Naftali W. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Naftali W., who was born in Krako?w, Poland in 1924, one of six children. He recalls beatings by non-Jews; visiting grandparents in Se?dziszo?w; German invasion; returning home; his father's departure for Soviet territory; his family's return to Se?dziszo?w; incarceration in a forced labor camp; escape; his father's return; ghettoization; a round-up; selection with one brother (he never saw his family again); transfer to the Rzeszo?w ghetto; deportation to Mielec without his brother; a privileged position; receiving food from a German engineer and Polish civilian workers; transfer to Wieliczka, Flossenbu?rg, and Leitmeritz; public hangings; transfer to Mauthausen, then Gusen; beatings by Ukrainian prisoners; posing as a non-Jew to obtain better treatment; assistance from a German; liberation by United States troops in May 1945; traveling to Italy with the Jewish brigade; living in Modena and a displaced persons camp; illegal emigration; incarceration on Cyprus by the British; marriage; arriving in Palestine in 1947; participating in the Israel-Arab War; and his career in the air force and aircraft industry. Mr. W. discusses camp conditions and experiences; wishing to die in the camps; not knowing how he survived; reluctance to share his experiences, even with his wife and children; and family losses.
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
- W., Naftali, -- 1924-
Corporate Bodies
- Flossenbürg (Concentration camp)
- Mauthausen (Concentration camp)
- Gusen (Concentration camp)
- Litoměřice (Concentration camp)
Subjects
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Postwar experiences.
- Survivor-child relations.
- Child survivors.
- Israel-Arab War, 1948-1949.
- Refugee camps.
- Concentration camps -- Psychological aspects.
- Concentration camps -- Sociological aspects.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Brothers.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- Jewish ghettos.
- Jews -- Poland -- Rzeszów.
- Forced labor.
- Escapes.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
Places
- Palestine -- Emigration and immigration.
- Palestine.
- Cyprus.
- Sędziszów (Poland)
- Kraków (Poland)
- Poland.
- Modena (Italy)
- Sędziszów (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Rzeszów ghetto.
- Mielec (Poland : Concentration camp)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat