Turgel, Gena (Oral history)

Polish Jewish inmate of Krakow Ghetto, Plaszow, Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen camps, 1940-1945

REEL 1 Aspects of background in Krakow, Poland, 1935-1939: family circumstances; education. Aspects of German occupation of Poland, 1939: confiscation of family possessions and business; question of unimportance of possessions in comparison to food. Recollections of period as inmate in Krakow Ghetto: segregation of family; story of mother's disguising Turgel's attractiveness; advantage of mother speaking German; abortive attempt to escape as Chrisitian. Recollections of Plaszow: memories of camp commandant, Amon Goeth; punishment for female escapee; question of escaping; work sewing uniforms; fate of sister Miriam. REEL 2 Continues: question of how brutality became a way of life; fate of sister Hela and brother Willek. Recollections of period as inmate in Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen: conviction that her book 'I light a Candle' was used, without attribution, for film Schindler's List; German policy of splitting up families; mutual reliance of inmates; support given to mother during march to Bergen-Belsen; question that Germans had knowledge of concentration camps; reception at Auschwitz; . Aspects of journey to Bergen-Belsen, 1/1945: short stop at Buchenwald; conditions in cattle trucks. Recollections of period as inmate in Bergen-Belsen, 1945: arrival 2/1945; initial impressions of camp; nursing work in German Army hospital; behaviour of Irma Grese; sharing rations. Recollections of liberation of Bergen-Belsen, 4/1945: arrival of British tanks, 16/4/1945; initial friendly relations between British and German troops; arrested of Germans by Norman Turgel. REEL 3 Continues details of camp surrender and meeting with future husband Norman Turgel; work in hospital including operating on huge boil; return of Norman Turgel 9/1945 and wedding in Lübeck, 10/1945. Recollections of move to GB and reflections of Holocaust experience: reception in GB; adapting to British life; return visit to Bergen-Belsen and decision to write memoirs; arrival of mother in GB; lecturing to educational establishments; reading of letter of condolence for husband Norman Turgel.