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Henri R. Holocaust testimony (HVT-2671) interviewed by Claudine Drame and Berthe Burko-Falcman,

Oral History | Fortunoff Collection ID: HVT-2671

Videotape testimony of Henri R., who was born in Poland in 1910. He recalls growing up in Płock; his father's desire that he become a rabbi; moving to Paris in 1931 with his future wife to study medicine; working as a custodian while studying; joining the Foreign Legion; demobilization in the free zone; rejoining his wife in Paris; arrest in May 1941; internment in Pithiviers; working as a physician; adequate living conditions; visits from his wife; transfer to Drancy with a group of children in September 1942; deportation to Auschwitz a week later; voluntary transfer to Golleschau; forced labor in a quarry; later gaining a privileged position as a doctor; receiving a package from his wife; a hostile Lagerälteste who replaced him with another doctor; regaining his position after friendly kapos killed the other doctor against Mr. R.'s wishes; death marches to Flossenbürg and Dachau; receiving water and food from German civilians; liberation by United States troops; General Eisenhower's visit; penicillin treatment when he had typhus; recovery in Konstanz; traveling to Paris; and reunion with his wife. Mr. R. discusses relations between national groups in the camps and his inability to recount his experiences to his children.

Author/Creator
R., Henri, 1910-
Published
Paris, France : Témoignages pour mémoire, 1993
Interview Date
May 13, 1993.
Locale
Płock (Poland)
Poland
Paris (France)
Caussade (France)
Konstanz (Germany)
Language
French
Copies
2 copies: 3/4 in. dub; and 1/2 in. VHS with time coding.
Cite As
Henri R. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-2671). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.