Skip to main content

Henri B. Holocaust testimony (HVT-80) interviewed by Laurel Vlock,

Oral History | Digitized | Fortunoff Collection ID: HVT-80

Overview

Summary: Videotape testimony of Henri B., who was born in Paris in 1926. He describes the antisemitism he encountered as an apprentice jockey before the war; his escape to southern, unoccupied France when the Jews of Paris were ordered to assemble for deportation; and his detention in and escape from the internment camp at Rivesaltes. He also tells of his life in hiding on a French farm and his activities in the French underground, where, because of his small size, he was trained and employed to work with explosives. Mr. B. speaks with great emotion about his attempts to remember his Jewishness while simultaneously living in fear of its discovery by others. He also recalls the desensitization and the denial of his Jewish upbringing necessary to perform the underground activities which resulted in the loss of human life.
Author/Creator: B., Henri, 1926-
Published: Palm Beach, Fla. : Holocaust Survivors Film Project, 1980
Interview Date: March 5, 1980.
Locale: France
Paris (France)
Cite As: Henri B. Holocaust Testimony (HVT-80). Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, Yale University Library.
Other Authors/Editors: Vlock, Laurel, interviewer.
Notes: Unpublished finding aid available in repository; 1/2 in. VHS is linked to finding aid by time coding.

Physical Details

Language: English
Copies: 3 copies: 3/4 in. master; 3/4 in. dub; and 1/2 in. VHS with time coding.
Physical Description: 1 videorecording (30 min.) : col

Keywords & Subjects

Subjects (Local Yale): Hiding.
Subjects: Video tapes. Men. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Jewish. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, French. Anti-Nazi movement. World War, 1939-1945--Underground movements--France. Holocaust survivors. France. Paris (France) Oral histories (document genres) B., Henri,--1926- Rivesaltes (Concentration camp)

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/616785
Record last modified:: 2018-06-04 13:28:00
This page:: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/hvt616785

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