Shmuel S. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 3320
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Shmuel S., who was born in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1920. He recounts moving to Palestine with his family; living in Rishon le-Tsiyon, Petaḥ Tiḳṿah and Hebron; returning to Kaunas in 1929; Soviet occupation; German invasion; a massacre of Jews prior to the arrival of the Germans; fleeing east with his father and brothers; being overtaken by the Germans; returning home; ghettoization; tensions over housing; smuggling; selections and deportations; surviving a mass execution; sneaking back to the ghetto; forced labor; transfer to Panevėžys; incarceration in Stutthof; obtaining extra food; transfer to Landshut, then to Mühldorf (Waldlager); his physical deterioration; evacuation by train in April 1945; a massacre of prisoners by the SS; escaping with others; and liberation by United States troops. Mr. S. discusses continuing friendship with a friend from the ghetto; his respect for the Kaunas Jewish committee; and witnessing an encounter between the ghetto head, Elkhanan Elkes, and Germans.

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

  • Elkes, Elkhanan, -- 1879-1944.
  • S., Shmuel, -- 1920-

Corporate Bodies

  • Stutthof (Concentration camp)
  • Mühldorf (Concentration camp)

Subjects

  • Men.
  • Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
  • Holocaust survivors.
  • Video tapes.
  • Mass killings.
  • Soviet occupation.
  • Aid by non-Jews.
  • Hiding.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
  • Jews -- Lithuania -- Kaunas.
  • Forced labor.
  • Jewish councils.
  • Escapes.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
  • Jewish ghettos.
  • Friendship.

Places

  • Kaunas (Lithuania)
  • Lithuania.
  • Palestine.
  • Kovno (Lithuania)
  • Kovno ghetto.
  • Landshut (Germany: Concentration camp)
  • Panevėžys (Lithuania)
  • Hebron.
  • Rishon le-Tsiyon (Israel)
  • Petaḥ Tiḳṿah (Israel)

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.