Joe W. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Joe W., who was born in Schweinfurt, Germany in 1922. He describes his family's business, established in 1833; a happy childhood; attending trade school in Berlin in 1937 after Jews were expelled from public schools; hiding with his friend during Kristallnacht; learning of his father's imprisonment and wanton destruction of their business; obtaining permission to go to Sweden with assistance from a Swedish counsel; obtaining a passport with assistance from a German officer; arriving in Sweden on April 30, 1939; and emigrating to the United States from Norway. Mr. W. recounts learning from a German Red Cross letter dated April 7, 1942 that his parents were deported to Izbica and were listed as "lost". He notes many relatives who were killed; the family's strong German identification, while remaining orthodox Jews; his animosity toward Germans; and he shows photographs and documents.
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
- W., Joe, -- 1922-
Subjects
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Crystal Night, 1938.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Refugees, Jewish.
- Kristallnacht, 1938.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Jews -- Migrations.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
Places
- Berlin (Germany)
- Sweden.
- Germany.
- Schweinfurt (Germany)
- Norway.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat