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Leonard D. Holocaust testimony (HVT-673) interviewed by Syd Mandelbaum and Frances Ganz,

Oral History | Digitized | Fortunoff Collection ID: HVT-673

Overview

Summary: Videotape testimony of Leonard D. who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1925. He recalls his parents both had relatives in Europe; ceasing to hear from them in the late 1930s; being drafted into the Army immediately after high school graduation; training in the 21st Armored Infantry Battalion; reassignment to the 11th Armored Division; sailing to England; landing in France in October 1944; fierce fighting through Europe; liberating Mauthausen on May 5, 1945; his and his fellow soldiers' state of shock at the condition of the prisoners; the piles of corpses all over, the pervasive stench; observing the gas chamber, torture areas, and the bloodied quarry steps; the commanding officer compelling locals to observe the camp, assist former prisoners, and help bury the dead; leaving five days later; helping to repatriate Czechs and Hungarians; returning home; and discharge in March 1946. Mr. D. notes his mother lost all of her family in Hungary; being "an old man" at twenty due to what he had seen; and becoming a teacher to help prevent such events in the future.
Author/Creator: D., Leonard, 1925-
Published: Lawrence, N.Y. : Second Generation of Long Island, 1985
Interview Date: March 12, 1985.
Locale: Europe
England
Cite As: Leonard D. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-673). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.
Other Authors/Editors: Mandelbaum, Syd, interviewer.
Ganz, Frances, interviewer.

Physical Details

Language: English
Copies: 2 copies: 3/4 in. master; and 1/2 in. VHS with time coding.
Physical Description: 1 videorecording (1 hr., 49 min.) : col

Keywords & Subjects

Subjects (Local Yale): Postwar experiences.
Postwar effects.
Liberator.
Subjects: Video tapes. Men. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Jewish. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American. World War, 1939-1945--Participation, American. World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Jewish. United States--Armed Forces--Europe. England. Oral histories (document genres) D., Leonard,--1925- United States.--Army.--Armored Infantry Battalion, 21st. United States.--Army.--Armored Division, 11st. Mauthausen (Concentration camp)

Administrative Notes

Holder of Originals: Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies
Special Collection: Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies

Link to Yale University Library Catalog:: http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/4294085
Record last modified:: 2018-05-29 11:47:00
This page:: http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/hvt4294085/

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