Description
Object description
Polish Jewish civilian in Chorzów, Poland, 1939-1940; inmate in Sosnowiec Ghetto, Poland, 1940-1941; inmate of Sakrau and Graditz Labour Camps, Germany and Laurahütte Labour Camp, Poland, 1942-1943; inmate in Bletchhammer Labour Camp and Blechhammer Subcamp, Auschwitz III-Monowitz Concentration Camp, Poland, 1943-1945; inmate in Halberstadt-Zweiberge Subcamp, Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 1/1945-4/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Chorzów, Poland, 1926-1939: family circumstances; education; Polish anti-Semitism; father's military service in First World War; prior anticipation of Second World War; religious character of family; effects of Kristallnacht and arrival of Polish refugees from Germany, 11/1938. Aspects of German invasion of Poland, 9/1939: outbreak of war whilst holidaying near border with Czechoslovakia; atmosphere whilst awaiting arrival of Germans; initial sight of German Army troops. Aspects of period as civilian living in Chorzów, Poland, 1939-1940: return to Chorzów; attitude of Polish neighbours; anti-Semitic behaviour towards family members; issue of ration cards; deportation of Jewish males for forced labour. Recollections of period as inmate in Sosnowiec Ghetto, Poland, 1940-1941: reasons for move to town; deportation of Jews for forced labour; public hanging of Jews and Poles; story of how brother, Jacob obtained work for family in factory making German uniforms.
REEL 2 Continues: relatively peaceful life until 1941; hearing of Auschwitz Concentration Camp; march through town for transit to Sakrau, 1942. Recollections of period as forced labourer in Sakrau Labour Camp, Sakrau, Germany, 1942: building work on autobahn; nature of work; receiving parcels from home. Recollections of period as forced labourer in Graditz Labour Camp, Graditz, Germany, 1942: description of camp; hostility of local Polish population; beating received from engineer in charge. Recollections of period as forced labourer in Laurahütte Labour Camp, Poland, 1942-1943: move to camp; arrival of Jews from Western Europe and their ignorance of situation; story of being sent out to work in Chorzów; German treatment of Soviet prisoners of war; demolition work and contact with family; beatings and public whipping received for falling asleep on worksite.
REEL 3 Continues: treatment by foreman; last contacts with family. Recollections of period as inmate in Blechhamer Forced Labour Camp and Blechhammer Subcamp, Auschwitz III-Monowitz Concentration Camp, Poland, 1943-1945: move to camp; selections of weaker inmates for Auschwitz II-Birkenau Concentration Camp; change of status of camp to satellite camp of Auschwitz III-Monowitz Concentration Camp; improvement in conditions; description of inmate uniforms; living conditions and discipline; camp social life; deterioration in conditions after arrival of new commandant; bomb disposal work; Allied bombing of factory complex; sight of Soviet Air Force aircraft and arrivals of inmates from camps in the east. Recollections of journey from Blechhammer to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 1/1945: march through snow; staying on farms; weather conditions; guards behaviour towards Germans who put out food for inmates.
REEL 4 Continues: chaotic military situation; narrow escape from execution; recapture by German policeman; return to column; nature of short stay in Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp; train journey from Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Aspects of period as inmate in Halberstadt-Zweiberge Subcamp, Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 1/1945-4/1945: selection for Halberstadt-Zweiberge Subcamp on arrival in Buchenwald Concentration Camp; conditions in camp; collapse during work; reasons for move to hospital; conditions in camp; evacuation of camp and how he stayed in hospital; liberation by United State Army troops, 11/4/1945. Recollections of period of hospitalisation in Germany, 1945: foraging for food; care received; problems of over-eating; move to American run hospital at Halberstadt.
REEL 5 Continues: reaction to freedom; re-admittance to hospital. Aspects of period as Displaced Person in Germany, 1945-1946: move to Brunswick in British Zone of Occupation, Germany; repatriation process; decision to not return to Poland. Recollections of period as refugee in GB, 1946-1949: move to GB under European Voluntary Workers Scheme; preparatory course in Market Harborough; mining work near Dunfermline; attitude of Scottish miners; move to work in Lincoln. Recollections of period as civilian in Israel and GB, after 1949: reasons for decision to emigrate to Israel; attempts to settle; meeting wife Vêra Löwyová at Mitazmin Kibbutz; marriage and loss of first child; reasons for return to GB; attempts to establish career in physiotherapy. Reflections on Holocaust experiences: problems of talking about experience; survival factors.
REEL 6 Continues: lack of discussion about Holocaust in Israel during 1940s and 1950s; attitude towards religion; importance of talking about experiences; question of gaining tolerance from experience; influence on parenting.
