Marika F. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Marika F., who was born in Keszthely, Hungary in 1925. She recalls her very happy youth; fear starting with the Anschluss; expulsion from school; anti-Jewish laws; appropriation of the family's business resulting in her father's depression; and his job with non-Jews who later helped the family. Dr. F. describes ghettoization in Zalaegerszeg in 1944; forced labor; a "feast" before their deportation; beatings of her father and her friend; transport to Auschwitz in early July; brutal treatment by kapos; remaining with her mother, aunt, a friend and her friend's mother; transfer to Birkenau; horrendous conditions; and constant thirst. She details their transfer on August 1st to Hessisch-Lichtenau; improved conditions; her illness from handling chemicals in an armament factory; and being saved from return to Auschwitz by another prisoner. She recounts several transfers in April 1945; a death march; their escape; hiding for three weeks in a village with two German women; arrival of Soviet soldiers who raped Mrs. F.'s friend and aunt; their return to Hungary; her later emigration; marriage, studies and her career in Europe. Dr. F. discusses the importance of the support of her mother and aunt to her survival.
Extent and Medium
3 videocassettes (3/4" u-matic)
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
- F., Marika, -- 1925-
Corporate Bodies
- Hessisch-Lichtenau (Concentration camp)
- Birkenau (Concentration camp)
- Auschwitz (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Video tapes.
- Women.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Concentration camps -- Psychological aspects.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Forced labor.
- Friendship.
- Jews -- Hungary -- Zalaegerszeg.
- Family.
- Death marches.
- Concentration camps -- Sociological aspects.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- Rape.
- Mutual aid.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Escapes.
- Concentration camp inmates -- Family relationships.
- Anschluss.
Places
- Keszthely (Hungary)
- Hungary.
- Zalaegerszeg ghetto.
- Zalaegerszeg (Hungary)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat