Erich H. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Erich H., who was born in Essen, Germany in 1920. He recalls his family's move to Cologne in 1924, then to Rinteln; his family's strong German identity (they had been in Germany since the sixteenth century); his bar mitzvah in 1934; attending a trade school; working in Cologne; his father's refusal to emigrate; release from the draft because he was Jewish; Kristallnacht; receiving emigration documents from Bolivia in November 1939; departing from Cologne to Holland in February 1940; traveling to Panama, then Arica, Chile; living with his relatives in La Paz; and emigrating to the United States in May 1947. Mr. H. discusses receiving his father's last letter through German neighbors; learning his parents were deported to Minsk; trips to Germany in 1971 and 1985; sharing his experiences with his children; and continuing hostile feelings toward Germans and Germany.
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
- H., Erich, -- 1920-
Subjects
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Postwar experiences.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Crystal Night, 1938.
- Jews -- Migrations.
- Kristallnacht, 1938.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Draft -- Germany.
- Survivor-child relations.
Places
- Rinteln (Germany)
- Cologne (Germany)
- Panama.
- Holland.
- Essen (Germany)
- Germany.
- La Paz (Bolivia)
- Arica (Chile)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat