Sophie I. Holocaust testimony (HVT-4475)

Videotape testimony of Sophie I., who was born in Pidbuz︠h︡, Poland (presently Ukraine) in January 1939. She recounts her family's affluence; Soviet occupation the year of her birth; German invasion; her parents and aunt taking her to hide in the forests in the winter of 1942; wandering in the woods for six weeks, being carried by her mother or aunt; hiding in the barn of a large farm; the farmer, who knew her parents, finding them; his wife and five teenage children agreeing to hide them; meager food; hiding silently during frequent searches and visits by other Poles; lice infestation; being taught to cross herself so she could occasionally stay with the family since she was blond and spoke perfect Polish; spending twenty-four hours in a pigsty when Germans were there; liberation by Soviets in late 1944; living with other Jews who had been hiding; Soviets arresting the famer who hid them as a German collaborator; her father informing the Soviets they would have to execute him before they could shoot their rescuer; his release; moving to western Poland, then Wetzlar displaced persons camp; her brother's birth; Red Cross assistance locating relatives in the United States; moving to Lechfeld Displaced Persons camp; assistance from HIAS; their relatives sponsoring them for emigration to the United States; arrival in summer 1949; her difficult adjustment; marriage to an American in 1959; and the births of three children. Ms. I. discusses visits to her rescuers; supporting them financially; and sponsoring two of the sisters to emigrate to the United States.