- Summary
- Videotape testimony of Margita S., who was born in Liptovský Mikuláš, Czechoslovokia (presently Slovakia) in 1915, one of four children. She recalls her family's assimilation and strong Czech identity; cordial relations with non-Jews; her father's death when she was thirteen; socialist activities; attending medical school in Bratislava; anti-Jewish restrictions beginning in 1938 resulting in her expulsion; working in Olomouc for her uncle (he was a surgeon) as an X-ray technician; readmission to medical school, then expulsion again; attending nursing school in 1941; deportation to Auschwitz in March 1942; assignment to the hospital; hoping at first she was there in error and would return home, but then realizing it was a futile hope; assisting as many prisoners as she could; transfer to Birkenau; assignment to Dr. Clauberg, who was performing specious medical experiments on the prisoners; a nun assisting her when she became ill; reassignment to Dr. Rohde, who helped others (she saved many lives due to him); working for Dr. Mengele and Dr. König (he also helped her save prisoners); an organized effort to abort pregnant woman to keep them alive; a death march and train transport to Ravensbrück, then Neustadt-Glewe; liberation by Soviet troops in May 1945; traveling to Prague, then home; learning her entire family had survived; completing medical school; working in Bratislava; and repercussions in 1968 for her pro-democracy support. Dr. S. notes she chooses not to discuss many horrors she experienced; acts of resistance raising morale; and persistent pain due to not being able to help more prisoners.
- Author/Creator
- S., Margita, 1915-
- Published
- Bratislava, Slovakia : Milan Šimečka Foundation, 1995
- Interview Date
- February 26, 1995.
- Locale
- Czechoslovakia
Liptovský Mikuláš (Slovakia)
Bratislava (Slovakia)
Olomouc (Czech Republic)
Prague (Czech Republic)
- Cite As
- Margita S. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-3888). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.
- Notes
-
This testimony is in Slovak.