Meyer K. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Meyer K., who was born in Poland in 1920. He discusses living with his family in the Starachowice ghetto; his parents' killing during the ghetto's liquidation in October 1942; selection with his five brothers for forced labor in a munitions factory; his older brother's death; transfer with his brothers by train to Birkenau in June 1944; claiming, with one brother, that they were blacksmiths (he never saw the other two brothers again); waiting for work assignment in the Zigeunerlager (Gypsy Lager); helping his brother during the death march on January 18, 1945; transfer to Mauthausen; forced labor in an underground factory in Gusen; beatings and public hangings; liberation by United States troops; and their move to Linz. Mr. K. describes their search for relatives; traveling to Modena, Italy with the Jewish brigade; living with his nieces and nephews in Germany; and emigrating to Canada. He discusses the importance to his survival of luck, volunteering as a blacksmith, and being with his brother.
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., Meyer, -- 1920-
Corporate Bodies
- Gusen (Concentration camp)
- Mauthausen (Concentration camp)
- Birkenau (Concentration camp)
- Starachowice (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Postwar experiences.
- Mutual aid.
- Forced labor.
- Death marches.
- Brothers.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Jews -- Poland -- Starachowice.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
Places
- Starachowice ghetto
- Modena (Italy)
- Linz (Austria)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat