Alex R. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Alex R., who was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1932. He recounts attending private school; German invasion in May 1940; anti-Jewish legislation prohibiting Jews from attending school with non-Jews; the principal placing dividers to allow the Jewish students to remain; being rounded up with his parents to a theater (his sister hid); non-Jews sneaking children out; his father's employee being released due to his marriage to a non-Jewish woman and obtaining Alex R.'s release by claiming him as his son; his sister contacting the underground, which placed them separately with non-Jewish families; moving several times; remaining with a family in Bolsward; obtaining false papers as their cousin; being treated as their own child; attending church, although knowing he was Jewish "inside"; reunion with his sister after the war (she had been betrayed and deported); living with her in Amsterdam; his foster family's emigration to the United States; and joining them in 1954. Mr. R. discusses continuing close relations with his foster family; nightmares about separation from his own children; and nervousness, including ulcers, resulting from his experiences.
Extent and Medium
2 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
- R., Alex, -- 1932-
Subjects
- Video tapes.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Men.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Jewish children in the Holocaust.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Netherlands.
- Foster parents.
- Identification (Religion)
- Nightmares.
- Child survivors.
- False papers.
- Mutual aid.
- Postwar effects.
- Postwar experiences.
- Hiding.
- Aid by non-Jews.
Places
- Netherlands.
- Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Bolsward (Netherlands)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat