Michael G. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Michael G., who was born in Kurenet?s?, Poland (now Byelorussia) in 1922. He recalls attending a local school until sixth grade; Hebrew school in Dolginovo for two years; brief cantorial studies in Vilna; Soviet occupation in 1939; attending high school and working in Novogrudok; his father's visits; and German invasion in 1941. Mr. G. describes unsuccessful efforts to return home (Germans were everywhere); an arduous six-month journey to Tashkent; transfer in 1942 to Tashkumyr and hard labor in the coal mines; returning to Poland in 1945; learning of the mass murder of the Jews; a brief visit to his hometown; working on a kibbutz in ?odz?; smuggling Jews to Bratislava with the Haganah; living in displaced persons camps in Bratislava, Linz, Ziegenhain, and other places; unsuccessful attempts to illegally emigrate to Palestine; discovering relatives in the United States who aided his emigration; and their warm reception when he arrived in 1949. He discusses conveying his story to his children; membership in a survivors' organization; gatherings of people from Kurenet?s?; and the continuing pain when telling his story.
Extent and Medium
2 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
- G., Michael, -- 1922-
Subjects
- Refugee camps.
- Zionist organizations.
- Jews -- Migrations.
- Refugees, Jewish.
- Postwar effects.
- Survivor-child relations.
- Soviet occupation.
- Postwar experiences.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
Places
- Tash-Kumyr (Kyrgyzstan)
- Bratislava (Slovakia)
- Łódź (Poland)
- Minsk (Belarus)
- Linz (Austria : Refugee camp)
- Ziegenhain (Germany : Refugee camp)
- Novogrudok (Belarus)
- Nowogródek (Poland)
- Kurenet︠s︡ (Belarus)
- Dolginovo (Minskai︠a︡ oblastʹ, Belarus)
- Poland.
- Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
- Navahrudak (Belarus)
- Vilnius (Lithuania)
- Vilna (Poland)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat