Isador J. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Isador J., who was born in Vienna, Austria, the older of two children. He recounts his parents were Polish immigrants; his family's orthodoxy; completing high school; German occupation in 1938; anti-Jewish laws; a fight with a non-Jewish friend; leaving the next day without telling his family; traveling by train to Innsbruck; interdiction while trying to enter Switzerland; being kept at the railroad station and placed on a train to Vienna the next day; jumping from the train; walking toward the Alps; a shepherd sheltering him overnight, then escorting and directing him toward Switzerland; police interdiction in Switzerland; placement in a refugee camp near Saint Gall; contacting his parents; their emigration to join relatives in the United States; joining them in May 1940; serving in the United States military from 1943 to 1945; and being wounded. Mr. J. discusses fond memories of a wonderful youth in Vienna and not sharing his story until his grandson recently interviewed him for a school project. He shows documents and photographs.
Extent and Medium
1 videocassette
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
- J., Isador, -- 1921-
Subjects
- Video tapes.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Escapes.
- Jews -- Migrations.
- Jewish refugees
- Refugee camps.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Jewish.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Holocaust survivors.
Places
- Saint Gall (Switzerland)
- Austria.
- Vienna (Austria)
- Austria -- History -- Anschluss, 1938.
- Innsbruck (Austria)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat