Chil E. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Chil E., who was born in Poland in 1924, one of two children. He recounts his family traveling to Palestine in 1925, but staying in Belgium when his mother was hospitalized for two years; living in La Calamine, then Brussels; active participation in the Jewish Scouts; German invasion; joining the Resistance; round-up in 1942 to Breendonk, then Malines; deportation to Sakrau; transfer to Anhalt, Myslowice (Fu?rstengrube), Graslitz, Reichenbach, Faulbru?ck, Annaberg, Birkenau, Niederorschel, then Langenstein; various slave labor assignments including in a mine, a quarry, an airplane factory, a Krupp factory, and collecting corpses; beatings resulting in permanent injuries; prisoners helping him; a few guards providing extra food and easier work; observing cannibalism; escaping from a death march in spring 1945; assistance from local civilians; liberation by United States troops; returning to Belgium; and reunion with his sister (his parents had been deported and killed). Mr. E. discusses his determination to survive; the pain of seeing his friends killed in front of him; growing accustomed to death in the camps; maintaining his belief in God but not organized religion; continuing fears and nightmares resulting from his experiences; participating in survivor organizations; and a painful visit to Birkenau twenty-five years ago.
Extent and Medium
4 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
- E., Chil, -- 1924-
Corporate Bodies
- Niederorschel (Concentration camp)
- Langenstein (Concentration camp)
- FaulbruĚck (Concentration camp)
- Myslowice (Concentration camp)
- Birkenau (Concentration camp)
- Annaberg (Concentration camp)
- Malines (Concentration camp)
- Breendonk (Concentration camp)
- Fried. Krupp AG.
Subjects
- Holocaust survivors.
- Men.
- Video tapes.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Jewish children in the Holocaust.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Belgium.
- Forced labor.
- Concentration camps -- Psychological aspects.
- Cannibalism.
- Death marches.
- Escapes.
- Nightmares.
- Faith.
- Child survivors.
- Resistance.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Postwar experiences.
- Postwar effects.
- Mutual aid.
Places
- Reichenbach (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Graslitz (Czech Republic : Concentration camp)
- Sakrau (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Anhalt (Poland : Concentration camp)
- Brussels (Belgium)
- La Calamine (Belgium)
- Poland.
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat