David W. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of David W., who was born in Chzarno?w, Poland in 1921. He describes a barber's apprenticeship; antisemitism beginning in 1935; German invasion; fleeing east; digging graves for a mass killing in Trzebinia; anti-Jewish measures; forced labor in Libia?z? in 1940; transfer with his brother to Bobrek in 1941; their transport to Sosnowiec, then Blechhammer, in May 1942; switching places to avoid separation from his brother; their transfer to Brande; transfer to a work camp in Sudetenland; improved conditions; working as a barber in an adjacent POW camp; learning of the Chzarno?w ghetto's liquidation; their transfer to Langenbielau in fall 1943; sharing bread with his brother and friends; transfer to Faulbru?k; assistance from a German guard; helping his brother during a serious illness with assistance from a Hungarian inmate; separation from his brother; transfer to Reichenbach; returning to Langenbielau in March 1945; the disappearance of German guards in May; reunion with his brother and sister; traveling to Prague; and emigrating from Germany to the United States. Mr. W. notes the importance to his survival of being with his brother, humor, and his barber skills.
Extent and Medium
3 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
- W., David, -- 1921-
Corporate Bodies
- Faulbrück (Concentration camp)
- Langenbielau (Concentration camp)
- Sosnowiec (Concentration camp)
- Blechhammer E/3 (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Postwar experiences.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Men.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Video tapes.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Mass killings.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Mutual aid.
- Forced labor.
- Brothers.
- Concentration camps -- Humor -- Psychological aspects.
- Prisoners of war -- Czechoslovakia.
Places
- Reichenbach (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Brande (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Chzarnów (Poland)
- Poland.
- Libiąż (Poland)
- Trzebinia (Kraków, Poland)
- Bobrek (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Prague (Czech Republic)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat