Josef R. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Josef R., who was born in Krzeszowice, Poland in 1921 and grew up in Krako?w. He recalls a comfortable childhood, attending secular and religious schools; cordial relations with non-Jews; participating in Hashomer Hatzair; ending his education due to Jewish quotas; German invasion; fleeing to Tarnobrzeg with his parents; their return to Krako?w; forced resettlement in Borek Szlachecki, Borek Fa?e?cki, and Samborek; hospitalization with assistance from a non-Jewish physician; joining his parents in Prokocim; forced labor for a German railroad company; ghettoization in Krako?w; round-ups, selections, and deportations; smuggling food; working at a military factory; transfer to P?aszo?w in March 1943; surviving execution by Amon Goeth (he was left for dead); prisoners hiding him during a six week recovery; public hangings and executions by Goeth; evacuation to Cze?stochowa; assignment to the kitchen; smuggling food; liberation by Soviet troops; return to Krako?w; resuming his studies; working in a clothing cooperative; marriage; and testifying at Goeth's trial. Mr. R. discusses present fears arising from his experiences. He notes his survival was due to luck and that only one of his relatives survived.
Extent and Medium
3 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
- Göth, Amon, -- 1908-1946.
- R., Josef, -- 1921-
Corporate Bodies
- Płaszów (Concentration camp)
- World Hashomer Hatzair.
- Częstochowa (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Mass killings.
- Dreams.
- War crime trials -- Poland.
- Postwar effects.
- Mutual aid.
- Postwar experiences.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Men.
- Video tapes.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- Forced labor.
- Jews -- Poland -- Kraków.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Holocaust survivors.
Places
- Kraków ghetto.
- Tarnobrzeg (Poland)
- Poland.
- Krzeszowice (Poland)
- Prokocim (Poland)
- Borek Fałęcki (Poland)
- Samborek (Poland)
- Kraków (Poland)
- Borek Szlachecki (Poland)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat