Joseph W. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Joseph W., who was born in Przemys?l, Poland in 1922. Mr. W. vividly describes the Jewish environment of his childhood in Krzywcza; attending gymnasium in Przemys?l; the antisemitic atmosphere; Polish anti-Jewish laws; his father's and his own involvement in Zionist activities; German invasion; mass killings; escaping with his family; Soviet occupation; returning to Przemys?l; and the German invasion in 1941. He relates fleeing with his friends; returning to be with his family; anti-Jewish regulations; forced labor; appointment of the Judenrat; deportations; the impact of learning about gassing and 'killing machines'; ghettoization; harsh conditions; the killing of a boy by Schwamburger; his family's decision not to register; hiding; separation from his family during the last round-up; escaping; hiding with his friends in a bunker in the woods with assistance from a Pole; liberation by Soviet troops; mobilization; military training in Ri?a?zan?; returning to Przemys?l; fleeing with a Zionist group to Romania, then Italy; and emigration to the United States as a yeshiva student. Mr. W. tells of being contacted by the German government and his participation in two war crime trials. He discusses how recalling his life in this testimony prompted other recollections.
Extent and Medium
3 videocassettes (3/4" u-matic)
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., Joseph, -- 1922-
- Schwamburger, Joseph.
Subjects
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Men.
- Fathers and sons.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Brothers.
- Forced labor.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Jews -- Poland -- Social life and customs.
- Zionists.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- War crime trials.
- Passive resistance.
- Soviet occupation.
- Jews -- Poland -- Przemyśl.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Forests.
- Hiding.
- Antisemitism -- Postwar.
- Bunkers.
- Zionist organizations.
- Mass killings.
- Mutual aid.
- Postwar experiences.
Places
- Poland.
- Krzywcza (Poland)
- Italy.
- Przemyśl ghetto.
- Przemyśl (Poland)
- Ri︠a︡zanʹ (Ri︠a︡zanskai︠a︡ oblastʹ, Russia)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat