Joachim K. Holocaust testimony (HVT-3314) interviewed by Nathan Beyrak and Anita Tarsi

Videotape testimony of Joachim K., who was born in Berlin, Germany in 1922. He recalls observing Jewish holidays, although his family was not religious and had a strong sense of German identity; his parents' Zionism; his membership in a Zionist youth group; attending a Jewish school; overnight changes when Hitler came to power; frequent Nazi parades; as a boy, wanting to be part of the parades and Hitler Youth groups; deciding to emigrate to Palestine upon hearing it was possible through his youth group; writing to his parents from Palestine, although in retrospect, less frequently than he should have; learning in 1941 his mother had died; learning a year later she had committed suicide; learning after the war his father had died prior to deportation (they are both buried in Berlin); being sent illegally to a displaced persons camp in 1946; visiting Berlin; and visiting again a few years ago. Mr. K. discusses his denial of what was happening in Europe during the war and not sharing his experiences, even with his children.