Tom K. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 1905
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Tom K., who was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1929. He relates placement with a foster family in Tetetlen at age three; their orthodoxy; being sent to relatives in Budapest at age twelve (he never saw his foster family again); ghettoization; escaping when his family was deported; living on the streets for seven months; moving into a Swedish safe house; delivering Swedish passports for Raoul Wallenberg; hiding in bombed buildings for three months after the safe house was closed; and liberation by Soviet troops in 1945. Mr. K. recounts difficult conditions under the Soviets; escaping from Hungary; living in Leipheim and Prien displaced persons camps; emigrating to the United States in 1948; attending high school in Cincinnati; enlisting in the Air Force; earning advanced degrees; and serving in Viet Nam as an officer in the paratroopers. Mr. K. never discussed his experience or his Jewish background with his former wife or children, but recently shared his experience with a friend, and plans to talk with his sons now.

Extent and Medium

1 videocassette

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

  • Wallenberg, Raoul, -- 1912-1947.
  • K., Tom, -- 1929-

Corporate Bodies

  • Leipheim (Displaced persons camp)

Subjects

  • Antisemitism -- Prewar.
  • Aid by non-Jews.
  • Refugee camps.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Jews -- Rescue.
  • Safe houses.
  • Postwar experiences.
  • Hiding.
  • Child survivors.
  • Jews -- Hungary -- Budapest.
  • Identification (Religion)
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Hungary.
  • Jewish ghettos.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
  • Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
  • Escapes.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
  • Holocaust survivors.
  • Men.
  • Video tapes.

Places

  • Budapest (Hungary)
  • Hungary.
  • Budapest ghetto.
  • Prien am Chiemsee (Germany : Refugee camp)
  • Tetétlen (Hungary)

Genre

  • Oral histories. -- aat
This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.