Martin B. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Martin B., who was born in Izbica, Poland in 1925, one of eight children. He recalls their poverty; his father's great Jewish scholarship; their orthodoxy; antisemitism at public school; German invasion; deportation to Poznan? with one brother; slave labor; organizing to remain with others from Izbica; sharing stolen food; transfer a year later to Birkenau; volunteering with his brother as tailors; transfer to Jaworzno after a few weeks; a privileged job due to his small size; public hanging of escapees; contemplating suicide; his brother encouraging him to "hang on"; a death march in late 1944; brief liberation; recapture; continuing to march to Theresienstadt; liberation by Soviet troops; their journey home; deciding to leave following threats of antisemitic violence from the AK; traveling to ?o?dz?, then Bindermichl displaced persons camp; assistance from UNRRA; communication from relatives in London through the Red Cross; emigration to join them; marriage; and raising two daughters. Mr. B. discusses the importance of his brother and friends from Izbica to his survival; total dehumanization in camps; focusing solely on food; not sharing his story with his children; and the impossibility of explaining his experiences to anyone.
Extent and Medium
3 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. This testimony cannot be used for commercial purposes.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- B., Martin, -- 1925-
Corporate Bodies
- Poland. -- Polskie Siły Zbrojne. -- Armia Krajowa.
- Jaworzno (Concentration camp)
- Birkenau (Concentration camp)
- Theresienstadt (Concentration camp)
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.
Subjects
- Holocaust survivors.
- Jewish children in the Holcoaust.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Concentration camps -- Sociological aspects.
- Forced labor.
- Brothers.
- Concentration camps -- Psychological aspects.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
- Death marches.
- Refugee camps.
- Survivor-child relations.
- Postwar experiences.
- Antisemitism -- Postwar.
- Antisemitism -- Prewar.
- Mutual aid.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Child survivors.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Video tapes.
- Men.
Places
- Poznań (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Łódź (Poland)
- Bindermichl (Austria : Refugee camp)
- Izbica Lubelska (Poland)
- Poland.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat