Ilse W. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 2177
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Ilse W., who was born in Berlin, Germany in 1915. She recounts her father's service in World War I; her parents' prosperous businesses; celebrating Jewish holidays with her large and close extended family; destruction of their synagogue on Kristallnacht; arrest and immediate release; her brother's emigration to Palestine and her sister's to England in 1939; obtaining visas for Shanghai; traveling to Genoa to board a ship; being prevented from leaving by the outbreak of war; marriage; internment with her mother in San Fele and Potenza (men were interned elsewhere); her son's birth; her husband's death from appendicitis; hiding from the Germans in Bella, with assistance from the local Italians; liberation by the Jewish brigade of the British army; leaving for the United States from Aversa with her son and parents in 1944 under a special war refugee act; being escorted by Ruth Gruber (she wrote a book about the experience); living in Fort Ontario refugee camp; Eleanor Roosevelt's visit; a concert by Isaac Stern; release in January 1946; and two subsequent marriages. Mrs. W. discusses the friendliness and generosity of Italians toward them. She shows photographs and documents.

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.