Gertrude G. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Gertrude G., who was born in Vienna, Austria in 1931. She recalls hostility from local Nazis after the Anschluss in March 1938; anti-Jewish restrictions and violence; expulsion from school; her father's arrest prior to Kristallnacht; public humiliation of her mother and grandmother on Kristallnacht; learning her father was in Dachau; his release, based upon a promise to leave Austria; their emigration to Italy; living in Milan with assistance from the Joint; attending a Jewish school; her father's internment as a political refugee; joining him, with her mother, in Castilenti; her mother's illness and other hardships; German occupation in 1943; hiding with her parents with assistance from Italian non-Jews; learning of the Allied victory on June 6, 1944; and emigrating to the United States after five years in refugee camps. Mrs. G. discusses insecurity and confusion about her identity during the war; meeting her husband in a refugee camp; close bonds with her parents due to their war experiences; and her warm feelings for the Italians.
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
- G., Gertrude, -- 1931-
Corporate Bodies
- American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
Subjects
- Crystal Night, 1938.
- Child survivors.
- Refugee camps.
- Kristallnacht, 1938.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Postwar experiences.
- Hiding.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Women.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Refugees, Jewish.
- Jews -- Migrations.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Parent and child.
- Identification (Religion)
Places
- Milan (Italy)
- Vienna (Austria)
- Austria.
- Austria -- History -- Anschluss, 1938.
- Castilenti (Italy)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat