Ivan K. Holocaust testimony
Abstract
Videotape testimony of Ivan K., who was born in Nitra, Czechoslovakia (presently Slovakia) in 1938, the younger of two brothers. He recounts living in Janova Ves; his and his family's conversion to Christianity in 1942; changing their surname to a more Christian one; their exemption from deportation due to his father's job building barracks in Topol̕čany; his participation in the Slovak uprising in 1944; his mother's denunciation as a Jew; hiding in a mansion with his aunt, mother, and brother; staying in tents in a nearby forest; returning to the mansion; finding his father there; digging a bunker in a mountain forest; local non-Jews bringing them food; partisans assisting them; others joining them at times; having to always keep still and quiet; their helpers bringing a Christmas tree and cookies; warnings of German patrols; wandering in the mountains; staying briefly in a cottage; running when Germans approached; staying with hunters in Horné Hámre; hearing battles between partisans and Germans; liberation in April 1945; living with a woman who had stayed in the bunker with them; moving to Topol̕čany in 1946; learning his paternal grandparents had been killed; and completing his education. Mr. K. discusses his childlike perspective of his experiences; attributing their survival to the many non-Jews who helped them; continuing contact with their rescuers; learning about Judaism as an adult; regretting not discussing his experiences with his parents, aunt, or brother; and sharing his experiences with his daughter.
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. This testimony can only be used for scholarly purposes.
Rules and Conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Process Info
compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
People
- K., Ivan, -- 1938-
Subjects
- Survivor-child relations.
- Postwar effects.
- Postwar experiences.
- Partisans.
- Bunkers.
- Hiding.
- Jewish children in the Holocaust.
- Mothers and sons.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
- Men.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
- Holocaust survivors.
- Video tapes.
- Child survivors.
- Aid by non-Jews.
- Identification (Religion)
- Christian converts from Judaism.
- Families.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Slovakia.
- Brothers.
- Fathers and sons.
Places
- Czechoslovakia.
- Topol̕čany (Slovakia)
- Horné Hámre (Slovakia)
- Janova Ves (Slovakia)
- Nitra (Slovakia)
Genre
- Oral histories. -- aat