William L. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 2301
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of William L., who was born in Liptovsky? Mikula?s?, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1911. He recalls his father's death during World War I; his mother's orthodoxy; a sister's emigration to England; attending schools in Pies?t?any and Topol?c?any; apprenticeships in Dunajska? Streda and Filakovo; marriage in 1939; his son's birth; service in the Czech army; visiting his mother (he never saw her again); returning to Filakovo; anti-Jewish laws; losing his job; deportation to a labor camp in 1943 (he never saw his family again); forced labor on a farm, a munitions factory in Pesterzse?bet, then building bunkers for German soldiers; escaping in 1944 with friends to avoid deportation to Germany; hiding with assistance from a Hungarian farmer; liberation by Soviet troops; volunteering for the Soviet military in 1945; being wounded in action; hospitalization in the Tatra Mountains and Pies?t?any; transfer to Bratislava; discharge in Kos?ice; traveling to Liptovsky? Mikula?s?; marriage in Liberec; reunion with his sister in England; and emigration to the United States. Mr. L. describes his businesses and career.

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

  • L., William, -- 1911-

Corporate Bodies

  • Czechoslovakia. -- Armáda.

Subjects

  • Postwar experiences.
  • Hiding.
  • Aid by non-Jews.
  • Wife -- Death.
  • Forced labor.
  • Escapes.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Jewish.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Soviet.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
  • Children -- Death.
  • Men.
  • Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
  • Holocaust survivors.
  • Video tapes.

Places

  • Liberec (Czech Republic)
  • Košice (Slovakia)
  • Bratislava (Slovakia)
  • Pesterzsébet (Hungary)
  • Topol̕čany (Slovakia)
  • Filakovo (Slovakia)
  • Dunajská Streda (Slovakia)
  • Piešt̕any (Slovakia)
  • Liptovský Mikuláš (Czechoslovakia)

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.