Shimon H. Holocaust testimony (HVT-3551)

Videotape testimony of Shimon H., who was born in Strasbourg, Germany (presently France) in 1907. He recounts the transfer of Strasbourg from Germany to France in 1918; meeting his wife through the Jewish scouting movement; becoming a scout leader of southern France at age twenty; working on his doctorate beginning in 1931; increasing antisemitism; military draft in 1938; assignment to develop defenses against poison gas (he was a chemist); defeat by Germany; moving with the lab to Montpellier; traveling to Clermont-Ferrand; meeting with scouting friends to plan children's training schools on family farms; moving to Toulouse to implement the plans; receiving support from ORT to train the children; purchasing a farm in Taluyers; his wife and children joining him there; administering the farm for three and a half years; assistance from police in Lyon; warnings from French police prior to raids; police overlooking the children on the farm; disbanding the farm in April 1944 when it became too dangerous; traveling to Givors to thank the police for their help; being assigned to join his sister in Geneva (his wife and children remained in France); travel assistance from Sixièmè; returning to France after the war; and emigration with his wife to Israel after the war (their children were already there). Mr. H. discusses his book; many who helped the rescue efforts; and his desire to memorialize all his friends who were killed.