Skip to main content

Elena L. Holocaust testimony (HVT-3991) interviewed by René Lužica and Milan Samko,

Oral History | Digitized | Fortunoff Collection ID: HVT-3991

Overview

Summary: Videotape testimony of Elena L., a Catholic Romani, who was born in Veľký Šariš, Czechoslovakia (presently Slovakia) in 1921. She recalls attending school until fifth grade; cordial relations with Jews and non-Romanies; working for a Jewish family; persecution of Jews and Romanies by Hlinka guards with the establishment of the Slovak state; observing Jews having to wear identifying marks and their deportation; destruction of Romani houses, including hers; anti-Romani restrictions; living in a hut in the woods; her child's death due to the harsh conditions; hiding from the Germans in a hole in the hut with her sisters, her mother, and her husband's friend; she and her husband assisting nomadic Romanies find shelter; liberation by Soviets; and improved conditions. Ms. L. discusses writing and staging a well-received play about her war experiences, and the importance of maintaining Romani culture.
Author/Creator: L., Elena, 1921-
Published: Bratislava, Slovakia : Milan Šimečka Foundation, 1998
Interview Date: August 29, 1998.
Locale: Slovakia
Czechoslovakia
Veľký Šariš (Slovakia)
Cite As: Elena L. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-3991). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.
Other Authors/Editors: Lužica, René, interviewer.
Samko, Milan, interviewer.
Notes: This testimony is in Slovak.

Physical Details

Language: Slovak
Copies: 3 copies: 1/2 in. VHS master; Betacam SP submaster; and 1/2 in. VHS with time coding.
Physical Description: 1 videorecording (1 hr., 32 min.) : col

Keywords & Subjects

Subjects (Local Yale): Hiding.
Mutual aid.
Postwar experiences.
Subjects: Video tapes. Women. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Slovak. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Romani. Romanies--Nazi persecution--Slovakia. Children--Death. Husband and wife. Sisters. Mothers and daughters. Czechoslovakia. Veľký Šariš (Slovakia) Oral histories (document genres) L., Elena,--1921- Hlinkova slovenská l̕udová strana.

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/4564418
Record last modified:: 2018-06-04 13:32:00
This page:: http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/hvt4564418/

Additional Resources

Librarian View

Download & Licensing

Terms of Use
This record is digitized but cannot be downloaded online.

In-Person Research

Request Access from Yale University Libraries

Requires Yale University Libraries Permission
Accessing Fortunoff interviews
Log in to Request and View
About the Fortunoff Archive

Once requests are approved, you must be at a Fortunoff Access Site to view the testimony.

Contact Us

Give Feedback

Learn About the Holocaust

These additional online resources from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum will help you learn more about the Holocaust and research your family history.

Holocaust Encyclopedia

The Holocaust Encyclopedia provides an overview of the Holocaust using text, photographs, maps, artifacts, and personal histories.
Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center

Research family history relating to the Holocaust and explore the Museum's collections about individual survivors and victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution.
Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos

Learn about over 1,000 camps and ghettos in Volumes I-III of this encyclopedia, which are available as a free PDF download. This reference provides text, photographs, charts, maps, and extensive indexes.

Further Your Research