Paul W. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Paul W., a Romani, who was born in Duisberg, Germany in 1930, the oldest of five brothers. He recalls moving to Wuppertal due to anti-Romani laws, posing as non-Romanies; receiving a scholarship to study music at a conservatory; his father's friend, a policeman, warning them of deportations in 1943; the friend deleting their family name from the list; moving to Lorraine; his father's work in a war industry; their discovery; his parents' forced sterilization (his mother was subjected to experimentation and only recovered due to efforts of a French doctor); their friend removing the family's files and finding employment for them as circus musicians; contacts with United States servicemen in Speyer; his father's testimony on behalf of the German policeman who helped them (they remained friends for life); passing an exam in Stuttgart to become a bandleader; and the popularity of his family band. Mr. W. notes his wife lost eleven siblings in concentrations camps; her inability to discuss this subject; his ability to share only the "sweet" parts with others, including their children; and his strong belief in Jesus.
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
- W., Paul, -- 1930-
Subjects
- Survivor-child relations.
- Postwar experiences.
- Involuntary sterilization -- Germany.
- Romanies -- Germany -- History -- 20th century.
- Romanies -- Nazi persecution -- Germany.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Hiding.
- Aid by non-Romanies.
- Child survivors.
- Human experimentation in medicine.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Romani.
- Men.
- Video tapes.
Places
- Germany.
- Duisburg (Germany)
- Wuppertal (Germany)
- Lorraine (France)
- Speyer (Germany)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat