Olga H. Holocaust testimony (HVT-857) [videorecording] / interviewed by Dana L. Kline and Lucille B. Ritvo, April 20, 1992.

New Haven, Conn. : Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, 1992.

1 videorecording (1 hr., 2 min.) : col.

English

Videotape testimony of Olga H. (called Esther by her family), who was born in Czechoslovakia in 1918, the youngest of nine children. She recalls her orthodox family life in Seredne; attending Catholic school; transfer with some of her family to Uz︠h︡horod in April 1944; transport to Auschwitz; a selection after which she never saw her family again; being told her family was "burning;" not recognizing herself after being shaved; a sustaining relationship with a friend from her town; aid from a friend when she could not stand at appell; and transfer to Gelsenkirchen. She recounts volunteering for kitchen duty; sharing extra food; an Allied airplane attack in which many women were killed; a German officer who saved her from punishment; bringing extra food to the hospital; transfer to Altenburg in early 1945; a forced march to Czechoslovakia; the guards' disappearance on May 11th; and confusion about where to go . She describes traveling through Czechoslovakia; living in Prague; traveling to Uz︠h︡gorod via Budapest; finding relatives and her boyfriend along the way; her marriage; adopting a niece and nephew; and joining two brothers who had come to the United States before the war.

June 01, 2002

Olga H. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-857). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.

Olga H. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-857). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.

Oral histories (document genres)