Joseph G. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Joseph G., who was born in Thessalonike?, Greece in 1929. He recalls a comfortable childhood; studying music; ghettoization after German occupation; deportation in June 1943 to Auschwitz/Birkenau; separation from his sister and mother (he never saw them again); his music teacher arranging for him to work in the prisoner orchestra, a privileged position; his father's death despite efforts to help him; observing the Sonderkommando uprising; his sense of pride that Greek prisoners were involved; transfer to a camp in Germany; liberation in May 1945 by United States troops; returning to Thessalonike?; and reopening his father's business with an uncle. Mr. G. discusses feeling death was preferable to suffering when he was in concentration camps; pervasive painful memories, particularly the smell of burning flesh; and nightmares resulting from his experiences.
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
- G., Joseph, -- 1929-
Corporate Bodies
- Auschwitz (Concentration camp)
- Birkenau (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Mutual aid.
- Concentration camps -- Revolts.
- Postwar experiences.
- Postwar effects.
- Jewish children in the Holocaust.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Jews -- Greece -- ThessalonikeĚ.
- Fathers and sons.
- Forced labor.
- Concentration camps -- Psychological aspects.
- Nightmares.
- Child survivors.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
Places
- Greece.
- ThessalonikeĚ (Greece)
- Salonika ghetto.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat