Valery W. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 4060
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Valery W., a non-Jew, who was born in Les Deux-Acren, Belgium in 1919. He recalls working at a power station; military service; German invasion; being sent to several locations ending at Bagnols-sur-Cèze; training with French military in a nearby village; attack by German planes; capture; internment in a prisoner of war camp with his unit and French units; release; returning home; resuming his job; spontaneously sabotaging German communications lines with friends; organizing other sabotage; printing a Resistance publication in Lessines; blowing up railroad tracks, trains, and locks; liaising among several groups; betrayal and arrest in 1944; imprisonment in Oudenaarde, then Ghent; never divulging information despite beatings during interrogations; transfer in July to Bourg Leopold; receiving food nightly from the local Red Cross; escaping with others; liberation by United States troops; returning home; learning his father had perished; re-enlisting in the military; and serving until 1947. Mr. W. discusses not sharing his experiences and continuing nightmares due to his experiences.

Extent and Medium

6 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

Corporate Bodies

Subjects

Places

Genre

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.