Claire K. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Claire K., who was born in Cologne, Germany in 1925 to Polish parents. She recalls increased antisemitism in 1933; their flight to Holland; moving to Poland in 1935, then Brussels, Belgium; unsuccessful emigration attempts; an influx of refugees after Kristallnacht; German invasion in 1940; anti-Jewish restrictions; round-ups and deportations; and her mother arranging for Mrs. K. to spend nights hiding with non-Jews. Mrs. K. remembers the deportation of her parents and one brother; receiving a postcard her mother sent from Malines (her last contact with them); her younger brother's placement in an orphanage, then with Jesuits; obtaining good false papers from the underground; working as a beautician; helping her aunt hide; constant fear of discovery; liberation by British troops in 1944; and emigration with her brother to the United States in 1948. Mrs. K. shows a family photo which documents many of her family members who were killed and details her life after arrival in the United States.
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
- K., Claire, -- 1925-
Subjects
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Child survivors.
- False papers.
- Hiding.
- Brussels (Belgium)
- Jews -- Migrations.
- Postwar experiences.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Refugees, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Belgium.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Women.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
Places
- Germany.
- Holland.
- Cologne (Germany)
- Poland.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat