Levana O. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 3768
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Levana O., who was born in Iași, Romania in 1931. She recalls expulsion from Catholic school due to anti-Jewish laws; arrival of German troops prior to Soviet invasion in 1941; a round-up by German and Romanian soldiers; release of the women and children; returning home with her mother (she never saw her father again); hearing shooting; seeing corpses loaded onto trucks the next day; continuing to attend school; moving to Bucharest with her mother in winter 1942/1943; returning to Iași that spring; attending high school; returning to Bucharest in 1944; liberation by Soviet troops; meeting her future husband through Hashomer Hatzair; embarking on an illegal ship to Palestine from Burgas; interception by the British; incarceration on Cyprus with her mother and uncle; arriving in Haifa; living on a kibbutz; and air raids during the Israel-Arab War. Mrs. O. discusses starting "to cry very late in life," particularly for her father, and being unaware of events elsewhere during the war. She shows photographs.

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.

Rules and Conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Process Info

  • compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies

People

  • O., Levana, -- 1931-

Corporate Bodies

  • World Hashomer Hatzair.

Subjects

  • Child survivors.
  • Mothers and daughters.
  • Israel-Arab War, 1948-1949 -- Personal narratives.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Children.
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Jewish.
  • Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Personal narratives.
  • Women.
  • Postwar experiences.
  • Zionist organizations.
  • Postwar effects.
  • Mass killings.
  • Holocaust survivors.
  • Video tapes.

Places

  • Palestine -- Emigration and immigration.
  • Haifa (Israel)
  • Burgas (Bulgaria)
  • Cyprus.
  • Bucharest (Romania)
  • Iași (Romania)
  • Romania.

Genre

  • Oral histories. -- aat
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.