- Summary
- Videotape testimony of Seymour (Sam) O., who was born in Hrubieszów, Poland in 1911. Mr. O. recalls his childhood experiences; memories of World War I; law school in Warsaw; the German invasion; his family's move to Soviet territory; his parents and sister's return to his brother Felix in Warsaw, then to Hrubieszów; and his move with his brother Felix to Soviet territory. He describes work as head of a school board and as a translator for the Soviet army; the German invasion of Russia; working as a"middleman" between the Judenrat, Ukrainians and Germans; fleeing when they heard about the mass killings; hiding with friendly non-Jews; and returning to Hrubieszów. He tells of the shooting of his parents; working in the mass graves; his suicidal feelings; transfer with his siblings to Budzyń, where a former math professor from Lʹvov suggested they register for a scientific commando; transfer to Majdanek, Płaszów and Ravensbrück, where they participated in the fraudulent scientific commando; transfer with only his brother Henry to Oranienburg and Sachsenhausen; and a death march and liberation. Mr. O. relates his return to Hrubieszów; post-war pogroms; work as a defense attorney in German displaced persons camp for Jewish survivors; emigration to the United States in 1947; his marriage and family; and his reluctance to discuss his experiences with his children.
- Author/Creator
- O., Seymour, 1911-
- Published
- New Haven, Conn. : Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale, 1987
- Interview Date
- December 2, 1987.
- Locale
- Poland
Hrubieszów (Poland)
Soviet Union
- Cite As
- Seymour O. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-944). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.
- Other Authors/Editors
- Kline, Dana L., interviewer.
Millen, Susan, interviewer.
- Notes
-
Unpublished finding aid available in repository; 1/2 in. VHS is linked to finding aid by time coding.
Related publication: I shall live / Henry Orenstein. -- New York : Beaufort Books, c1979.
Associated material: Henry O. Holocaust testimony [brother] (HVT-942) and Fred O. Holocaust testimony [brother] (HVT-943), Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.
