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Martin B. Holocaust testimony (HVT-2141) interviewed by David Herman,

Oral History | Fortunoff Collection ID: HVT-2141

Videotape testimony of Martin B., who was born in Izbica, Poland in 1925, one of eight children. He recalls their poverty; his father's great Jewish scholarship; their orthodoxy; antisemitism at public school; German invasion; deportation to Poznań with one brother; slave labor; organizing to remain with others from Izbica; sharing stolen food; transfer a year later to Birkenau; volunteering with his brother as tailors; transfer to Jaworzno after a few weeks; a privileged job due to his small size; public hanging of escapees; contemplating suicide; his brother encouraging him to "hang on"; a death march in late 1944; brief liberation; recapture; continuing to march to Theresienstadt; liberation by Soviet troops; their journey home; deciding to leave following threats of antisemitic violence from the AK; traveling to Łódź, then Bindermichl displaced persons camp; assistance from UNRRA; communication from relatives in London through the Red Cross; emigration to join them; marriage; and raising two daughters. Mr. B. discusses the importance of his brother and friends from Izbica to his survival; total dehumanization in camps; focusing solely on food; not sharing his story with his children; and the impossibility of explaining his experiences to anyone.

Author/Creator
B., Martin, 1925-
Published
London, England : British Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, 1992
Interview Date
June 10, 1992.
Locale
Izbica Lubelska (Poland)
Poland
Łódź (Poland)
Language
English
Copies
2 copies: 3/4 in. dub; and 1/2 in. VHS with time coding.
Cite As
Martin B. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-2141). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.