Hersch A. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Hersch A., who was born in Brzez?h?any, Poland (now Berezhany, Ukraine) in 1931. He recalls Soviet occupation in 1939; German invasion in 1941; his father's arrest and disappearance on Yom Kippur; fleeing with his sister during an Aktion the following Yom Kippur; their capture; his escape (he never saw his sister again); ghettoization; the murder of his two other sisters; hiding with his mother and relatives in a sub-basement; escaping from the ghetto; returning again since no one would help them; and his mother's capture during another escape. Mr. A. recounts hiding near Naraev with help from farmers; returning to Brzez?h?any when it became cold; being hidden by a non-Jewish friend; joining his aunt and a cousin hiding in the forests and with non-Jews; hiding alone in an attic; liberation; living in Italy for four years; and emigrating to the United States with his aunt and uncle. He discusses his amazement that he still believes in God; the difficulty of watching other children play while in hiding; and reluctance to discuss his experiences until he gradually shared them with his daughter's classes.
Extent and Medium
1 videocassette
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
- A., Hersch, -- 1931-
Subjects
- Jews -- Ukraine -- Brzez︠h︡any.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Faith.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Hiding.
- Soviet occupation.
- Child survivors.
- Forests.
- Postwar experiences.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Family.
- Escapes.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
Places
- Poland.
- Naraev (Ukraine)
- Brzez︠h︡any (Ukraine)
- Brzez︠h︡any ghetto.
- Italy.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat