Josef B. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Josef B., a Catholic Romani, who was born in Súlovce, Czechoslovakia (presently Slovakia) in 1928, one of five children. He recalls his father was a musician; moving to Žirany when he was six; attending a Hungarian school; learning to play the violin; caring for his younger siblings when his parents worked; joining a band when he was seventeen; German troops entering the village; being forced to dig trenches; playing for the Germans; observing Jewish women fleeing from Nitra; his mother hiding them briefly in their home; evacuation to Jelenec; assistance from the local population; staying in Skýcov; the Germans burning the village as the Soviets approached; liberation by Soviet troops; playing for their victory celebration; the Soviets accompanying them home; marriage in 1948; military enlistment in 1949; playing in the army band; a variety of jobs; and making violins after his retirement. Mr. B. plays the violin several times during the testimony.
Extent and Medium
1 videocassette
Conditions Governing Access
This testimony can only be viewed at Yale by Yale faculty and/or students.
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. This testimony or excerpts from it cannot be used for publication.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- B., Josef, -- 1924-
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Romani.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Slovak.
- Romanies -- Slovakia -- History -- 20th century.
- Romanies -- Nazi persecution -- Slovakia.
- Video tapes.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Men.
- Forced labor.
- Postwar experiences.
Places
- Jelenec (Slovakia)
- Skýcov (Slovakia)
- Súlovce (Slovakia)
- Žirany (Slovakia)
- Czechoslovakia.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat