Jack L. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 1604
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Jack L., who was born in Berlin, Germany in 1910. In an unusually detailed testimony, he recounts his musical education; emigration to Amersfoort, Holland; his musical career; activities in the Dutch underground; deportation to Westerbork, then Auschwitz; and witnessing atrocities. Mr. L. recalls transfer to Monowitz; work for I.G. Farben; teaching accordion to a German officer resulting in extra food and privileges; giving food to a boy whom he took home with him after the war; the influx of Hungarian Jews and acceleration of killing; work in the musicians unit; and the hanging of prisoners who attempted to escape, and others randomly chosen for retribution, including a Polish priest who volunteered in place of another. He describes leaving Auschwitz January 18, 1945; transport to Nordhausen; prisoners sabotaging V2 rockets by urinating on parts; public hanging of saboteurs who were caught; transfer to Bergen-Belsen; and liberation by American forces. Mr. L. tells of prisoners killing German guards; returning to Amersfoort; enlisting in the Canadian army in which he played in the band; and emigration to the United States. He discusses confronting Wernher Von Braun about Nordhausen and his complicity in events there and he shows a book which was a gift from the Dutch underground.

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

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Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.