Holocaust survivors recount their memories of Kristallnacht.
Kristallnacht in a Small German Town
Marga Randall was born in Lemfoerde, Germany, in 1930. Marga’s father had a fatal heart attack upon hearing of his imminent arrest by the Nazis. Marga sought refuge with her mother’s family in the small town of Schermbeck, and after Kristallnacht Marga moved with her mother and sister to Berlin. They eventually immigrated to New York in 1941 via France, Spain and Portugal. In addition to establishing a family, Marga widely lectured on her experiences during the Holocaust, publishing her memoirs under the title Grandfather Didn’t Come Home. Marga Randall passed away in 2005.
Yad Vashem Archives V.T. 294
Kristallnacht in the City of Fulda
Arnold Goldschmidt was born in Fulda, Germany, in 1922. Arrested during Kristallnacht, he was deported to Buchenwald concentration camp, where he was subjected to a brutal regime of forced labor and beatings. Arnold was eventually released and returned to his hometown of Fulda. He was later sent on a children’s transport to Holland, where he lived in different children’s homes. Immigrating to the United States, he later enlisted in the US Army. Arnold Goldschmidt immigrated to Israel in 1966.
Yad Vashem Archives V.T. 3246
Kristallnacht in the City of Buehl
Ehud Loeb was born in Buehl, Germany, in 1934. On October 22, 1940, Ehud was deported with his parents to France on a transport carrying 6,508 Jews. After a few days they arrived in the Gurs Concentration Camp in southwestern France. Those who managed to survive in the camp were deported in 1942 to Auschwitz, including Ehud’s parents.
In 1941 permission was granted for the removal of children from the camp. The operation was carried out by the OSE organization, and children were allowed to leave the camp as long as parental consent had been granted and the children were enlisted either in churches or villages, so that the Gestapo would be able to locate them.
In August 1942 the Gestapo came searching for Ehud, and he was hidden amongst Christian families. Yad Vashem has recognized some of his rescuers as Righteous Among the Nations.
Yad Vashem Archives, Record Group O.3, File Number 10574
Kristallnacht in the City of Würzburg
Holocaust survivors from Würzburg, Germany, describe their experiences in Würzburg during the period of Kristallnacht and its aftermath
Survivors' names: Herbert Mai, Ellen Miles, Sidney Reiter, Jack Lewin, Margo Reiser, John Franklin, Margot Kaiser
The video is part of the exhibition The History of the Jewish Community in Würzburg.
German-Jewish life on the Eve of WWII
Uri ben Ari was born in Berlin in 1925, and was eight years old when the Nazis rose to power. He fled from Germany in 1939 and settled in Israel. In addition to being a diplomat and a writer, he has filled numerous posts in the Israeli army.
Prof. Walter (Tzvi) Bacharach was born in Hanau, Germany, in 1928. During World War II, he was interned for almost 4 years in the Nazi camps of Westerbork, Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, Taucha, Hasag, and Buchenwald. Forced on a death march, he was eventually liberated by the Americans. He is Professor Emeritus of General History at Bar Ilan University.
Excerpt from: German-Jewish life on the Eve of WWII, 2005
Directed By: Reuven Hecker
Producers: Noemi Schory, Liat Benhabib, Liran Atzmor, Itai Ken-Tor
Production Company: Belfilms Ltd.