Margita S. Holocaust testimony

Videotape testimony of Margita S., who was born in Liptovský Mikuláš, Czechoslovokia (presently Slovakia) in 1915, one of four children. She recalls her family's assimilation and strong Czech identity; cordial relations with non-Jews; her father's death when she was thirteen; socialist activities; attending medical school in Bratislava; anti-Jewish restrictions beginning in 1938 resulting in her expulsion; working in Olomouc for her uncle (he was a surgeon) as an X-ray technician; readmission to medical school, then expulsion again; attending nursing school in 1941; deportation to Auschwitz in March 1942; assignment to the hospital; hoping at first she was there in error and would return home, but then realizing it was a futile hope; assisting as many prisoners as she could; transfer to Birkenau; assignment to Dr. Clauberg, who was performing specious medical experiments on the prisoners; a nun assisting her when she became ill; reassignment to Dr. Rohde, who helped others (she saved many lives due to him); working for Dr. Mengele and Dr. König (he also helped her save prisoners); an organized effort to abort pregnant woman to keep them alive; a death march and train transport to Ravensbrück, then Neustadt-Glewe; liberation by Soviet troops in May 1945; traveling to Prague, then home; learning her entire family had survived; completing medical school; working in Bratislava; and repercussions in 1968 for her pro-democracy support. Dr. S. notes she chooses not to discuss many horrors she experienced; acts of resistance raising morale; and persistent pain due to not being able to help more prisoners.

1 videocassette