Rachelle C. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Rachelle C., who was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1919. Mrs. C. recalls attending Jewish schools; Hitler's rise to power; the Nazi boycott of her family's business; and imposition of the Nuremberg laws. She details events of Kristallnacht, including a teacher who hid her brother; seeing her father being taken away wearing his old army uniform and Iron Cross; and destruction of the family business. She tells of her mother proceeding with family emigration plans while her father was incarcerated; departure via Antwerp with her family in December 1938; arrival in San Salvador; leaving her father (who was a Polish citizen) there; going by freighter to San Francisco, California, in early 1939; working as a governess; attending night school; sending money to her father (he arrived in 1940); her brother's service in the Merchant Marine; her feelings of gratitude towards the United States; and impressions from a recent visit to Hamburg with her late husband.
Extent and Medium
1 videocassette (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
- C., Rachelle, -- 1919-
Subjects
- Postwar experiences.
- Nuremberg laws.
- Kristallnacht, 1938.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Crystal Night, 1938.
- Mutual aid.
- Video tapes.
- Women.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Family.
- Jews -- Migrations.
- Refugees, Jewish.
- Jews -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Germany.
Places
- Hamburg (Germany)
- San Salvador (El Salvador)
- Germany.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- ftamc