worker bringing him extra food; assisting his brother during the death march to Mauthausen; his brother's hospitalization (he never saw him again); transfer to Melk in February 1945; a death march in April to Gunskirchen; liberation by United States troops days later; aid from the Red Cross; hospitalization; traveling with the Jewish Brigade to Tarvisio; living in Bologna, Modena, then Selvino with a Zionist group, a healing experience during which he began to feel human again; and deciding to emigrate to Israel. Mr. H discusses continuing pain when recalling the separation from his brother (none of his family survived); support from friends in the camps; and reluctance to share his experiences after the war.
Extent and Medium
2 videocassettes
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
- H., Jacob, -- 1929?-
Corporate Bodies
- Auschwitz (Concentration camp)
- Starachowice (Concentration camp)
- Mauthausen (Concentration camp)
- Birkenau (Concentration camp)
- Gunskirchen (Concentration camp)
- Melk (Concentration camp)
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- Płaszów (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- False papers.
- Postwar effects.
- Hospitals in concentration camps.
- Child survivors.
- Death marches.
- Forced labor.
- Concentration camps -- Sociological aspects.
- Concentration camps -- Psychological aspects.
- Postwar experiences.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Mutual aid.
- Hiding.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Brothers.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- Jews -- Poland -- Kraków.
- Fathers and sons.
- Jewish children in the Holocaust.
- Jewish ghettos.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
Places
- Czyżyny (Poland)
- Kraków (Poland)
- Poland.
- Selvino (Italy)
- Tarvisio (Italy)
- Modena (Italy)
- Bologna (Italy)
- Kraków (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Kraków ghetto.
- Charlottengrube (Poland : Concentration camp)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat