Shimon H. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Shimon H., who was born in Strasbourg, Germany (presently France) in 1907. He recounts the transfer of Strasbourg from Germany to France in 1918; meeting his wife through the Jewish scouting movement; becoming a scout leader of southern France at age twenty; working on his doctorate beginning in 1931; increasing antisemitism; military draft in 1938; assignment to develop defenses against poison gas (he was a chemist); defeat by Germany; moving with the lab to Montpellier; traveling to Clermont-Ferrand; meeting with scouting friends to plan children's training schools on family farms; moving to Toulouse to implement the plans; receiving support from ORT to train the children; purchasing a farm in Taluyers; his wife and children joining him there; administering the farm for three and a half years; assistance from police in Lyon; warnings from French police prior to raids; police overlooking the children on the farm; disbanding the farm in April 1944 when it became too dangerous; traveling to Givors to thank the police for their help; being assigned to join his sister in Geneva (his wife and children remained in France); travel assistance from SixieĚmeĚ; returning to France after the war; and emigration with his wife to Israel after the war (their children were already there). Mr. H. discusses his book; many who helped the rescue efforts; and his desire to memorialize all his friends who were killed.
Extent and Medium
4 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
- H., Shimon, -- 1907-
Corporate Bodies
- World ORT Union.
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, French.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Jewish.
- Families.
- Husband and wife.
- Escapes.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Jews -- Rescue.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Men.
- Video tapes.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
Places
- Geneva (Switzerland)
- Germany.
- Strasbourg (France)
- Montpellier (France)
- Clermont-Ferrand (France)
- Taluyers (France)
- Toulouse (France)
- Lyon (France)
- Givors (France)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat