My mother's story of the Shoah - told in Yiddish http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/index.html Louis Brandsdorfer http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:15:06 -0400 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:14:21 -0400 FeedForAll Mac v2.1 (2.1.0.1); http://www.FeedForAll.com/ My mothers recollections of the Shoah. Told in Yiddish. My mother, Malka Brandsdorfer, lived in a small Polish town near the German border. At the start of World War II she was married and had a young daughter. During the war her married name was Goldratt. She recorded her recollections of the Holocaust. The conditions in the town. Her family's struggle and the ghetto and camps she lived through. She tells of how many of her family died and how only she and one sister survived. Her recollections are told in Yiddish. There is a written version of my mother's story in English that can be downloaded at the website. Holocaust, Shoah, History, World War 2, Warsaw Ghetto, Auschwitz Louis Brandsdorfer lou@brandsdorfer.com Louis Brandsdorfer no http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/pictures.jpg http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/index.html Family Photos 144 144 Leaving Poland for good, my mother travels looking for surviving family and friends. She finds very few, and learns of the fate of many of them. Settling in a displaced persons camp in Wesbaden Germany, she meets my father and starts a new family before moving to America. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/22_Wesbaden.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:49:23 -0400 Starting life over after the war. Leaving Poland for good, my mother travels looking for surviving family and friends. She finds very few, learns of the fate of many of them. Settling in a displaced persons camp in Wesbaden Germany, she meets my father and starts a new family before moving to America. 8:11 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, labor camp, liberation Louis Brandsdorfer no Returning home after the war. My mother travels on foot and by train through war torn Germany and Poland. She finds other survivors, among them her younger sister Fay. Her homecoming is bitter sweet with the realization of how few survived and the hostile greeting the returning Jews received from the Polish townspeople. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/21_Returning.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:49:17 -0400 The survivors return home to Poland. Returning home after the war. My mother travels on foot and by train through war torn Germany and Poland. She finds other survivors, among them her younger sister Fay. Her homecoming is bitter sweet with the realization of how few survived and the hostile greeting the returning Jews received from the Polish townspeople. 11:22 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, labor camp, liberation Louis Brandsdorfer no The labor camp at Neustadt is unexpectedly liberated when the German guards abandon the labor camp. The Germans move west to excape the advancing Russian army. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/20_Liberation.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:49:11 -0400 During the night the German guards abandon the labor camp. The labor camp at Neustadt is unexpectedly liberated when the German guards abandon the labor camp. The Germans move west to excape the advancing Russian army. 6:17 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, labor camp, liberation Louis Brandsdorfer no The labor camp near Hamburg, where my mother spent the last few months of the war. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/19_Neustadt.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:49:02 -0400 The labor camp near Hamburg. My mother spent the last few months of the war in the labor camp at Neustadt, which is near Hamburg. 9:04 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, labor camp Louis Brandsdorfer no With the Russian army nearing Auschwitz in January 1945, the Germans evacuate the camp and force march the prisoners to the concentration camp at Gross Rosen. Known as the Death March, it lasted many days with the prisoners walking through the bitter cold and heavy snow. Many did not survive, as the German guards killed any who stopped walking. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/18_DeathMarch.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:48:54 -0400 The January 1945 forced march from Auschwitz. With the Russian army nearing Auschwitz in January 1945, the Germans evacuate the camp and force march the prisoners to the concentration camp at Gross Rosen. Known as the Death March, it lasted many days with the prisoners walking through the bitter cold and heavy snow. Many did not survive, as the German guards killed any who stopped walking. 4:42 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, Birkenau, Auschwitz, death camps, death march Louis Brandsdorfer no Toward the end of 1944 my mother's kommando is moved from Birkenau to the main camp in Auschwitz. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/17_Auschwitz.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:48:48 -0400 Living and working in the main camp at Auschwitz. Toward the end of 1944 my mother's kommando is moved from Birkenau to the main camp in Auschwitz. 10:48 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, Birkenau, Auschwitz, death camps, crematoriums Louis Brandsdorfer no My mother bribes her way into the Blue Affect. It was the building where the clothes of Auschwitz's victims was sorted for use by the Germans. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/16_BlueAffect.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:48:41 -0400 Working in the kommando for sorting the victims clothes. My mother bribes her way into the Blue Affect. It was the building where the clothes of Auschwitz's victims was sorted for use by the Germans. 8:14 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, Birkenau, Auschwitz, death camps, crematoriums Louis Brandsdorfer no With the fires in Birkenue burning all the time, to dispose of the bodies of the murdered Jews, the ash turns the evening sky blood red. My mother describes this vision of hell that was Auschwitz. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/15_BleedingSky.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:48:34 -0400 The evening sky turned red with the ash of the crematoriums. With the fires in Birkenue burning all the time, to dispose of the bodies of the murdered Jews, the ash turns the evening sky blood red. My mother describes this vision of hell that was Auschwitz. 11:46 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, concentration camp, Birkenau, Auschwitz, death camps, crematoriums Louis Brandsdorfer no Yenta and Sara, my mother's 2 youngest sisters come to Birkenau. The three of them are reunited, but only for a short while as disease and the gas chamber take both of them. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/14_YentaAndSara.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:48:27 -0400 My mother is reunited with her 2 youngest sisters in Birkenau. Yenta and Sara, my mother's 2 youngest sisters come to Birkenau. The three of them are reunited, but only for a short while as disease and the gas chamber take both of them. 9:38 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto, concentration camp, Birkenau, Auschwitz, death camps Louis Brandsdorfer no My mother is rescued from the gas chamber by Mala Zimetbaum. Later Mala Zimetbaum escapes from Auschwitz with a male accomplice. After a few days they are caught and executed in front of the whole camp. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/13_MalaZimetbaum.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:48:19 -0400 My mother is rescued from the gas chamber by Mala Zimetbaum. My mother is rescued from the gas chamber by Mala Zimetbaum. Later Mala Zimetbaum escapes from Auschwitz with a male accomplice. After a few days they are caught and executed in front of the whole camp. 3:35 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto, concentration camp, Birkenau, Auschwitz, death camps Louis Brandsdorfer no My mother goes to work in Birkenau, part of Auschwitz, the large death camp in Poland. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/12_Birkenau.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:44 -0400 My mother goes to work in Birkenau, the large death camp in Poland. Needing labor, the Germans transfer my mother and a number of other inmates of Majdanek to the Birkenau section of Auschwitz. My mother works in a number of jobs in and around the camp. 17:36 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto, concentration camp, Birkenau, Auschwitz, death camps Louis Brandsdorfer no Packed into a crowded freight car my mother is sent from Warsaw to the Majdanek. Majdanek was the major concentration camp on the eastern side of Poland. http:///www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/11_Majdanek.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:35 -0400 My mother's is sent to the large concentration camp in the east. Packed into a crowded freight car my mother is sent from Warsaw to the Majdanek. Majdanek was the major concentration camp on the eastern side of Poland. 15:37 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto, concentration camp Louis Brandsdorfer no In April 1943, the Germans conduct a final aktion to clear the Warsaw ghetto. The Jewish partisans of the ghetto create the Passover uprising and my mother goes into hiding with the other Jews in her building. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/10_Uprising.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:29 -0400 The Passover uprising by the ghetto's Jewish partisans. In April 1943, the Germans conduct a final aktion to clear the Warsaw ghetto. The Jewish partisans of the ghetto create the Passover uprising and my mother goes into hiding with the other Jews in her building. 8:57 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto, Treblinka Louis Brandsdorfer no An aktion was what the inhabitants of the ghetto called the German military operations to capture and remove the Jews from the ghetto. My mother describes the aktion that catches the last of the children and sends them to Treblinka. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/09_Aktion.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:23 -0400 The children are caught and sent to Treblinka An aktion was what the inhabitants of the ghetto called the German military operations to capture and remove the Jews from the ghetto. My mother describes the aktion that catches the last of the children and sends them to Treblinka. 5:19 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto, Treblinka Louis Brandsdorfer no With most of the ghetto's Jewish population removed, my mother was assigned to a work detail (Werterfassung in German) that gathered all the valuables from the emptied apartments. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/08_Werterfassung.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:16 -0400 Gathering valuables from the emptied apartments in the ghetto. After most of the Jewish population of the ghetto was removed, my mother was assigned to a work detail that would go into the emptied sections of the ghetto and search through the apartments for any left over values (Werterfassung in German). The group would gathered anything that was of value to be carted away by the Poles and Germans. 7:54 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto Louis Brandsdorfer no My mother and her daughter are captured in the Warsaw train station, trying to get to the east to find her brother. They are put in prison with other Jews caught outside the ghetto. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/07_Warsaw.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:09 -0400 Mother and daughter are captured in the Warsaw train station. My mother and her daughter are captured in the Warsaw train station, trying to get to the east to find her brother. They are put in prison with other Jews caught outside the ghetto. 12:21 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Warsaw Ghetto Louis Brandsdorfer no Having no place left to hide near her home town, my mother and her daughter travel around Poland looking for a safe place to hide from the Germans. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/06_Running.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:47:04 -0400 Mother and daughter on the run from the Germans. Having no place left to hide near her home town, my mother and her daughter travel around Poland looking for a safe place from the Germans. 14:16 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Ghettos Louis Brandsdorfer no The last Jews of the town and region are rounded up for deportation. My mother, fearing for the life of her daughter, goes into hiding. One of her sisters joins her as they move from place to place seaking refuge. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/05_Hiding.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:46:59 -0400 Hiding from the Germans. The last Jews of the town and region are rounded up for deportation. My mother, fearing for the life of her daughter, goes into hiding. One of her sisters joins her as they move from place to place seeking refuge. 17:52 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Ghettos Louis Brandsdorfer no The Germans start to assemble Jews from the area and send them to work camps. Later assemblies send them to death camps. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/04_Assemblies.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:46:54 -0400 The Germans assemble Jews for labor and depotation. With the Jews in larger cities being put into ghettos, the Jews in smaller towns are assembled to labor for the Germans and for deportation. The first deportations were to labor camps and to the larger ghettos. The later assemblies were to send them to death camps. 10:39 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland, Ghettos Louis Brandsdorfer no The lives my mother's family and the other of Jews living in a small Polish town under German occupation. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/03_Occupation.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:46:47 -0400 The lives of Jews living under German occupation. After the Polish defeat in September 1939 the Germans occupied Poland and started to make the lives of Jews more and more difficult. 9:47 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland Louis Brandsdorfer no Living in a town near the German border my mother witnessed the strength and speed of the German attack on Poland. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/02_WarBegins.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:46:40 -0400 The start of the war in Poland The lives of my mother and her family in a small Polish town near the German border. Her town and region are one of the first to experience the strength and speed of the German attack that started World War 2. 10:16 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland Louis Brandsdorfer no My mother begins her recollections of the Shoah with a conversation she had with a friend and fellow survivor. http://www.brandsdorfer.com/podcast/01_Chapter1.mp3 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:49:37 -0400 My mother begins her recollection of the Shoah My mother begins her recollection of the Shoah with a conversation she had with a friend and fellow survivor. 10:04 Holocaust, Shoah, Yiddish, World War 2, Germany, Poland Louis Brandsdorfer no