Claire F. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 1919
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Claire F., who was born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia in 1926. She recalls attending German school; antisemitic measures in 1939, including expulsion from school; joining Hashomer Hatzair; expulsion from their home, then Bratislava; relocation to S?as?ti?n; round-up with her parents, sister, and grandmother in June 1942; transport to Z?ilina; deportation to Auschwitz; separation from her family (she never saw them again); transfer to Birkenau; assignment to the administration which resulted in privileged treatment; her work completing death certificates; learning about the gas chambers; Allied bombardments; public hanging of three women who participated in the Sonderkommando uprising; remaining with her friend during the January 1945 death march; helping each other to remain upright; train transport to Ravensbru?ck; transfer to Malchow and Leipzig; escaping with others from a death march near Grimma; posing as German refugees; liberation by United States troops; choosing not to take revenge; returning to Bratislava; living in Prague; emigrating to the United States in 1948; and marriage to a Czech survivor. Mrs. F. discusses the importance of her attitude and luck to her survival; nightmares; difficulties faced by Czechs who had helped Jews; and her sense that her experiences are always present despite her "normal" life. She shows photographs.

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

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Genre

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.