Simon M. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 1950
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Simon M., who was born in Ziegenhals, Germany (now G?ucho?azy, Poland) in 1905. He recalls his impoverished childhood in a large family; his father's military service in World War I; completing eight grade; working as a peddler; marriage in 1928; his first son's birth in 1930; living in Breslau when Hitler came to power; serving as a liaison to the Gestapo; helping Jews emigrate; Kristallnacht; arrest and deportation to Buchenwald; release with assistance from an SS officer; receiving help from Jews in Leipzig; returning to Breslau; traveling to Shanghai via Italy in 1939; reunion with his younger brother; working as a peddler, then a wholesaler; forging papers so his wife and three children could join him in 1940; ghettoization; liberation by United States troops in 1945; and emigration with his family to the United States in 1947. Mr. M. discusses the importance of luck to his survival. He notes the deaths of family members in concentration camps and 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

People

  • M., Simon, -- 1905-

Corporate Bodies

  • Buchenwald (Concentration camp)

Subjects

  • Postwar experiences.
  • Jews -- Migrations
  • Jewish ghettos.
  • Jews -- China -- Shanghai.
  • Family.
  • Kristallnacht, 1938.
  • Crystal Night, 1938.
  • Aid by non-Jews.
  • False papers.
  • Video tapes.
  • Holocaust survivors.
  • Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
  • Men.
  • Refugees, Jewish.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.

Places

  • Hongkew ghetto (Shanghai, China)
  • Ziegenhals (Germany)
  • Germany.
  • Głuchołazy (Poland)
  • Wrocław (Poland)
  • Leipzig (Germany)
  • Shanghai (China)
  • Hongkou Qu (Shanghai, China)

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.